Under-21 sides face Friday thrillers

By Paul Saffer

Teams have little more than six months to earn a place in the 2004/06 UEFA European Under-21 Championship play-offs - and Friday's first full set of fixtures of 2005 throws up some crucial encounters, including top-two tussles in Groups 6 and 8. The first two sides in each pool when the group stage ends in October will qualify for November's play-offs for the eight final tournament berths. uefa.com rounds up the state of play as the qualifying campaign hots up.

Group 1
Leaders Romania, with a new coach in Florin Marin, are a point above the Czech Republic, with the Netherlands a further point behind but with a game in hand. All three are in action on Friday, with the Dutch travelling to Romania hoping to preserve their unbeaten record. The Czechs welcome Finland, whose only points came from victory at bottom team Armenia, who are away to the Netherlands on Tuesday. Fourth-placed F.Y.R. Macedonia entertain Romania on Wednesday.

Group 2
In the only seven-team section, Denmark lead Ukraine by three points at the top with a match in hand - which they play at home to rock-bottom Kazakhstan on Friday. The same day, Turkey can overtake Ukraine if they beat visitors Albania, while Greece will join the former Soviet republic on ten points should they win in Georgia. On Tuesday, Ukraine host Denmark, Greece meet Albania, and Turkey visit Georgia.

Group 3
Portugal, bronze medallists in 2002/04, have won their four games to claim a three-point advantage over Russia. Neither are in action on Friday, so Slovakia could go level with Russia if they win away to Estonia. On Tuesday, Portugal go to Slovakia and Latvia play Luxembourg, while the following day Russia make the trip to Estonia.

Group 4
France are yet to drop a point after three outings in this five-team pool, but will have a tough task in Troyes against 2002/04 qualifiers Switzerland, who are unbeaten in two matches. Israel, two points behind France but having played a game more, are at home to the Republic of Ireland, who need a win to keep any realistic play-off hopes alive. Tuesday's games see Israel take on France, and Switzerland face a Cypriot side without a point so far.

Group 5
Reigning champions Italy have four wins out of four, and could stretch their seven-point cushion over Slovenia when they welcome bottom team Scotland on Friday. The British side, however, know a first victory will take them second, behind the runaway leaders, in this tight group. The other four countries play on Tuesday, with Slovenia tackling surprise 2002/04 qualifiers Belarus and third-placed Norway travelling to Moldova.

Group 6
Joint-leaders Germany and England meet in a pivotal game in Hull on Friday. Both are unbeaten and are five points ahead of third-placed Poland, who can cut the gap to second by defeating Azerbaijan. Wales entertain Austria with neither team yet out of the hunt and they collide again on Tuesday, when England play Azerbaijan.

Group 7
Serbia and Montenegro, 2002/04 runners-up, top the group and have a new coach in Dragomir Okuka. There is only one Friday game, with third-placed Belgium able to claim pole position by beating Bosnia-Herzegovina, one of two teams without a point. On Tuesday, the Serbo-Montenegrins face Spain, who moved into second last month with a competition record 14-0 win against San Marino. The same day Belgium visit the Sammarinese, and Lithuania, currently only two points off the lead, play Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Group 8
Croatia, finalists last time around, look good again having won their three games without conceding a goal. They will be put to the test on Friday by Iceland, three points behind in second. Sweden, 2002/04 semi-finalists, are level with Hungary and Iceland, and journey to a Bulgarian side stuck on three points with Malta. On Tuesday, Hungary play Bulgaria and Malta have a daunting trip to Croatia.