By James Pearson Last updated: 11th September 2008
There can only be one serious contender for this prize and it goes to Theo Walcott. Fabio Capello was debating in his mind whether to play Walcott out wide right for the second game in succession or go with the experience of David Beckham. Thankfully Capello stuck with his original plan as the Arsenal man netted a blistering hat-trick in England's fine 4-1 win over nemesis Croatia. A mention also goes to Germany's Mirolsav Klose, who also scored three against Finland.
A striker is gauged on his ability to find the back of the net and Walcott's ability to beat Stipe Pletikosa was uncanny. While his first two finishes were well-struck efforts past the keeper into the far corner of the net, his third was a bit of everything. He latched onto Wayne Rooney's through-ball before outstripping Croatia's defence with his blistering pace and despatching the ball home using the outside of his right foot. A real classy finish.
They say goals win matches, but saves can also fall into that bracket. That proved the case on Wednesday as Gareth Bale missed the chance to open the scoring for Wales against Russia from the penalty spot. The Spurs ace looked confident enough in his run up but Akinfeev guessed the right way and kept out the full-back's shot. Had Wales scored they may have gone on to get something from the game, but as it happened, despite a brave display, they slipped to a 2-1 defeat in Moscow. Elsewhere, Petr Cech pulled off a fine save to deny Warren Feeney as Czech Republic held Northern Ireland at Windsor Park.
After going four matches without success, including last weekend's surprise 1-0 defeat to Macedonia, the pressure was starting to build on Scotland manager George Burley. However, that run ended on Wednesday courtesy of a fine 2-1 away win in Iceland. The Scots clinched the win thanks to goals from Kirk Broadfoot and James McFadden, although Stephen McManus' late sending off made for a nervy finish.
Scotland were cruising to victory in Iceland courtesy of goals from Broadfoot and McFadden, but George Burley's mood quickly changed when Celtic defender Stephen McManus handballed Emil Hallfredsson's cross in the box. McManus was rightly given a red card while Eidur Gudjohnsen dispatched the ensuing penalty to set up a tense finale. Thankfully for Scotland they held on for a deserved win.
Cole was the hero with his brace off the bench in England's 2-0 weekend win over Andorra, but his evening's work on Wednesday was cut short following a meaty challenge from Robert Kovac. With England leading 1-0 in Croatia, thanks to Walcott's first half opener, Slaven Bilic's side were left up against it when Kovac was dismissed for an apparent elbow on Cole. The Chelsea ace was left needing double-figures in stitches in a nasty head wound.
As if failing to impress on home soil in Euro 2008 was bad enough, Swiss football is now at a new low. The visit of Luxembourg normally sees opposing strikers rub their hands in glee at how many goals they might score. However, despite losing 59 or their previous 60 matches, Luxembourg threw the form book out of the window on Wednesday thanks to Fons Leweck's 86th minute match-winning goal.
When the home team scores three invariably they win, while when a visiting player bags a hat-trick they often prevail, but on this occasion the game finished in a thrilling three-all draw. Finland led three times in Helsinki through goals from Jonatan Johansson, Mika Vayrynen and Daniel Sjolund, but they simply could not keep Klose quiet, as he equalised all three goals as Germany maintained their unbeaten start to life in Group 4.

Latest Sky Sports News Report
Chelsea 1-0 Man Utd - Ferguson
Chelsea 1-0 Man Utd - Ancelotti
West Ham 1-2 Everton - Zola
West Ham 1-2 Everton - Moyes
Wigan 1-1 Fulham - Martinez
Wigan 1-1 Fulham - Hodgson
Hull 2-1 Stoke - Horton
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Sunday 8th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | Hull vs Stoke |
| 15:00 | West Ham vs Everton |
| 15:00 | Wigan vs Fulham |
| 16:00 | Chelsea vs Man Utd |
| Monday 9th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 20:00 | Liverpool vs Birmingham |
| Saturday 21st November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:45 | Liverpool vs Man City |
| 15:00 | Birmingham vs Fulham |
| 15:00 | Burnley vs Aston Villa |
| 15:00 | Chelsea vs Wolverhampton |
| 15:00 | Hull vs West Ham |
| 15:00 | Sunderland vs Arsenal |
| 17:30 | Man Utd vs Everton |
| Sunday 22nd November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | Bolton vs Blackburn |
| 15:00 | Tottenham vs Wigan |
| 16:00 | Stoke vs Portsmouth |
| Wednesday 25th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Hull vs Everton |
| 20:00 | Fulham vs Blackburn |
| Saturday 28th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Blackburn vs Stoke |
| 15:00 | Fulham vs Bolton |
| 15:00 | Man City vs Hull |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Saturday 7th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 5 - 1 Bolton | |
| Blackburn 3 - 1 Portsmouth | |
| Man City 3 - 3 Burnley | |
| Tottenham 2 - 0 Sunderland | |
| Wolverhampton 1 - 4 Arsenal | |
| Wednesday 4th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| West Ham 2 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Sunday 1st November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Birmingham 0 - 0 Man City | |
| Saturday 31st October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Arsenal 3 - 0 Tottenham | |
| Everton 1 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Burnley 2 - 0 Hull | |
| Stoke 2 - 2 Wolverhampton | |
| Sunderland 2 - 2 West Ham | |
| Portsmouth 4 - 0 Wigan | |
| Bolton 0 - 4 Chelsea | |
| Fulham 3 - 1 Liverpool | |
| Man Utd 2 - 0 Blackburn | |
| Sunday 25th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Bolton 3 - 2 Everton | |
| Liverpool 2 - 0 Man Utd | |
| West Ham 2 - 2 Arsenal | |
| Man City 2 - 2 Fulham | |
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