Four move nearer finals

The latest round of qualifying matches for the UEFA European Under-21 Championship saw four teams secure top position in their respective groups and earn a place in the play-offs for next year's finals.

Polish progress
Poland secured top position in Group 4 with a 1-1 draw against Sweden, a result that, coupled with second-placed Hungary's 2-0 defeat in Latvia, gave the home side an unassailable four-point lead with a game still to play. The home side fell behind in the seventh minute when Swedish substitute Pablo Piñones-Arce capitalised on a defensive misunderstanding, but another substitute, Marcin Nowacki, earned a draw three minutes into the second half.

Spain into play-offs
Spain also booked their place in the play-offs, as goals in either half from Valdo and Rubén Castro helped them to a 2-0 victory against Ukraine in Murcia that guaranteed first place in Group 6. Elsewhere in the section, Northern Ireland defeated Armenia 3-1.

Croatia coast through
Croatia confirmed their progress from Group 8 with a 2-0 victory away to second-placed Belgium thanks to two goals in six minutes midway through the first half from Mario Lucic and Niko Kranjcar.

Swiss success
Switzerland secured top position in Group 10 with a hard-earned 2-1 victory away to Russia in Moscow. Goals in the first half-hour from Alain Nef and striker Daniel Gygax put the visitors in command and, although Spartak Gogniev reduced the arrears four minutes before half-time, Russia finished the game with nine men after Dmitri Koudriashov and Roman Pavlyuchenko were both sent off in the final ten minutes. Meanwhile, Albania ended their qualifying campaign with a 3-0 win against Georgia.

Wasted opportunities
Two other sides, meanwhile, missed their chance to win their groups. Second-placed Serbia and Montenegro's 1-0 win against Italy - through Dejan Milovanovic's 29th-minute effort - left the leaders still needing a point to progress from Group 9, a section in which Wales and Finland drew 0-0.

Czechs miss out
The Czech Republic, meanwhile, were unable to secure top place in Group 3 as Youssouf Hersi's last-minute winner earned the Netherlands a 2-1 away victory in Liberec. The visitors took an early lead through Jordi Hoogstrate, but were pegged back 15 minutes from time as Pavel Fort headed an equaliser, with Tomáš Hrdlicka having earlier missed a penalty for the home side.

Tight at the top
In Group 2, Denmark missed the chance to overtake Norway at the top as they were held to a goalless draw by Romania. The result left the Scandinavian rivals level on 16 points with Norway ahead by virtue of a better head-to-head record with just one match left to play. Bosnia-Herzegovina are third and won 1-0 in Luxembourg thanks to a Duško Stajic strike.

Portugal press on
Portugal ended England's qualification hopes and sealed second place in Group 7 with a 2-1 away win. The visitors took an early lead, with Quaresma opening the scoring from a free-kick. Although Joey Barton equalised before half-time, Hélder Postiga's deflection from Hugo Viana's free-kick 12 minutes from time gave the Portuguese a decisive victory.

Scottish glee
Shaun Maloney's 61st-minute goal proved enough for Scotland to defeat Germany 1-0 in Ahlen, a result which sent the Scots to the top of Group 5 by virtue of a superior record in games between the two sides.

First points dropped
Group 1 leaders France dropped their first points of the campaign as they were held to a goalless draw in Slovenia. Meanwhile, Israel's slender qualification hopes were kept alive by a 3-0 victory against Malta, with Tamir Cohen, Omer Golan and Reuven Over on target.