With England not involved in Friday's round of Euro 2010 qualifying fixtures, there's a chance for the rest of the home nations and the Republic of Ireland to take the spotlight.

And with all four of Scotland, Wales, Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland facing crucial games it promises to be a pivotal night in the qualifying hopes of all four nations.

Scotland are in Group I, which realistically looks set to become a race for second spot behind world champions Spain.

Scotland are well in that race after taking four points from their opening two games - albeit in slightly fortunate style after a last-gasp victory over minnows Liechtenstein last time out - and now face the Czech Republic.

After the highs of the early part of the 2000s, the Czechs are something of a fading force and failed to qualify for the World Cup in South Africa after finishing behind Slovakia and Slovenia in Group 3.

And they got off to a bad start in their Euro 2012 campaign with a 1-0 home defeat to Lithuania.

Scotland may have ridden their luck to get to four points, but they now have a great chance to heap more pressure on the Czechs and take control of the race for a play-off spot in this group.

Craig Levein's first game in charge of Scotland was a 1-0 win over the Czech Republic and they look overpriced to repeat that - even away from home.

The Scots make plenty of appeal at 5.20 to take all three points, but we'll play slightly safe and instead take the 3.70 generally available in the draw no bet market.

One British side who didn't start well was Wales - going down 1-0 in a scrappy clash against Montenegro.

But they have the chance to put that right against another fading European force in Bulgaria.

Fabio Capello's under-fire England swept Bulgaria aside 4-0 in the opening game of the group, and they followed that with a home defeat to Montenegro.

The poor starts made by Wales and Bulgaria saw both sides lose their head coaches and that makes things tricky.

Wales look to be in with a great chance here against a limited Bulgaria side, but the presence of new faces in the dugouts makes things harder to predict and injuries to key players dampens the enthusiasm for backing a home win at 2.50

There looks to be better value in the first goalscorer market where Spurs' in-form left-winger Gareth Bale makes great each-way appeal at bet365's 13.00 with unlimited places.

Bale was a central figure in Tottenham's march to fourth place at the end of last season, and he's picked up that form this term with three goals and seven assists already for Spurs in the Premier League and Champions League.

The debate about Bale's best position seems to have ended now - he's created 20 chances for Spurs in the Premier League this season from an advanced role on the left, more than any other player - and he once again looks set to line up on the left wing for Wales on Friday.

With Craig Bellamy and Robert Earnshaw ruled out, newly-crowned Wales player of the year Bale looks not only the side's class act but also their likeliest goal threat given the inexperience of the strikers left available.

He looks sure to be the main man should Wales win any free-kicks within shooting range and may even be the man called on to take a penalty.

An each-way play looks cracking value, but we've already noted the lack of options Wales have up front. And with Dimitar Berbatov now retired from the international game it's a similar story for the Bulgarians.

Bulgaria have failed to score in both their games thus far, while Wales didn't find the target in Montenegro.

While 8.00 on no goalscorer isn't the fanciest price we've ever seen, it looks a fair one given the paucity of options available to both sides and looks worth a small saver.

The Republic of Ireland did what they had to do in their opening two games, taking maximum points against Armenia and Andorra to take top spot in the formative Group B table alongside Slovakia.

Now the Irish host Russia in a crucial game at the Aviva Stadium, with the group likely to come down to a three-way shootout between this pair and World Cup qualifiers Slovakia.

It's Russia who are on the back foot having lost at home to Slovakia last time out, and a win for Ireland would open up a more than handy six-point gap on the Russians and put Giovanni Trapattoni's side well on the way to a top-two finish.

With Russia under pressure and missing Roman Pavlyuchenko to an ankle injury, Ireland make plenty of initial appeal at 2.55 on home turf. But with injury problems also mounting for Trapattoni - Damien Duff, Keith Andrews and Keith Treacy are all out while Richard Dunne sat out training on Tuesday - a watching brief is advised on this one in what could become a cagey, attritional affair with so much riding on the result.

NorthernIreland host Italy in Group C in what looks another difficult one to call. Certainly we won't be rushing to back the 1.67 on an Italy side that flopped at the World Cup and had to come from behind to win in Estonia recently.

And Northern Ireland are a team worthy of respect - especially after winning their opening group game away to World Cup qualifiers Slovenia.

The general 5.20 available on a home win holds some appeal, but there must be doubts as to whether Nigel Worthington's side have the weapons to hurt the Italians and we'll once again give this one a swerve.

PICKS:
Scotland to beat Czech Republic at 3.70 draw no bet at Betsson.
Gareth Bale first goalscorer v Bulgaria at 13.00 at Bet365.
No goalscorer in Wales v Bulgaria at 8.00 at Bet365.