Tonight’s clash between European powerhouses in Paris will not disappoint international football fans. Prestigious teams rarely compete in qualifying matches of such a high magnitude. With Spain in danger of missing out on automatic qualifying, Les Bleus hope to widen their 2-point lead over the reigning World Cup and European Champions.

French manager Didier Deschamps plans to take advantage of Spain’s possession style and capitalise on counter-attacking opportunities. Deschamps told the Daily Mail, “We will have to use the ball well when we have it; we will have to force them to defend.”

The manager went on to say fighting for possession against Spain is “useless.” He will count on veteran defender Patrice Evra, who was an unused substitute in Friday’s match against Georgia, to limit Spain’s scoring opportunities. The Manchester United defender will help French captain and Tottenham Hotspur Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris keep Spain’s attack uncharacteristically quiet.

Spain will enter the Stade de France unusually uneasy. The teams had quite different results on Friday. While Spain only managed to pick up one point in a disappointing home draw against Finland, France dominated Georgia 3-1. Combined with home advantage, French fans believe current their hot streak could lead to the end of Spain’s current unbeaten run.

Also, Spain will be without Jordi Alba and David Silva. Nacho Monreal is expected to fill in at left back. He will be part of a back line faced with the daunting task of slowing down his Arsenal teammate Olivier Giroud or Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema. Although Giroud has been in rough form during recent Premier League appearances, the Frenchman played a critical role in Spain’s last match against France. In October, his 94th minute equaliser earned France one all-important point during their away leg of this tie. The striker also netted France’s first goal against Georgia on Friday.

Deschampes alluded that Giroud’s aerial attack would be valuable late in the match to take advantage of a tired Spanish defence. The Daily Mail quoted the manager saying, “He has that ability, and that’s a weapon I can obviously use at any time.”

Spain hope to gain freshness with the addition of Xavi and Xabi Alonso, who were out with injuries during the Finland match. Both midfielders have been seen training and should be fit for Tuesday night.

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Don’t miss out on the opportunity to watch this amazing match. It will be streaming live here at 8 pm…

West Brom Boss Steve Clarke has revealed he hopes to bring in “three or four” new faces during the summer to bolster his West Brom side.

The Baggies boss is keen to do his business as early as possible in the summer in order to ensure his team have the best possible preparation for the 2013/14 campaign and warned any potential suitors that his current stars will command hefty fees.

Clark feels three or four additions will allow West Brom to progress next season, but didn’t give any indication regarding the areas he hopes to strengthen.

Clarke told the Birmingham Mail: “It’s difficult to speculate how many players will come because you don’t know how many clubs are going to try to take some of your players.

“At the moment, looking at the squad, if we were to bring in three or four that would be enough – but things can change.

“Our players aren’t going to be cheap. I don’t think anyone would be wise to come for any of our players because they will cost a fortune.”

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He added: “In an ideal world we’d get early signings. The early signing last summer was Ben Foster and the other ones came in over the course of pre-season.”

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For all its been a season of frustration at Arsenal the time to choke isn’t now. After spending much of the season outside of the top-four the Gunners couldn’t have timed their recent resurgence any finer. One defeat in 11 has reignited hope of attaining Champions League qualification for a 16th consecutive season and rightly so. However, the goalless draw with Everton on Monday has allowed anxiety to creep in once again and that is something Arsene Wenger needs to quickly nip in the bud. The North London club are currently sandwiched in between third placed Chelsea and fierce rivals Tottenham in fifth with little margin for error. Basically it’s a case of winning their remaining games and keeping Spurs on a short leash. Anything less and disaster could follow.

Conversely, Fulham’s season is done and dusted with five games to spare. With 40 points already chalked up and a top-half finish in their sights there isn’t much left for Martin Jol’s side to play for. That was evident during the 3-0 thumping suffered at the hands of west London foes Chelsea on Wednesday and they’ll undoubtedly be smarting from that. Now the task for Jol is to ensure his players don’t fall victims to complacency and end a season of unnerving consistency on a low note.

Team News

Damien Duff will miss out for Fulham after suffering an adductor strain against Chelsea in mid-week. Steve Sidwell returns after completing a three-match ban but fellow midfielders Ashkan Dejagah (ankle) and Mahamadou Diarra (knee) are out for the season.

Goalkeeper Lukas Fabiankski misses out for Arsenal because of a cracked rib meaning Wojciech Szczesny will return to the starting lineup. Thomas Rosicky (hamstring) will undergo a fitness test before kick-off.

What the managers said…

“Arsenal have done ever so well in the last couple of months and they have got themselves back into that fight for Champions League football. I admire Arsene Wenger, he is an unbelievable manager. He is emotional, he wants to win. If you look at this season, they had that unbelievable win at Bayern and they have come back. All the teams like Spurs and Chelsea and Everton have been fighting for that top four spot and Arsenal are in that again.” Martin Jol backs Arsene Wenger to guide Arsenal to a top-four finish (Daily Mail)

“I don’t think it holds players back. In fact, the opposite, the foreign players who come to England improve and you get that aspect of the game as well. I’ve seen so many French players complain about the physicality when they arrived in England. I tell them it will take some time but the intensity of the game will make them better players.” Arsene Wenger believes the Premier League’s physical nature is beneficial for foreign players (arsenal.com)

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Pre-match Statistic: Fulham are unbeaten in each of their last four Premier League meetings with Arsenal.

Prediction: Fulham 1-2 Arsenal

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At 23, there may have been some expectation that Asier Illarramendi would have built up a bigger reputation outside of La Liga. But it isn’t too much of a problem, especially for Real Sociedad, as the Basque midfielder is one of Spain’s best kept secrets.

It would be careless to skip over the importance of Illarramendi in Spain’s U21 European Championship squad. The spotlight is rightly on Isco and Thiago, and to some extent Alvaro Morata; each of those players have stories going into this summer, with the Real Madrid striker staking a claim for a bigger and better position in European football.

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But Illarramendi didn’t just slot in and do a job in the midfield. Like Sergio Busquets at Barcelona, he tied the midfield and defence together. The obvious comparisons are to Xabi Alonso, with their movement, ability and even appearance sharing plenty of similarities. The truth is Illarra takes certain traits from each of these outstanding Spanish midfielders. He’s a player that understands the role of the holding midfielder, able to intercept, tackle and break up opposition play exceptionally well. Adding to that, his attacking play, notably his eye for a pass and distribution is absolutely magnificent.

Asier Illarramendi is the type of midfielder clubs build their teams around. He’s that good now and he’ll be that good in the future, which is why it’s a little hard to understand the story linking him with a move to Arsenal at this stage. Or, to re-word it, why it’s difficult to understand the story suggesting Sociedad would be willing to sell at this stage.

Real Sociedad are preparing for a season in the Champions League having finished fourth in La Liga. They were the most attractive Spanish side to watch last season – yes, even ahead of Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and underdogs Malaga. At their very best, la Real are able to take apart any opposition, combining their pace in attack with the playmaking abilities of Illarramendi in the midfield. They were the first team to beat Barcelona last season when Tito Vilanova’s side travelled to the Anoeta, and they’ll replicate such feats once again this coming season. And Illarramendi will very much be a part of that.

But you can understand why Arsenal may have been looking around. In fact, you’d quite comfortably understand any major club’s interest in the Spanish starlet. Both Real Madrid and Barcelona have been touted as possible destinations due to the player’s likeness to Xabi Alonso and even Xavi (maybe that’s why there’s some degree of willingness on Barcelona’s part to allow Thiago to leave). When so many clubs are said to be chasing Dortmund’s Ilkay Gundogan following the German’s outstanding season, Illarramendi, in theory, should represent a cheaper but equally capable alternative. The reported £10million fee is a little short, however.

Illarramendi’s current contract holds him to Real Sociedad until 2018. Importantly, there is little unrest from within for the team’s star names to look elsewhere ahead of next season. Antoine Griezmann, Carlos Vela and Inigo Martinez have collectively offered their support to the club one way or another, at least for one more season. Add Illarramendi into the mix and Sociedad know they’re sitting on a gold mine. Each of those players bar Vela came through club’s youth system. When Illarra decides to move on, Ruben Pardo, another youngster with a fantastic future, will step in.

Arsenal’s interest in the player is likely with the view to Illarramendi replacing Mikel Arteta as the team’s anchor. The Spanish youngster doesn’t have that frame and build that most would like to see in a Premier League holding midfielder, but he’s extremely robust and very capable.

Paired with another strong individual in the midfield, Illarramendi can dictate the play from deep and act as the team’s focal point, much in the way Alonso has done at Real Madrid and Xavi at Barcelona. As a defensive player, Illarramendi likes to drop deeper almost alongside the centre-backs to take in a better view of the game. It’s meticulous and it’s wonderful to watch, seeing a player of his age play the game with such a veteran outlook. You wouldn’t believe that he’s never played a Champions League game, nor would he look out of place in Spain’s senior squad.

Illarramendi will unquestionably be a superstar at both club and international level, and the major clubs across Europe will line up for him once they get a better glimpse of him in the Champions League (provided Sociedad make it past the qualifying round). He’s the current centrepiece for the Basque club. Regardless of how good they were to land fourth in La Liga, the youthfulness of the squad still came through and struggles arose. Illarramendi, however, was the constant and the undeniable best player in the team.

Would Illarramendi be a good signing for Arsenal?

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When Tottenham and Aston Villa were pulled out of the hat to face each other in Round 3 of the Capital One Cup, many football fans’ pulses sped up. Although not the glamour tie of the round – a tag which can be placed on Manchester United and Liverpool’s upcoming clash – Spurs vs Villa offers a very unique prospect as two of the top tier’s youngest and most exciting managers prepare to face off.

Although operating at different ends of the division, Paul Lambert and Andre Villas-Boas are widely seen as two of the more progressive coaches in English football, with their unique styles setting up an enthralling match. The two are very different in their approach to the game, with AVB very much a micro-manager intent on honing every individual detail to provide a fluid and effective performance, while Lambert looks to utilise a hunger from his players to create a determined and spirited unit.

Villas-Boas arrived in English football with Chelsea, but quickly saw his time at Stamford Bridge draw to a close. In his early 30s at the time, AVB was in the strange position of coaching players older than himself, and when the going got tough – as it has for many in charge of the Blues – he got the boot. Since then, The Portuguese has found his home at White Hart Lane, with a club that were craving a boss of his style and ability. The polar opposite to predecessor Harry Redknapp, he has quickly implemented his philosophy at the club and is now entering a pivotal campaign having invested over £100million in his squad to draft in the players he desired.

Like AVB, Lambert is also in the midst of a make or break season. The 44-year-old Scot stuck to his plan to axe a number of high earning and ageing players last season to field a new generation, and only just avoided a spot in the bottom three. Many have predicted that his high-risk strategy may pay off now, but the only way the ex-Norwich boss can defend his actions is by getting results on the pitch. Controversial moves such as discarding Darren Bent for Christian Benteke while affording inexperienced defenders in the shape of Ciaran Clarke and Nathan Baker regular action have laid the foundation for a new era, but Lambert simply must usher in success as the Midlanders look to escape the hangover of Alex McLeish, and to an extent Martin O’Neill.

For the pair a decent cup run could vindicate their methods, with both clubs relatively short on silverware in the modern era. Tottenham’s ultimate quest may be to reach the Champions League, but AVB could cement his spot as one of the club’s greats by bringing home a trophy this winter. Lambert could also achieve a similar status at Villa, and the experience of securing silverware could help to turn young starlets such as Andreas Weimann and Fabian Delph into genuine stars.

The sub-plot to this Round 3 tie is one befitting of a great encounter. Both managers have lots to prove and are very much on the cusp of achievement at their respective clubs. The talking will be done on the pitch, but will it be AVB or Lambert who has the final say?

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It wouldn’t have taken much for the post-match interviews to be more dramatic than the drab hour and a half of football served up on Sunday at White Hart Lane, but few could have foreseen the storm that would be created by AVB’s parting comments.

In a remarkable attack on the Tottenham faithful, AVB criticised the fans for creating an atmosphere of anxiety not dissimilar to what is usually afforded to away teams:

“There was much anxiety present in the fans which transmitted to the players, so this victory is down to the players. We did it with no help today.”

“We need people to be patient and support the players and give them the extra energy to go through and not the negative energy.”

As revolutionary as some may want to make this, it has undoubtedly been an issue dogging most fans for a while and many greeted the manager’s comments with a degree of respect and understanding.

Tottenham are like so many Premier League clubs who have seen atmospheres wane ever since the turn of the millennia. Rather than a sense of liberal tribal warfare where fans would give everything for their side on a weekly basis, there is an increasing culture that is reminiscent of theatre goers across the West End. The whole ‘come lets be entertained’ ethos is beginning to dominate much of our football and it is a worry.

Now I know this is part of a more general debate and actually the pattern is understandable. Rising ticket prices that alienate the traditional footballing fan coupled with pressures to maintain safety and order on the terraces have created an environment bereft of heart and soul.

AVB believes Spurs fans can ‘do better’ and THST are inclined to agree:

“Responding to comments on our feed @SpursOfficial are working with us on the atmosphere at WHL. We recognise the need for work in this area.”

The relationship between fans and players runs both ways, fans pay good money in expectation that they will see entertaining free-flowing football. However, players appear unable to do this in an atmosphere of nerve and anxiety. In a way fans and players at Spurs are becoming each other’s worst enemies, an undesirable situation for either party

Spurs are a club who have some of the most loyal and ardent travelling supporters in the country, continually out singing fans up and down the land it is no surprise that Spurs play some of their most carefree and watchable football away from home. Players need their fans most at times of adversity and when you go a goal down that roar from the crowd is what gets the team going again, away from home Spurs could be 2 goals down and they would still receive that same vociferous support.

Contrast that to the Lane where after about 20mins without a goal the tetchiness increases and there is a general sense of unease. This isn’t a question of noise, I have been to both the Emirates and Old Trafford and I can assure you there are far more tranquil environments on match day, it is more the tone of the fans.

Too often though there is this feeling that any mistake may well prompt an outpouring of disapproval from the crowd, as such players appear less inclined to go for that incisive pass rather go for something a bit more simple and readily achievable. The fear of failure at home is stifling the creativity and tempo, is it really surprising that Spurs play at such a pedestrian and predictable pace?

Some have come down hard on Spurs fans, critical of the fact that AVB has guided them to their best ever Premier League start and they now have the squad to go on to more. The debate between results and style has always been a contentious one, especially at Spurs. Central to the Spurs philosophy is the whole idea that there is more than just winning, to quote the great Danny Blanchflower:

“The great fallacy is that the game is first and last about winning. It is nothing of the kind. The game is about glory, it is about doing things in style and with a flourish, about going out and beating the other lot, not waiting for them to die of boredom.” 

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There is a feeling amongst some that AVB is going about things the wrong way that there is Spurs style that must be adhered to first and foremost. I don’t have any qualms with this way of thinking at all, in fact those that believe it has every right to.

My sense though is that this atmosphere issue isn’t something restricted to AVB era Spurs, it is much more endemic than that. It is refreshing that fans, club and players want to do something about it because in the modern era the tide seems to be going so much the other way; and who knows those that yearn for free-flowing football may finally get their wish when the White Hart Lane shackles are finally broken.

Do Spurs fans need to do better?

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Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner feels his reputation has been a hindrance in his search for a new club, according to the Guardian.

The Denmark striker is set to line up against England at Wembley tonight, and is expected to leave the Gunners in the summer.

However, he insists finding a new club has proved difficult as he has been forced to explain away a reputation where he “has been made into a pyschopath” in terms of the public’s perception.

“I have, for example, talked to clubs who say they have heard this or that story about me,” Bendtner said.

“So I have to tell them that it is not true. Of all the things that I have been associated with I have only done one thing wrong and that was in Copenhagen [an arrest for drink driving].

“Regardless of this I have, bit by bit, in people’s eyes been made into a psychopath.”

He remains hopeful of a fresh start with a new club where he is an unknown quantity, despite being quoted earlier in the season as saying he sees his next destination as Barcelona or Real Madrid.

“I would much rather take a club that is close to the Champions League, as a number five-to-eight in its league, where I know that I play,” he told the Danish paper Jyllands-Posten.

“If you are in an industry you surely want to reach the top. I am still the same but I have just not played the games. It hasn’t affected my self-esteem, apart from the fact that I can’t wait until I get a break – an opportunity.

“I am just waiting to be unleashed. This is why I don’t care about anything else but football. I just want to play football. I’m ready for a new chapter. For something completely different. A fresh start.

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“No team-mates who I know or know of me and the club does not know me and doesn’t have those stereotypical notions about me.”

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West Ham midfielder Ravel Morrison is hoping to push through a move to Fulham this winter, according to the Daily Mail.

The Hammers are battling relegation, along with Fulham, and contract talks with the England under-21 international have stalled leaving the door open to a move away from Upton Park.

Morrison was an unused sub away at Manchester City in their Capital One Cup demolition in midweek and mysteriously pulled out of the squad to face Cardiff yesterday, with West Ham picking up a vital three points.

The 20 year old has not been offered an acceptably contract extension and so could leave the East London club for a fee of around £10million.

The Hammers only signed the difficult youngster for £500k, so the owners are contemplating the sale of one of their prized assets despite the club being in massive trouble in the Premier League this season.

Fulham boss Rene Meulensteen worked with Morrison at Manchester United and has made him their number one transfer target this January.

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Former Arsenal defender Sol Campbell has urged the club to be bold in the transfer market this summer to give themselves a shot at Premier League glory next season.

The Gunners have led the way in the title hunt for much of the current campaign, but a recent slump in form has ended their hopes of claiming English football’s top prize with three games to play.

Although they smashed their transfer record to bring Mesut Ozil to north London from Real Madrid, Arsenal’s transfer dealings have been criticised in recent times, with the failure to land a top class player in January a point of concern for large sections of their support.

An inability to strengthen has allowed Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City to move away, with, in theory, squads of a similar quality to that of Arsene Wenger.

Campbell – who starred for the now Emirates Stadium side in his playing days – believes that his old club need one or two more frightening players, and thinks they must take a few risks in the transfer market to get them:

“You have got to get to the stage where teams are frightened of you. You need options and they could do with a few more players who could frighten other teams with their playing ability.” He is quoted by the Daily Star.

“It will turn, but you need that cutting edge in your side. The board might have to put their head on the block and go for it and not be scared.

“If you spend money on a player and it does not work, you have to go again.

“Yes you can get players through scouting around the world, but ultimately these players are ready made and you have got to play top dollar to get them in.

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“Arsenal need some more players who are ready-made and world-class. With everyone fit, I think they need another three players.”

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After what turned out to be a disastrous World Cup, most England fans have been able to sit back and watch the tournament without the added pressure of expectation and/or a penalty shoot-out.

And given the level of performances we were forced to endure from England, it’s little wonder fans have been piping up with several ways in which they would have approached the tournament differently.

But now you can show Roy Hodgson exactly how it’s done by leading the Three Lions to World Cup glory with the Official England Football app.

Available on all iOS, Android and Windows the app is a kind of hybrid between everyone’s favourite retro football game, Sensible Soccer, and FIFA.

The developers have managed to recreate the ideal pick-me up football game that requires very little time to learn, but a fair amount of time to master. With three difficulty modes, it caters for all experiences and allows players to really challenge themselves on their way to World Cup glory.

But it’s the game modes that really make the game something special. You can either play World Tournament, which involves you taking one of the 91 counties on the game through the qualifiers and then in to the main tournament on the way to lifting the famous trophy.

Or, if you prefer a much longer task, you can have a go at the World League, which is something of a career mode – although you can only play as ‘Team Football.’

You begin in Division Six and work your way up through the leagues, earning gold coins along the way. The more games you win, the more coins you earn and the more you can subsequently level up your players.

It’s an enjoyable journey through the ranks of world football with less emphasis on quality and more on perseverance and skill.

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As mobile football games go, it has to be up there with the best at the moment. The simple graphics adds substance to the game and the gameplay is almost seamless, while the simple game features allow you to play and enjoy the game without any need to worry about other, meaningless aspects of the app.

And with it priced at just 69p, Official England Football isn’t exactly going to break the bank while you enjoy showing Roy Hodgson exactly how it’s done by leading England to glory in Brazil.

You can download the app here.