Ongoing battle for World Cup places

Group 1
The top three sides all won with the Netherlands and the Czech Republic building on weekend victories to maintain their leading positions. The Dutch, 2-0 winners in Romania on Saturday, scored another 2-0 success in Eindhoven over Armenia while the Czech Republic, who had squeezed past Finland 4-3, had no such trouble this time winning 4-0 in Andorra. Romania came back from defeat to prevail 2-1 in F.Y.R. Macedonia. The Netherlands remain top, unbeaten on 16 points from six matches, one ahead of the Czechs and three clear of Romania who have played a game more.

Group 2
Ukraine's build-up to the match with Denmark was clouded by Oleh Blokhin's offer to resign as coach earlier in the month. But with Blokhin now firmly re-established, Ukraine maintained their push for a first-ever major finals appearance with a 1-0 success in Kiev. That kept Ukraine top, three points above improving European champions Greece, who followed up Saturday's 3-1 triumph in Georgia with a 2-0 home victory over Albania. Turkey also won for the second time in five days, adding to the scalp of Albania with a 5-2 victory in Georgia. After seven games, Ukraine have 17 points, Greece 14 and Turkey 12 with Denmark slipping behind on nine.

Group 3
Portugal returned home from Bratislava with a welcome point after a 1-1 draw with Slovakia which kept the two teams level at the top with 14 points from six matches. The pair meet again in Portugal on 4 June and whoever wins that tie would take a huge step towards the finals. Russia missed an opportunity to close the gap when they drew 1-1 in Estonia. Latvia kept their slim hopes alive by beating Luxembourg 4-0.

Group 4
The most intriguing group of all remained wide open after Israel drew 1-1 with France in Tel-Aviv and Switzerland beat Cyprus 1-0 in Zurich. Although France and Israel moved into first and second places with ten points from six outings, Switzerland and Ireland are right behind them, level on nine points and both with a game in hand. None of the top four have lost yet, but France did see two points slip away when they conceded their first goal of the campaign, allowing Israel a late equaliser after David Trezeguet had headed them in front. Five minutes later he was sent off for head-butting on a night the French would rather forget.

Group 5
A largely reserve Italy team drew 0-0 with Iceland in a friendly in Palermo while their rivals struggled to make any impact on the Azzurri's lead in the section. Norway and Slovenia, who could have narrowed Italy's advantage to two points, both failed in their quests. Norway could only draw 0-0 at bottom-placed Moldova while Slovenia were held 1-1 at home by Belarus. Italy, who have 12 points from five matches, will take a huge stride towards Germany if they beat Norway in Oslo on 4 June.

Group 6
The gulf in class was emphasised for the second time in five days as the top three all won again and the bottom three all lost. England followed up Saturday's 4-0 win against Northern Ireland with a 2-0 victory over Azerbaijan, who lost 8-0 in Poland on Saturday. The Poles, though, struggled to beat Northern Ireland 1-0 in Warsaw while Austria, who had scored two late goals to defeat Wales 2-0 in Cardiff, needed another late strike to overcome the Welsh 1-0 in Vienna. That left England top with 16 points, one above Poland who remain four clear of Austria.

Group 7
Pacesetters Serbia and Montenegro allowed Spain to leave Belgrade with a point from a 0-0 draw that could prove highly beneficial to the latter as the second half of the tournament unfolds. Serbia and Montenegro remain in front on eleven points from five games, two ahead of Spain, whose next three qualifiers are all at home. Lithuania's indifferent campaign continued with a 1-1 draw in Bosnia-Herzegovina, but Belgium's continued to gather pace despite a slender 2-1 win in San Marino who scored their first goal of the competition through Andy Selva.

Group 8
Croatia went top, replacing Sweden who were not playing, thanks to a 3-0 win against Malta. With all six teams having played five matches, Croatia have 13 points and Sweden 12. Bulgaria looked set to narrow the gap on the leaders but allowed Hungary a last-minute equaliser and a share of the points from a 1-1 draw in Budapest.