ROAD TO FINALS STARTS TO CLEAR
uefa.com
Thursday 13 September 2007
Switzerland
This week’s UEFA EURO 2008~Y qualifiers have moved several teams
to within touching distance of next summer’s finals, but with games
still left in October and November, so far all that can be said for
sure is that co-hosts Austria and Switzerland will be there.
uefa.com examines the seven groups, each of which carry two qualifying
places.
Group A Poland drew in Portugal and Finland this week to maintain
first place. Finland are two points behind but the same distance
ahead of Portugal after they conceded a late equaliser on Wednesday
at home to Serbia. That team are a further point back, though both
the Portugal and Serbia have four games left rather than three in the
sole eight-nation group. On 13 October Poland welcome Kazakhstan,
Portugal visit bottom side Azerbaijan, Finland visit fifth-placed
Belgium and Serbia go to Armenia.
Group B Scotland’s stunning 1-0 win in France took them to the top
of the group, one point ahead of Italy following their 2-1 triumph
in Ukraine. France, whose only two defeats have been inflicted by
Scotland, are a further point back, with Ukraine six more adrift though
they have a game in hand. Scotland play Ukraine on 13 October, as
Italy meet Georgia and France go to the Faroe Islands. Italy’s trip to
Scotland on 17 November is the only remaining meeting of the top three.
Group C Reigning champions Greece came away from Norway with a 2-2 draw
to remain two points clear with a game in hand. Turkey joined Norway
on 17 points as they defeated Hungary 3-0, though still have to meet
their two main rivals, while Bosnia-Herzegovina are four points behind
after a surprise home loss to bottom team Moldova. That nation are
Turkey’s 13 October opponents, with Greece playing Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Four days later Norway go to Bosnia-Herzegovina and Turkey meet Greece.
Group D Leaders Germany sat out Wednesday’s qualifying action but
their position was strengthened as the Czech Republic, in second,
beat the third-placed Republic of Ireland 1-0. Germany, who have
four games to go rather than their main rivals’ three, lead the Czech
Republic by two points with Ireland now six adrift of second place. A
draw in Ireland on 13 October would book Germany’s qualification,
while an away win would also take the Czech Republic through. The
top two then meet in Munich four days later.
Group E Croatia remain unbeaten at the top and defeated Estonia and
Andorra this week to go three points clear. England’s 3-0 wins against
Israel and Russia have lifted them to second, and lead their Wembley
victims by three and two points respectively. England play Estonia
in the only 13 October game and four days later Croatia could all
but seal qualification with a home win against Israel, and indeed
victory will be enough if Russia do not defeat England in Moscow.
Group F Sweden sat out Wednesday’s action and were joined on
19 points by Spain, who beat Latvia 2-0, though the Scandinavian
nation have a game in hand. Own-goal defeats for Northern Ireland in
Latvia and Iceland have left them three points behind, with Denmark
two further back, though like Spain they still have four fixtures
remaining. Denmark welcome Spain on 13 October while Sweden go to
Liechtenstein.
Group G The Netherlands needed a late goal to win 1-0 in Albania,
and like Romania now have 20 points from eight games. Still unbeaten,
the top two play in Romania on 13 October while Bulgaria, two points
back but with one fewer fixture remaining after defeating Luxembourg
3-0, are not in action that day.