Campaigns come to the crunch

Last-gasp effort
Ukraine are the only side that can make certain of a place in Saturday's 22 matches, and coach Oleh Blokhin said his players must gather themselves for one final push. "We feel immense pressure, that's true," he said. "When you're this close to the pinnacle, you always have to summon extra energy for one last effort. Nobody is going to take this step for us."

Thirteen qualify
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
Romania's 2-0 August victory against bottom side Andorra moved them to within three and two points respectively of the Netherlands and the Czech Republic - but both UEFA EURO 2004™ semi-finalists have four games left, including their 8 October showdown, to the Romanians' two. The latter will be out of contention if they lose at home to the Czechs on Saturday, when the Dutch go to Armenia knowing victory would seal a top-two finish due to their head-to-head superiority over Romania. Four days later the Oranje play Andorra while the Czechs meet Armenia. Finland in fourth have only slim hopes, and take on Andorra and F.Y.R. Macedonia in September.

Group 2
Georgia's win in Kazakhstan in August kept them in the mathematical running for a play-off, but if Ukraine win in Tbilisi on Saturday they will be the first European qualifiers and earn a finals debut as an independent nation. Turkey are seven points behind in second with three games left, one point in front of Greece. Denmark, three behind Greece with a match in hand, visit Turkey on Saturday, while the European champions must wait four days to go to bottom team Kazakhstan. That day Ukraine will play Turkey, while Denmark entertain Georgia.

Group 3
Slovakia missed the chance to move level at the top with Portugal, as like the leaders, they were held in Liechtenstein. Portugal are two points above Slovakia with a game in hand, while Russia are three points behind after drawing in August with Latvia, a further point adrift having played a match more. On Saturday, Portugal tackle pointless Luxembourg, Russia welcome Liechtenstein and Latvia go to Estonia. Four days later Latvia face Slovakia, and Portugal visit Russia knowing a second win in a week could seal qualification if other results go their way.

Group 4
The only August fixture saw Cyprus secure a first win in the Faroe Islands, but the unbeaten top four were not in action. The Republic of Ireland, Switzerland, Israel and France have 13, 12, eleven and ten points respectively, with the Swiss and Les Bleus having four rather than three matches remaining. Switzerland will go two points clear if they defeat Israel on Saturday, when France host the Faroes. On Wednesday, Ireland play France, Switzerland go to Cyprus and Israel are in the Faroes.

Group 5
With no August qualifiers, Italy stay four points clear of Norway and Slovenia with Belarus and Scotland two and three further points behind. Italy visit Scotland on Saturday when Slovenia welcome Norway and Belarus make the trip to Moldova. The next set of games take Italy to Belarus, Slovenia to Moldova and Scotland to Norway.

Group 6
Poland are two points ahead of England, but have played a game more. On Saturday and Wednesday respectively, England have short journeys to Wales and Northern Ireland, while Poland entertain Austria and the Welsh. Austria, five points adrift of England, also visit Azerbaijan on 7 September four days after the former Soviet republic's trip to Belfast.

Group 7
Serbia and Montenegro are a point behind Spain, with a match in hand at home to Lithuania - only three points adrift of second - on Saturday, when Belgium play Bosnia-Herzegovina with both teams needing a win to have any remaining realistic hopes. Four days later, Spain welcome the Serbo-Montenegrins in a likely decider, the same night as Lithuania and Belgium's home games with Bosnia-Herzegovina and San Marino.

Group 8
Croatia lead Sweden by a point, with Hungary a further five behind with four matches left. Sweden host Bulgaria on Saturday, as Hungary take on bottom team Malta and Croatia journey to Iceland. Then Sweden visit Hungary, Croatia go to Malta and Bulgaria play Iceland.