Champions in pole position

There is a packed programme of UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying fixtures on Friday and Saturday as the contenders continue to chase the two play-off positions on offer in all eight groups. uefa.com rounds up the state of play in each group and looks ahead of the first of two sets of games in the coming days.

Group 1
Romania are a point above 2002 champions the Czech Republic, who have a game in hand after the leaders lost to F.Y.R. Macedonia in March. The Netherlands dropped five points in their March fixtures and will hope to defeat Romania on Friday and move back to within a point of the Czechs. On Saturday F.Y.R. Macedonia, a point behind the Dutch, visit Armenia. Bottom side Finland are not in action but gained a useful result in Wednesday, a home 2-1 friendly win against Denmark.

Group 2
Denmark themselves won twice in March and are five points clear, but do not play on Friday. Second-placed Turkey can close the gap by defeating Greece, with the visitors knowing three points would take them level with their hosts. Ukraine, a further point behind Greece, welcome Kazakhstan who have lost all five of their matches on their tournament box. Albania welcome Georgia, with the two teams level on five points, nine away from second place.

Group 3
Portugal have won all five of their matches and welcome Slovakia fresh from a 1-0 away victory there in March. Three points behind, and three clear of third-placed Slovakia, Russia are at home to Latvia, in fourth, on Saturday.

Group 4
Israel's dramatic 3-2 victory against France took them three points clear at the top, and if Guy Levi's team win their remaining two games, starting with the visit of the Republic of Ireland on Friday they are guaranteed a play-off place. France remain second, but like group rivals Switzerland and Cyprus have no fixtures until September.

Group 5
Claudio Gentile's Italy, the reigning U21 champions. gained their fifth win from five games against Scotland and their lead now stands at eight points halfway through their fixtures. Second-placed Norway welcome the Italians on Friday, well aware that if they lose either Belarus or Slovenia, who meet in Minsk, will overtake them. Scotland will hope to move off the bottom by defeating visitors Moldova.

Group 6
In the only Friday match in this pool, Poland can join second-placed Germany on eleven points with victory at winless Azerbaijan. Leaders England do not play again until September, and are unbeaten and three points ahead of Germany, who are also yet to lose and have a game in hand, in Poland on 16 August. Wales and Austria each gained a home win in their March double-header and are fourth and fifth respectively

Group 7
Belgium and 2004 U21 finalists Serbia and Montenegro are separated by a point at the top and play on Friday, with the leaders traveling to Novi Sad. Spain, whose loss against Serbia and Montenegro in March left them four points adrift of second place, meet Lithuania, who are a point behind. San Marino, who have lost all their six fixtures, encounter fifth-placed Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Group 8
Croatia, like Italy and Portugal, have a perfect record from five games, and are six points ahead of Sweden and Hungary. On Friday the leaders visit Bulgaria, Sweden welcome Malta and Iceland - three points adrift of second place - play Hungary.