Thursday, 8 September 2005
Despite some dramatic results on Wednesday, Ukraine remain the only confirmed qualifiers from Europe for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
Poland close
However, Poland are on the verge of joining them and England, the Netherlands, Sweden, Croatia and Portugal are also sure of top-two finishes with only October's matches left. All eight group winners qualify along with the two runners-up with the best records against the other top-six sides in their pool. The other second-placed teams meet in three home-and-away play-offs in November.
Group 1
The Netherlands, with the best record in any group, will definitely have at least a play-off after defeating Andorra, with the Czech Republic, victors against Armenia, up to second and four points adrift, but two ahead of Romania, who have played a game more. Therefore a point in the Czech Republic on 8 October would take the Dutch through, and even if they lose they need only beat F.Y.R. Macedonia four days later. Romania must win in Finland and hope the Czechs get only one point against the Dutch and Finns to finish second.
Group 2
Ukraine will finish top, but lost 1-0 at home to Turkey who stay second. Greece and Denmark overcame Kazakhstan and Georgia respectively, and are two and four points behind with a game in hand on 8 October - against each other. Victory would leave Greece requiring a win against Georgia to reach the play-offs, while a draw or Danish win would bring Denmark's trip to Kazakhstan and Turkey's visit to Albania into play.
Group 3
Portugal's draw in Russia leaves them five points clear of their hosts and Slovakia. Therefore Portugal need only draw at home to either Latvia or Liechtenstein to qualify. On 8 October, Slovakia and Russia play Estonia and Luxembourg before their showdown in Bratislava. The play-off contenders drew 1-1 in Russia.
Group 4
France's win in the Republic of Ireland could be pivotal, and Switzerland and Israel remained unbeaten along with Les Bleus by overcoming Cyprus and the Faroe Islands respectively. Switzerland and France are both one point above Israel – who have played a match more – and three in front of the Irish. The top two meet in Berne on 8 October when Israel welcome the Faroes and Ireland visit Cyprus, with the Swiss in Dublin and France playing Cyprus four days later with all four teams still in the hunt.
Group 5
Italy's success in Belarus and Norway's home defeat by Scotland leaves the Azzurri five points clear of the Scandinavians and Slovenia, who defeated Moldova. A draw for Italy at home to Slovenia on 8 October would be enough, when Norway, who are second on head-to-head record, welcome Moldova and Scotland, two points adrift of the play-offs, play Belarus.
Group 6
Poland's victory against Wales mean they look likely to end as one of the two best runners-up, at the very least. England's loss in Northern Ireland leaves them five points behind, but home wins against Austria - who can no longer catch the English after drawing in Azerbaijan - and Poland would give them first place.
Group 7
Serbia and Montenegro drew in Spain and are two points clear of the Spanish, with Bosnia-Herzegovina, thanks to a win in Lithuania, one point further adrift, and Belgium three behind Spain after defeating San Marino. Four points for Serbia and Montenegro from their games in Lithuania and against Bosnia-Herzegovina would give them qualification, with Spain to visit Belgium and San Marino, who also play the Bosnians on 8 October.
Group 8
Croatia's draw in Malta allowed Sweden to go one point clear with victory in Hungary. The top two are now confirmed and will meet in Zagreb on 8 October. With Sweden still to welcome Iceland, Croatia will probably need to win, and an away victory for Sweden in that showdown would confirm qualification.
Runners-up
Groups 1, 6 and 8 remain the most likely to provide the best runners-up, and should the Czechs not defeat the Dutch on 8 October, Poland will be assured of one of those two berths assuming they do not top their pool.
UEFA.com
---------------
Can't wait for the Sweden game. :thumb:
Despite some dramatic results on Wednesday, Ukraine remain the only confirmed qualifiers from Europe for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
Poland close
However, Poland are on the verge of joining them and England, the Netherlands, Sweden, Croatia and Portugal are also sure of top-two finishes with only October's matches left. All eight group winners qualify along with the two runners-up with the best records against the other top-six sides in their pool. The other second-placed teams meet in three home-and-away play-offs in November.
Group 1
The Netherlands, with the best record in any group, will definitely have at least a play-off after defeating Andorra, with the Czech Republic, victors against Armenia, up to second and four points adrift, but two ahead of Romania, who have played a game more. Therefore a point in the Czech Republic on 8 October would take the Dutch through, and even if they lose they need only beat F.Y.R. Macedonia four days later. Romania must win in Finland and hope the Czechs get only one point against the Dutch and Finns to finish second.
Group 2
Ukraine will finish top, but lost 1-0 at home to Turkey who stay second. Greece and Denmark overcame Kazakhstan and Georgia respectively, and are two and four points behind with a game in hand on 8 October - against each other. Victory would leave Greece requiring a win against Georgia to reach the play-offs, while a draw or Danish win would bring Denmark's trip to Kazakhstan and Turkey's visit to Albania into play.
Group 3
Portugal's draw in Russia leaves them five points clear of their hosts and Slovakia. Therefore Portugal need only draw at home to either Latvia or Liechtenstein to qualify. On 8 October, Slovakia and Russia play Estonia and Luxembourg before their showdown in Bratislava. The play-off contenders drew 1-1 in Russia.
Group 4
France's win in the Republic of Ireland could be pivotal, and Switzerland and Israel remained unbeaten along with Les Bleus by overcoming Cyprus and the Faroe Islands respectively. Switzerland and France are both one point above Israel – who have played a match more – and three in front of the Irish. The top two meet in Berne on 8 October when Israel welcome the Faroes and Ireland visit Cyprus, with the Swiss in Dublin and France playing Cyprus four days later with all four teams still in the hunt.
Group 5
Italy's success in Belarus and Norway's home defeat by Scotland leaves the Azzurri five points clear of the Scandinavians and Slovenia, who defeated Moldova. A draw for Italy at home to Slovenia on 8 October would be enough, when Norway, who are second on head-to-head record, welcome Moldova and Scotland, two points adrift of the play-offs, play Belarus.
Group 6
Poland's victory against Wales mean they look likely to end as one of the two best runners-up, at the very least. England's loss in Northern Ireland leaves them five points behind, but home wins against Austria - who can no longer catch the English after drawing in Azerbaijan - and Poland would give them first place.
Group 7
Serbia and Montenegro drew in Spain and are two points clear of the Spanish, with Bosnia-Herzegovina, thanks to a win in Lithuania, one point further adrift, and Belgium three behind Spain after defeating San Marino. Four points for Serbia and Montenegro from their games in Lithuania and against Bosnia-Herzegovina would give them qualification, with Spain to visit Belgium and San Marino, who also play the Bosnians on 8 October.
Group 8
Croatia's draw in Malta allowed Sweden to go one point clear with victory in Hungary. The top two are now confirmed and will meet in Zagreb on 8 October. With Sweden still to welcome Iceland, Croatia will probably need to win, and an away victory for Sweden in that showdown would confirm qualification.
Runners-up
Groups 1, 6 and 8 remain the most likely to provide the best runners-up, and should the Czechs not defeat the Dutch on 8 October, Poland will be assured of one of those two berths assuming they do not top their pool.
UEFA.com
---------------
Can't wait for the Sweden game. :thumb:
:thumb:
