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Things to look out for in the European Qualifiers

UEFA.com contacted its reporters, brushed up on the news and leafed through the history books to pick out ten things to look out for in this week's European Qualifiers.

Wayne Rooney has been in fine form for England recently
Wayne Rooney has been in fine form for England recently ©AFP/Getty Images

1. Following the dismissal of Allen Bula as Gibraltar coach, interim boss Dave Wilson oversees the team for the Group D trip to Scotland. Born in Glasgow, Wilson not only returns to his country of birth but also becomes the first non-Gibraltarian to coach the side from the Rock.

2. Boshko and Mario Djurovski could become the first uncle and nephew combination to be involved in a game for FYR Macedonia should the latter play against Belarus in Group C. The 29-year-old is expected to return to the fold for the first time since 2012, when he moved to Muangthong United FC in Thailand.

Watch Rooney's goal against Slovenia

3. Wayne Rooney will equal Sir Bobby Charlton's all-time England scoring record of 49 goals with a hat-trick against Lithuania in Group E on 27 March. The Manchester United FC captain has registered in England's last four outings.

4. Bulgaria are looking to end a 47-year wait for a competitive triumph over Italy in Group H. The last time they achieved the feat was in April 1968, in qualifying for that summer's UEFA European Championship. They have since tackled the Azzurri 15 times, winning one – in a 1991 friendly – losing eight and drawing six.

5. Iceland's all-time top scorer, 24-goal Eidur Gudjohnsen, may feature in the Group A assignment in Kazakhstan, the 36-year-old having been persuaded out of international retirement. "He has the ability and is as fit as ever, but he has experience as well as personality which could be important," explained national co-coach Lars Lägerback.

Watch the best goals so far

6.Israel and Wales are both unbeaten at the top of Group B, yet neither team has ever qualified for the EURO finals. This fixture could help to determine where new ground is to be broken.

7. Tomáš Rosický will move on to 99 caps for the Czech Republic if he is deployed in the Group A qualifier against Latvia. The Arsenal FC midfielder will complete his century if he also figures in the subsequent friendly against Slovakia.

8. Greece's sole hope of staying afloat in Group F is victory against Hungary. They enter the match with a new coach – 70-year-old Sergio Markarián – following Claudio Ranieri's departure in November. Bosnia and Herzegovina will also have a new man in the dugout: Mehmed Baždarević's debut game comes in Andorra.

Watch Poland beat Germany

9. Belgium entertain Cyprus in Group B on Saturday. The last time Cyprus coach Charalampos Christodoulou was in Brussels, he was at the AEL Limassol FC helm and taking on RSC Anderlecht in the 2012/13 UEFA Champions League play-offs. His side were ten minutes from the group stage, only for their hosts to score twice to progress instead.

10. FC Bayern München striker Robert Lewandowski is one goal away from equalling Zbigniew Boniek in seventh place on the list of Poland's all-time leading scorers. Lewandowski currently has 23, also one away from being halfway towards record holder Włodzimierz Lubański.

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