Euro 2012 qualifying preview: Spain, Holland in action

Spain have a tricky trip to Lithuania, while the Netherlands are firm favourites against Hungary as a host of countries meet in Euro 2012 qualifying on Tuesday.

Lithuania have it all before them when they take on reigning European and world champions Spain, though they do have the benefit of home advantage.Sitting fourth in Group I on four points with a game in hand on their rivals, Raimondas Zutautas’ men can prove their worth against a team wielding the likes of Fernando Torres, David Villa, Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets.Spain have won all four of their qualifying encounters, scoring 12 and shipping four goals, including a come-from-behind 2-1 win over the Czech Republic on Friday courtesy of two Villa goals.Lithuania are also a country in form however, after they accounted for Poland 2-0 with goals to Saulius Mikoliunas and Edgaras Cesnauskis.The game is scheduled to take place at the S. Dariaus ir S. Gireno stadionas in Kaunas, but all the build-up has been about the state of the pitch after Spain expressed their concern at the standard of the surface.The Netherlands can make it six points in four days against Hungary on Tuesday when they meet in their reverse fixture at the Amsterdam Arena.The Dutch hammered four goals – from Rafael van der Vaart, Ibrahim Afellay, Dirk Kuyt and Robin van Persie – past the Hungarian defence in Budapest, and there could be more pain to come for Sandor Egervari’s side.Despite the thrashing, Hungary are in second place in Group E and three points clear of Sweden, but the latter have two games in hand.Sweden can make inroads into their deficit into Hungary’s advantage when they host Moldova at the Rasundastadion in Solna.The Czech Republic can get back to winning ways after a gallant loss to Spain on Friday, when they welcome strugglers Liechtenstein in their Group I clash at the Fotbalovy stadion Strelecky ostrov in Ceske Budejovice.Georgia will be out to protect their unbeaten Euro qualifying campaign when they take on Israel at Bloomfield Stadium in Tel Aviv in Group F.Turkey host Austria in their Group A affair, with second spot up for grabs for the victor.Romania and Luxembourg face off in a battle of the Group D strugglers, with the two countries sharing just three points between them in their collective nine qualifying encounters.Estonia will welcome Serbia to the A Le Coq Arena for their Group C clash, fresh from a 2-0 friendly victory over Uruguay – the Baltic state’s first win since beating the Serbs 3-1 in the reverse Euro 2012 qualifier in October.A win to either side would help break the congestion on the group table, with four nations from second place to fifth split by just two points.The other two countries involved in the mid-table jam are Northern Ireland and Slovenia, and they will also do battle on Tuesday at Windsor Park in Belfast.Belgium host Azerbaijan in their Group A match in Brussels.