2007-10-15 - 2008 European Championship Qualifying - State of play
Group A
As there were no real surprises on Saturday, the state of play really hasn't changed other than that Poland and Portugal are a little closer to qualifying. Wednesday should see Portugal extend their lead over third-placed Finland by a further three points, but it looks like the group won't be decided until the final set of matches that take place on 21 November, that is assuming Finland beats Azerbaijan. Poland will be able to relax if they beat Belgium four days earlier. Portugal will have a nervy final game against Finland but only need a draw. A win for Finland in that game would mean Portugal would miss out.
Group B
Much like in Group A, all is still to play for in this group. Only Ukraine fell by the way-side following their loss away to Scotland. Assuming all other matches are won, the real decider will be played at Hampden Park when Scotland host Italy. France know that whatever happens in that decider, that if they beat Lithuania on Wednesday that they'll qualify if they beat Ukraine on the final day in the group, unless Scotland lose to Italy and don't win away to Georgia on Wednesday. It wouldn't be the first time the French face potential elimination on the final day, having missed out at home to Bulgaria in 1993.
Group C
Yet another group where all is still to play for with Greece, Turkey and Norway still in the running. On Saturday Turkey scraped a point away to Moldova meaning that Norway still have a realistic chance. With Turkey hosting Greece on Wednesday all of Norway will be hoping for a draw so that if Norway wins their game in hand they should be in the driving seat when they host Turkey in November. Greece will want to revenge the 1-4 home defeat they suffered against their bitter rivals in March, and if they do they'll qualify for the finals. Norway themselves must concentrate and make sure they don't slip on the banana skin that has seen many teams leave Sarajevo without a point to show for it.
Group D
Germany made sure of their place in the finals that never really looked in danger even though they weren't the better team in Dublin on Saturday. They'll want to make sure they end their qualification campaign on a high by beating their nearest challengers, the Czech Republic, on Wednesday, and then Cyprus and Wales at home on 17 and 21 November respectively. The Czechs themselves have the luxury of knowing even a loss will leave them with excellent chances because all they realistically need is a single point from their final three matches (away to Germany, home to Slovakia and away to Cyprus) to make the finals, assuming Cyprus don't beat both Ireland and Germany away and then the Czechs themselves at home on the final day.
Group E
Both Croatia and England kept the pressure on Russia by winning at home to Israel and Estonia respectively, but Russia aren't out of this group by any means. A win at home on their icy artificial surface in Moscow would mean that the Russians would have matters in their own hands, and even a draw wouldn't yet mean that they would be eliminated, although they would then need to hope that England lose to Croatia at home on the final day. A win for England would mean both they and Croatia qualify for the finals.
Group F
Following wins on Saturday for Sweden and Spain, it seems that it's just a matter of time before both will qualify for the finals. Sweden can make sure by beating the Northern Irish at home on Wednesday. Spain would then have the luxury of knowing that they could afford to lose at home to Sweden in their penultimate match if they can manage a draw to the Northern Irish on the final day.
Group G
Howling wind, driving rain and a goal that looked offside meant that Romania took a big step towards qualification on Saturday. Although even they admitted they were the inferior side, it was they who took the three points and leave the Netherlands with a minor headache. Saying all that, the Netherlands know that their inability to find the net means they are in this situation. Out of all the groups' top four teams, they've scored the fewest goals to date except for Slovenia. On the positive side however, the Netherlands know that following their crucial win over the third-placed team Bulgaria in September, that they have matters in their own hands. With home games against Slovenia and Luxembourg, and an away match to Belarus being the only realistic potential banana skin, the Dutch should be at the finals next summer. Bulgaria still have hope, but with three tricky games left they will need to be firing on all cylinders and hope that the Dutch continue to struggle. On Wednesday Bulgaria meet Albania away from home, and that is followed by a home match against the resilient Romanian side on 17 November. Their final match away to Slovenia is also not a foregone conclusion so the Netherlands might yet seal their place at home to Luxembourg in their penultimate match.
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