SCOTLAND-FRANCE. Scotland opened with two wins but needs to get at least a point against France to probably have any chance of advancing in Group B, easily the most difficult of the seven groups. France coach Raymond Domenech expects a challenge similar to that which the Bleus faced in September 2005 when they traveled to and beat Ireland, 1-0, in World Cup qualifying. “The only difference is that now we don’t have the knife at our throat,” said Domenech. Against Ireland, we had no choice but to win.” Domenech will have everyone but red-hot Manchester United striker Louis Saha and Sidney Govou, who scored twice in last month’s 3-1 win over Italy, from the team that won the 2006 World Cup rematch with the Azzurri. David Trezeguet should start up front with Thierry Henry. Injuries have depleted the Scottish defense. (TV: Setanta Sports USA, Saturday, live, 11:55 am ET)
ENGLAND-MACEDONIA. Wayne Rooney returns from suspension for England but has been in poor form for Manchester United.
England coach Steve McClaren supports his gifted striker, however. “Players have to be playing well and have to be in form,” said McClaren, “but Wayne Rooney is a world-class player and can make the difference at any given moment. He’s in my team.” Scott Parker or Michael Carrick should get the nod to replace injured Owen Hargreaves as defensive midfielder. (TV: Setanta closed circuit, Saturday, live, 12 pm ET)
ITALY-UKRAINE.Winless in its first three games under new coach Roberto Donadoni, 2006 World Cup champion Italy faces a must-win situation against Ukraine in Rome on Saturday. The Azzurri beat Ukraine, 3-0, in the quarterfinals en route to their fourth World Cup title, are still without Roma star Francesco Totti, who is working on regaining his fitness, and left back Fabio Grosso is back. Marco Materazzi is back following his two-game suspension for taunting Zinedine Zidane in the World Cup final. Ukraine star Andriy Shevchenko is doubtful with the flu. (TV: Setanta Sports USA, Saturday, live, 2:30 pm ET)
GREECE-NORWAY. Greece, the Euro 2004 champion, opened with a 1-0 win at Moldova, but the lackluster performance increased the tension in the Greek camp on the eve of the Athens showdown against Norway, winner of its first two qualifiers. Greece’s German coach, Otto Rehhagel, blasted local reporters, whom he accused of trying to “squeeze” players into the team. The Norway game and next Wednesday’s match against Bosnia & Herzegovina will be the last for Greece captain Theodoros Zagorakis, who has announced his international retirement. In the absence of Lyon striker John Carew, inspirational Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will lead the Norway attack. (TV: Setanta closed circuit, Saturday, 2:30 pm ET)
SWEDEN-SPAIN. After the surprise 3-2 loss to Northern Ireland last month, Spain coach Luis Aragones might abandon the 4-3-3 formation he used at the World Cup for a more conservative 4-4-2. The big change could be in midfield with Valencia’s Miguel Angel Angulo and Barcelona’s Andres Iniesta playing on the wings, with David Albelda and Cesc Fabregas in the middle. Sweden will be without their most feared striker, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who has refused to play, and first-choice keeper Andreas Isaksson, who is injured. Olof Mellberg, Christian Wilhelmsson and Ibrahimovic were sent home by Sweden coach Lars Lagerback before last month’s qualifier against Liechtenstein for staying out too late ahead of the match. Ibrahimovic believes the sanction was too harsh. (TV: Setanta Sports USA, Saturday, delay, 5 pm ET)
BULGARIA-NETHERLANDS. Hristo Stoichkov, the former Chicago Fire and D.C. United player, calls the match against the Group G leader Netherlands the most important of his tenure as Bulgaria coach. Stoichkov will be without injured midfielder Blagoi Georgiev but will have striker Dimitar Berbatov (31 goals in 50 internationals) back in the lineup. The withdrawal of Ruud van Nistelrooy and Mark van Bommel from the Dutch squad in a dispute with Coach Marco van Basten has cast a shadow over the Oranje camp. In van Nistelrooy’s absence, van Basten will go with Liverpool’s Dirk Kuyt as the central striker between Arjen Robben of Chelsea and Arsenal’s Robin van Persie. (TV: Setanta Sports USA, Saturday, delay, 7 pm ET)
(Click here for probable lineups of these games as well as complete Euro 2008 qualifying schedule.)