U21 contenders look to end year on high

With the campaign to reach the 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Championship taking a break after the midweek fixtures, qualification and elimination will draw a step closer in the coming days.

Play-off race
Not until March will the race for Denmark be renewed and, while no play-off berths can be confirmed this week, elimination from the running could be all but guaranteed for several leading contenders. Only the ten countries that win their pools and the four runners-up with the best record against the top five in their respective groups will be in next autumn's play-offs.

Holders struggle
Holders Germany face an uphill struggle after conceding a late equaliser in Northern Ireland on Friday and now trail the Czech Republic and Iceland by eight points in Group 5, with just one and two games in hand respectively. Germany go to San Marino on Tuesday when the Czech Republic, yet to drop a point, visit Northern Ireland in their last away match of the group. Five-time winners Italy, after a reverse in Hungary on Friday, will already be out of contention for top spot if they lose in Luxembourg on Tuesday and Group 3 leaders Wales avoid defeat in Bosnia-Herzegovina the following afternoon.

England continue
The 2009 runners-up England are better placed, sitting three points short of Group 9 leaders Greece with a game in hand. Indeed, England could go top if they prevail in Lithuania on Tuesday and Greece lose in Portugal, who must win to stay in the hunt for pole position following Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Wembley. Other than the Czech Republic, only two other sides have a perfect record and at least one will go when the Netherlands and Spain meet in Group 4.

Leaders meet
Also on Tuesday, France will aim to close a three-point gap to Group 8 frontrunners Ukraine by beating Slovenia in Reims, while the next day in Group 7 pacesetters Slovakia welcome second-placed Croatia with just one point between them. The same day Austria can get to the Group 10 summit when they take on Azerbaijan as Scotland are not in action, and in Group 6 a victory for Israel against Bulgaria would move them level with Sweden and Montenegro on ten points. Click here for current standings; click on the group headings for full fixture lists.