The circle is getting smaller and smaller: Saturday and Wednesday will be decisive days to know the final components of the Euro 2008 table, the 14 teams which will join hosts Austria and Switzerland in Europe’s highest football competition next year. 10 national teams are within mathematical reach of obtaining their ticket as of Saturday, a day which should see plenty of tense and entertaining matches such as Scotland-Italy, Norway-Turkey, Israel-Russia, and Spain-Sweden.
On Saturday 42 European national teams will step onto the grass for their last (or second-to-last) Euro 2008 qualifying round: Germany, Czech Republic, Greece and Romania have already earned their ticket to Austria/Switzerland, while Spain, Holland, Sweden and Croatia are very very close. Norway-Turkey promises to be a great battle in group C, and as we all know the whole of England will have their eyes pointed at Tel Aviv: if Israel lose against Russia, the Three Lions are out.
Here’s a round-up of each qualifying group, with an analysis of the situation with regards to Euro 2008 qualification.
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| The 4 teams still in contention in this group all have home games well within their reach: Finland-Azerbaijan, Poland-Belgium, Serbia-Kazakhstan, Portugal-Armenia. All expectations seem to point towards a final resolution on Wednesday. | ||
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| Matches Saturday: | Finland vs. Azerbaijan Poland vs. Belgium Serbia vs. Kazakhstan Portugal vs. Armenia |
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| Already qualified: | / | |
| Can qualify Saturday: | Poland, Portugal | |
| Can be eliminated Saturday: | Finland, Serbia | |
| Already out: | Belgium, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan | |
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| Lithuania-Ukraine will be completely uninfluential: all the eyes are pointed towards Glasgow, for Scotland-Italy. A victory for the Scots would send them through, while all the Azzurri need is a tie. | ||
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| Matches Saturday: | Scotland vs. Italy Lithuania vs. Ukraine |
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| Already qualified: | / | |
| Can qualify Saturday: | France, Italy, Scotland | |
| Can be eliminated Saturday: | Scotland | |
| Already out: | Ukraine, Lithuania, Georgia, Faroe Islands | |
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| Greece-Malta and Moldova-Hungary will be played for honour alone, the decisive match for qualification will be Norway-Turkey. The Scandinavians are defending a 2-point lead on Fatih Terim’s team, and will have the home advantage. | ||
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| Matches Saturday: | Norway vs. Turkey Moldova vs. Hungary Greece vs. Malta |
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| Already qualified: | Greece | |
| Can qualify Saturday: | Norway | |
| Can be eliminated Saturday: | Turkey | |
| Already out: | Bosnia, Hungary, Moldova, Malta | |
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| Wales-Ireland, Germany-Cyprus and Czech Rep-Slovakia should all be considered (in theory) friendly matches: Czechs and Germans are already through to the final tournament, Wales & Ireland are already out. | ||
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| Matches Saturday: | Wales vs. Ireland Germany vs. Cyprus Czech Republic vs. Slovakia |
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| Already qualified: | Germany, Czech Republic | |
| Can qualify Saturday: | / | |
| Can be eliminated Saturday: | / | |
| Already out: | Ireland, Cyprus, Slovakia, Wales, San Marino | |
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| In England’s group, Croatia will only be needing 1 point from their away game in Macedonia to celebrate. Meanwhile, for England’s hopes to remain alive Israel must absolutely not lose against Russia on Saturday, or it will be curtains for McLaren & co. (although not mathematically on Saturday). In the last match, Andorra will be going after their first points in the qualifiers against Estonia. | ||
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| Matches Saturday: | Andorra vs. Estonia Macedonia vs. Croatia Israel vs. Russia |
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| Already qualified: | / | |
| Can qualify Saturday: | Croatia | |
| Can be eliminated Saturday: | / | |
| Already out: | Israel, Macedonia, Estonia, Andorra | |
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| This group will feature a clash between the top 2 teams of the group: Sweden needs only 1 point, but such a result might also benefit Spain if Northern Ireland doesn’t beat Denmark. Latvia-Lichtenstein the third match of the day. | ||
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| Matches Saturday: | Latvia vs. Liechtenstein Northern Ireland vs. Denmark Spain vs. Sweden |
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| Already qualified: | / | |
| Can qualify Saturday: | Sweden, Spain | |
| Can be eliminated Saturday: | Denmark, Northern Ireland | |
| Already out: | Iceland, Latvia, Lichtenstein | |
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| Everything is ready for the big Oranje party: the more than likely success of Holland against Luxembourg should make the eventual win of Bulgaria on Romania (already qualified) futile. The other match will feature Albania-Belarus. | ||
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| Matches Saturday: | Bulgaria vs. Romania Albania vs. Belarus Netherlands vs. Luxembourg |
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| Already qualified: | Romania | |
| Can qualify Saturday: | Netherlands | |
| Can be eliminated Saturday: | Bulgaria | |
| Already out: | Albania, Slovenia, Belarus, Luxembourg | |
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Marco Pantanella writes for the mCalcio blog
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