Trio through ahead of November deciders
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Article summary
Holders Greece, Romania and the Czech Republic qualified for UEFA EURO 2008™ on Wednesday but 18 teams will compete next month for the ten remaining finals berths.
Article body
Three more teams booked their places in UEFA EURO 2008™ on Wednesday but ten more finals slots are still available. These will be determined in the last sets of qualifiers on 17 and 21 November with 18 nations still in contention over six unresolved groups. uefa.com looks at the state of play after a night of celebrations for Romania, the Czech Republic and holders Greece, but near-misses for Croatia, England and Sweden.
Group A
Portugal moved to within one point of leaders Poland with a 2-1 win in Kazakhstan. Three points further back are Serbia, 6-1 victors in Azerbaijan, and Finland. All four play twice next month, with Poland knowing a home win against Belgium would secure qualification. Portugal will aim to pick up more points against Armenia and than both Serbia and Finland do against Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan respectively to prevent the group going to the final day, when Poland visit Serbia and Portugal play Finland.
Group B
France are the new leaders after their 2-0 win against Lithuania as Scotland lost by the same scoreline in Georgia to fall one point behind. Italy are a further point back and down to third, but have a game in hand. If Scotland beat Italy on 17 November they will qualify but any other result will leave the world champions' fate in their own hands for their subsequent home game against the Faroe Islands. France visit Ukraine knowing they will qualify by matching Scotland's result against Italy.
Group C
Holders Greece have qualified with a 1-0 win in Turkey. That result allowed Norway to move two points ahead of Turkey into second with a 2-0 success in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The crucial game now is between Norway and Turkey in Oslo on 17 November. Norway would qualify with victory although a point followed by a win in Malta four days later will suffice. If Turkey prevail they would qualify with another win at home to Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Group D
Germany had already booked their place on Saturday and the Czech Republic have now joined them – and moved into first place – after their 3-0 victory in Munich. As it turned out they could even have afforded to draw as their sole remaining challengers, Ireland and Cyprus, tied 1-1.
Group E
Had England held on to their 1-0 lead in Russia, they would have gone through with leaders Croatia. But Russia's comeback win moved them within two points of England and five of first place. Unbeaten Croatia need only a point in F.Y.R. Macedonia on 17 November or in England four days later. Russia would qualify with wins in Israel and Andorra, while England must hope Russia drop points and will still need to beat Croatia in their sole remaining game.
Group F
Sweden were denied progress after a 1-1 with Northern Ireland but moved one point clear of Spain at the top. Northern Ireland are five points behind Spain, as are Denmark after defeating Latvia 3-1. If Northern Ireland draw with Denmark on 17 November, Sweden and Spain, who meet on the same day, will qualify. If Sweden lose, a point against Latvia four days later would suffice; similarly a draw at home to Northern Ireland that day would do for Spain regardless of their previous result. Denmark need wins against Northern Ireland and Iceland and two losses for Spain. Northern Ireland need to beat Denmark and Spain and hope the latter lose to Sweden.
Group G
Romania's 2-0 victory in Luxembourg secured their first final tournament appearance since 2000 as Bulgaria were held 1-1 in Albania. The Netherlands beat Slovenia 2-0 to lead Bulgaria by four points. Marco van Basten’s team only need two more points from games at home to Luxembourg and in Belarus to qualify even if Bulgaria defeat Romania and Slovenia.