Focus switches to UEFA EURO 2016 qualifiers
Monday, June 8, 2015
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Qualifying passes the halfway mark as the sixth round of games serves up top-of-the-group showdowns including Wales-Belgium, Slovenia-England and Croatia-Italy.
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UEFA EURO 2016 qualifying passes the halfway stage with the sixth set of fixtures on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Just two teams, England and Slovakia, hold perfect records and the likes of the Netherlands and Belgium are in danger of missing out on automatic places in France. UEFA.com looks at how the nine groups are shaping up; click on the video boxes for highlights of the key game so far in each section.
• After this week's games, the groups conclude with September and October double-headers.
• The nine group winners, the nine group runners-up and the best third-placed side will qualify directly for the final tournament in France.
• The eight remaining third-placed teams will contest play-offs in November to determine the last four qualifiers for the finals.
If qualifying were to end now ...
Qualified: France (hosts), Czech Republic, Iceland, Belgium, Wales, Slovakia, Spain (holders), Poland, Germany, Scotland (best third-place), England, Slovenia, Romania, Northern Ireland, Austria, Sweden, Croatia, Italy, Portugal, Denmark
Play-offs: Netherlands, Israel, Ukraine, Switzerland, Hungary, Russia, Norway, Albania
Standings are provisional until all group matches have been played.
Group A
Top two: Czech Republic, Iceland
Third: Netherlands
Friday: Kazakhstan v Turkey(18.00CET), Iceland v Czech Republic (20.45), Latvia v Netherlands (20.45)
• The Czech Republic lead hosts Iceland by a point, with the Netherlands five more behind.
• Iceland, chasing a maiden qualification, lost 2-1 to the Czechs in Plzen in November.
• The Netherlands, beaten 4-3 at home by the United States on Friday, grabbed a last-gasp draw in March with Turkey, who are two points behind the Dutch.
Group B
Top two: Belgium, Wales
Third: Israel
Friday: Andorra v Cyprus (20.45),Bosnia and Herzegovina v Israel(20.45),Wales v Belgium (20.45)
• Wales and Belgium are level, two points ahead of Israel, whom the top pair both beat away from home.
• It was 0-0 when Wales visited Belgium in November
• Cyprus and Bosnia and Herzegovina are respectively three and four points behind Israel.
Group C
Top two: Slovakia, Spain
Third: Ukraine
Sunday: Ukraine v Luxembourg (18.00), Belarus v Spain (20.45), Slovakia v FYR Macedonia (20.45)
• Slovakia's five wins include a 2-1 defeat of Spain in October; the gap remains three points.
• Spain moved three points ahead of Ukraine by beating them 1-0 in March.
• Belarus are five points adrift of Ukraine and the top three slots could be almost settled on Sunday.
Group D
Top two: Poland, Germany
Third: Scotland
Saturday: Poland v Georgia(18.00),Republic of Ireland v Scotland(18.00), Gibraltar v Germany(20.45)
• Another group with surprise leaders, though Poland's advantage was cut to one point in March.
• Germany and Scotland are level in second and Ireland are only two further points back.
• Germany host Poland and visit Scotland in the folllowing set of fixtures on 4 and 7 September.
Group E
Top two: England, Slovenia
Third: Switzerland
Sunday: Estonia v San Marino (18.00), Slovenia v England(18.00),Lithuania v Switzerland (20.45)
• England are six points clear of both their weekend hosts Slovenia and Switzerland.
• Lithuania are three points off second place so victory in Vilnius is paramount.
• Wayne Rooney is within two goals of Sir Bobby Charlton's England record of 49.
Group F
Top two: Romania, Northern Ireland
Third: Hungary
Saturday: Finland v Hungary(18.00), Faroe Islands v Greece (20.45), Northern Ireland v Romania (20.45)
• With Northern Ireland a point behind unbeaten leaders Romania, Saturday's fixture in Belfast looks like a decider.
• Hungary are four points off second place and the same distance ahead of their hosts Finland.
• Greece are yet to win and are a point behind the Faroe Islands, who beat them in Piraeus in November.
Group G
Top two: Austria, Sweden
Third: Russia
Sunday: Liechtenstein v Moldova (18.00),Russia v Austria(18.00),Sweden v Montenegro(20.45)
• Austria hold a four-point lead over Sweden and are one further ahead of their Sunday hosts Russia.
• Montenegro trail Russia by three points and could be cut adrift if they lose in Solna.
• Liechtenstein are only four points off Russia themselves and won 1-0 in Moldova in November.
Group H
Top two: Croatia, Italy
Third: Norway
Friday: Croatia v Italy (20.45), Malta v Bulgaria(20.45), Norway v Azerbaijan(20.45)
• Like Spain, the team that beat them in the 2012 final, Italy are second in their section.
• Croatia opened up a two-point lead in March and can extend that further in Split.
• Norway are two points behind Italy and have a cushion of four ahead of Bulgaria.
Group I
Top two: Portugal, Denmark
Third: Albania
Saturday: Armenia v Portugal (18.00), Denmark v Serbia (20.45)
• In the sole five-team group, Portugal are two points ahead of Denmark and Albania.
• Serbia are six points behind Denmark and defeat could all but end their chances.
• It is Albania's turn to sit out the qualifying fixtures on Saturday and play finals hosts France.
