Croatia seek to keep Greece at arm's length

Croatia will look to press their advantage at the top of UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying Group F when they visit Georgia, while second-ranked Greece will be eager to avoid a potential banana skin in Malta.

26 March: Georgia v Croatia, Israel v Latvia, Malta v Greece
29 March: Israel v Georgia

Latest standings

Croatia
There are no surprises in Slaven Bilić's selection, with the only significant omission VfL Wolfsburg midfielder Mario Mandžukić, though the coach explained: "I still count on him and expect him to be back in the team soon." He rates Georgia as a decent team, but said: "We are a better side with more quality than Georgia so we will win this."

Goalkeepers: Vedran Runje (RC Lens), Stipe Pletikosa (Tottenham Hotspur FC), Danijel Subašić (HNK Hajduk Split).

Defenders: Darijo Srna (FC Shakhtar Donetsk), Šime Vrsaljko (NK Dinamo Zagreb), Vedran Ćorluka (Tottenham Hotspur FC), Josip Šimunić (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim), Dejan Lovren (Olympique Lyonnais), Gordon Schildenfeld (SK Sturm Graz), Ivan Strinić (FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk), Danijel Pranjić (FC Bayern Munchen).

Midfielders: Ognjen Vukojević (FC Dynamo Kyiv), Tomislav Dujmović (FC Lokomotiv Moskva), Luka Modrić (Tottenham Hotspur FC), Ivan Rakitić (Sevilla FC), Milan Badelj (NK Dinamo Zagreb), Ivan Perišić (Club Brugge KV), Niko Kranjčar (Tottenham Hotspur FC), Ivo Iličević (1. FC Kaiserslautern).

Forwards: Mladen Petrić (Hamburger SV), Eduardo (FC Shakhtar Donetsk), Nikola Kalinič (Blackburn Rovers FC), Nikica Jelavić (Rangers FC).

Greece
Panagiotis Lagos has been recalled after a three-year absence in response to injuries to Michalis Sifakis, Grigoris Makos and Nikos Spyropoulos. "Lagos can play as a left-back or a wing back and is the ideal man to replace Spyropoulos," said coach Fernando Santos. "We have to win in Malta. We are favourites, but it won't be easy. We need to be focused and prove our superiority on the pitch." Greece will also face UEFA EURO 2012 co-hosts Poland on 29 March.

Goalkeepers: Alexandros Tzorvas (Panathinaikos FC), Kostas Chalkias (PAOK FC).

Defenders: Loukas Vyntra (Panathinaikos FC), Vassilis Torosidis (Olympiacos FC), Giorgos Tzavellas (Eintracht Frankfurt), Vangelis Moras (Bologna FC), Avraam Papadopoulos (Olympiacos FC), Socratis Papastathopoulos (AC Milan), Panagiotis Lagos (AEK Athens FC).

Midfielders: Kostas Katsouranis (Panathinaikos FC), Giorgos Karagounis (Panathinaikos FC), Sotiris Ninis (Panathinaikos FC), Giannis Fetfatzidis (Olympiacos FC), Panagiotis Kone (Brescia Calcio), Pantelis Kafes (AEK Athens FC).

Forwards: Giorgos Samaras (Celtic FC), Kostas Mitroglou (Panionios GSS), Nikos Lyberopoulos (AEK Athens FC), Dimitris Salpingidis (PAOK FC).

Georgia
Out-of-contract Malkhaz Asatiani is omitted as he seeks a new club, having left FC Lokomotiv Moskva. Temuri Ketsbaia is also without a second defender, injured Ucha Libzhanidze from FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk. Kakha Aladashvili returns after a long absence to fill the gap, while Otar Martsvaladze will try his luck up front. FC Dinamo Tbilisi midfielder Aleksandr Koshkadze has been called up in place of FC Spartak Moskva's Jano Ananidze, who has an ankle injury, while FC Zestafoni forward Nikoloz Gelashvili is also a late addition. Georgia are unbeaten in nine games under Ketsbaia.

Goalkeepers: Nukri Revishvili (FC Anzhi Makhachkala), Giorgi Loria (FC Dinamo Tbilisi), Roin Kvaskhvadze (FC Zestafoni).

Defenders: Kakha Kaladze (Genoa CFC), Zurab Khizanishvili (Reading FC), Kakha Aladashvili (FC Zestafoni), Giorgi Khidesheli (FC Zestafoni), Guram Kashia (Vitesse), Lasha Salukvadze (FC Rubin Kazan), Akaki Khubutia (CS Gaz Metan Mediaş), Aleksandr Amisulashvili (FC Krasnodar), David Kvirkvelia (Panionios GSS).

Midfielders: Gogita Gogua (FC Volga Nizhny Novgorod), Murtaz Daushvili (FC Zestafoni), Jaba Kankava (FC Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih), Jano Ananidze (FC Spartak Moskva), Levan Kobiashvili (Hertha BSC Berlin), Alexander Guruli (FC Karpaty Lviv), Aleksandr Koshkadze (FC Dinamo Tbilisi)*.

Forwards: Vladimir Dvalishvili (Maccabi Haifa FC), Aleksandr Iashvili (Karlsruher SC), David Siradze (FC Spartak Nalchik), Otar Martsvaladze (FC Volga Nizhny Novgorod), Mate Vatsadze (FC Volga Nizhny Novgorod), Nikoloz Gelashvili (FC Zestafoni)*.

Israel
Chelsea FC's Yossi Benayoun has been called up by Luis Fernandez as he continues his recovery from an Achilles injury. The 30-year-old has recently returned to training after a lengthy absence but is not set to feature against Latvia or Georgia. "I've been in touch with Yossi, heard about his progress and even though he is not 100%, he is still our captain," said Fernandez. Meanwhile, R. Charleroi SC striker David Biton and Maccabi Haifa FC's 18-year-old left-back Talb Tawatha will be hoping to win their first caps after being included.

Goalkeepers: Dudu Aouate (RCD Mallorca), Ariel Harush (Beitar Jerusalem FC), Dudu Goresh (Hapoel Akko FC).

Defenders: Tal Ben Haim (Portsmouth FC), Dekel Keinan (Cardiff City FC), Rami Gershon (KV Kortrijk), Talb Twatha (Maccabi Haifa FC), Itzik Cohen (Hapoel Akko FC), Dani Bondarv (Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC), Yoav Ziv (Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC).

Midfielders: Bebras Natcho (FC Rubin Kazan), Beram Kayal (Celtic FC), Eran Zahavi (Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC), Eyal Golasa (Maccabi Haifa FC), Almog Cohen (1. FC Nürnberg), Elroy Cohen (Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC), Gil Vermouth (Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC), Gal Alberman (Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC), Maor Buzaglo (Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC), Lior Refaelov (Maccabi Haifa FC), Yossi Benayoun (Chelsea FC).

Forwards: Elyaniv Barda (KRC Genk), Ben Sahar (Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC), David Biton (R. Charleroi SC), Omer Damari (Maccabi Petach-Tikva FC), Tal Ben Chaim (Maccabi Petach-Tikva FC)*.

Latvia
Injured PFC CSKA Moskva midfielder Aleksandrs Cauņa misses out on the initial 21-man squad but may be drafted in later, with once-capped KS Lechia Gdańsk player Ivans Lukjanovs replacing him. Deniss Kačanovs is fit again, but key defender Oskars Kļava is suspended. "I'm sure Israel haven't forgotten their home defeat to us in the last qualifying campaign," coach Aleksandrs Starkovs told UEFA.com.

Goalkeepers: Andris Vaņins (FC Sion), Aleksandrs Koļinko (FK Baltika Kaliningrad), Kaspars Ikstens (FC Skonto)*.

Defenders: Pavels Mihadjuks (SK Liepājas Metalurgs), Kaspars Gorkšs (Queens Park Rangers FC), Deniss Ivanov (Sivasspor), Ritus Krjauklis (FK Ventspils), Deniss Kačanovs (Skonto FC), Vitālijs Smirnovs (Skonto FC), Vladimirs Bespalovs (Skonto FC).

Midfielders: Andrejs Rubins (Qarabağ FK), Jurijs Žigajevs (RTS Widzew Łódź), Vladimirs Koļesņičenko (Skonto FC), Artis Lazdiņš (FK Jelgava), Maksims Rafaļskis (SK Liepājas Metalurgs), Ivans Lukjanovs (KS Lechia Gdańsk), Igors Tarasovs (Skonto FC), Andrejs Perepļotkins (Nasaf Qarshi).

Forwards: Maris Verpakovskis (Ergotelis FC), Ģirts Karlsons (FC İnter Bakı), Artjoms Rudņevs (KKS Lech Poznań), Daniils Turkovs (Zalaegerszegi TE).

Malta
A 0-0 friendly draw against Switzerland in February has given Malta some cheer, with coach John Buttigieg naming a familiar-looking selection for the game against Greece. Captain Michael Mifsud said: "Greece have a glorious record in the European Championship, but I do believe that if we get out there and play with a big heart we can get a very good result."

Goalkeepers: Andrew Hogg (Valletta FC), Justin Haber (Ferencvárosi TC).

Defenders: André Agius (Birkirkara FC), Roderick Briffa (Valletta FC), Jonathan Caruana (Valletta FC), Clayton Failla (Sliema Wanderers FC), Edward Herrera (Hibernians FC), Carlo Mamo (Marsaxlokk FC), Joseph Zerafa (Birkirkara FC).

Midfielders: Shaun Bajada (Birkirkara FC), Andrew Cohen (Hibernians FC), Paul Fenech (Birkirkara FC), Ryan Fenech (Valletta FC), John Hutchison (Central Coast Mariners FC), Jamie Pace (Valetta FC), Gareth Sciberras (Marsaxlokk FC).

Forwards: Daniel Bogdanovic (Sheffield United FC), Michael Mifsud (Qormi FC), André Schembri (Ferencvárosi TC).

Players in italics have withdrawn.
*Denotes replacement player.