PREVIEW: Klose and Xavi reach milestones as Euro qualifying resumes

Miroslav Klose completes 10 years of national team duty and Xavi is set for his 100th cap as Germany and Spain aim to maintain their perfect record in Euro 2012 qualifying.
World and European champions Spain host the Czech Republic in a Group I topper on Friday night before the record three-time winners Germany meet Kazakhstan on Saturday in Group A.

Norway and the Netherlands are the other two teams to yet drop a point in the nine groups as qualifying resumes with 19 games on the weekend and another 10 on Tuesday.
The focus will also be on the return of winger Franck Ribery into the France squad, and on John Terry who has been made England captain again after being stripped of the captaincy 13 months ago.
Klose, 32, comes full circle in Kaiserslautern, as he made his Germany debut there on March 24, 2001, as a substitute and headed a late 2-1 winner over Albania.
Saturday will mark his 107th cap as Klose has found the net 59 times, only nine goals less than the record 68 from Gerd Mueller.
"He is a world class player," said Germany's Real Madrid midfielder Mesut Oezil of the eternal Klose.
Looking at the second meeting with Kazakhstan after a 3-0 victory in the former Soviet republic in autumn, Oezil said: "It is our aim to dictate the game and to win it, of course."
Germany command the standings with 12 points from Austria, who have seven ahead of Friday's date with Belgium and a Tuesday trip to Turkey.

Xavi, meanwhile, was one of the midfield masterminds as Spain beat Germany for the Euro 2008 crown and the Netherlands for the 2010 World Cup title.

Just as Klose in Germany, the 31-year-old Xavi was praised enthusiastically in Spain as he approaches the 100-cap milestone achieved only by one other outfield player in the country - Raul Gonzalez' on 106 games.

Forward Fernando Llorente named the Barcelona star "among the best Spanish footballers of all-time" and midfielder Javi Martinez compared him to France legend Zinedine Zidane.

The holders are without without injury victims Carles Puyol, Pedro and Cesc Fabregas, but forward David Villa hopes for maximum results against the second-placed Czechs and in Lithuania on Tuesday.

"The sooner we are qualified (for the finals) the better. That way we will not suffer a lot ... If we win both we will have a foot and a half in the finals," said Villa.

The Dutch, meanwhile, aim to continue their dominance in Group E with an away (Friday) and home (Tuesday) double-header against current number two Hungary.

Group H leaders Norway seek their fourth victory in as many games on Saturday in a Scandinavian duel with Denmark.

Ribery, meanwhile, returns into the team of Group D leaders France along with Patrice Evra after they were banned over a World Cup team training boycott in connection with the expulsion of Nicolas Anelka.

The Bayern Munich winger Ribery apologised on Monday for his role in the shameful incidents at the tournament in South Africa and vowed to give it all he has again for Les Bleus, who are at minnows Luxembourg on Friday.

Terry will lead the England team onto the Cardiff pitch against hosts Wales after manager Fabio Capello decided to make him captain again. A victory would draw England level on 10 points with Group G leaders Montenegro, who are idle.

Elsewhere, Group B sees leaders Russia at number two Armenia, Group F leaders Croatia are in Georgia and Group C also has a topper when Italy hope to stay ahead of Slovenia in Ljubljana.

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli stuck to his ethical code and did not pick midfielder Daniele De Rossi and striker Mario Balotelli over suspensions received for violent fouls during recent club games.