Women's World Cup groups reaching climax
Thursday, September 11, 2014
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The last qualifying group matches are on Saturday and Wednesday with five teams to join Canada-bound England and Switzerland plus four to make the play-offs.
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The last FIFA Women's World Cup qualifying group stage games are played on Saturday and Wednesday as the identity of Europe's seven automatic qualifiers and four play-off hopefuls are confirmed.
• The seven group winners qualify for the finals in Canada.
• So far England and, for the first time, Switzerland have qualified.
• The four runners-up with the best records against the sides finishing first, third, fourth and fifth in their sections go into the play-offs in October and November for the one remaining UEFA berth.
• Already through to the expanded 24-team finals next summer alongside England and Switzerland are hosts Canada, holders Japan, Australia, China, South Korea and Thailand.
Games to watch (KOs CET)
• Saturday: Russia v Germany (Group 1, 14.45), Romania v Spain (Group 2, 16.00), Albania v Norway (Group 5, 13.00), Finland v France (Group 7, 18.30)
• Wednesday: Sweden v Scotland (Group 4, 18.00), Norway v Netherlands (Group 5, 18.00), Ukraine v Wales (Group 6, 17.00), France v Finland (Group 7, 18.00)
Here is what is at stake in the seven groups over the coming days, sides in contention/already qualified in bold:
Group 1
• Saturday: Russia (Pd8, Pts19) v Germany (8, 24), Slovakia (8, 4) v Republic of Ireland (8, 14), Croatia (8, 5) v Slovenia (8, 3)
• Wednesday: Germany v Ireland, Croatia v Russia, Slovenia v Slovakia
• Germany will qualify with a point in Russia or (unless they lose by ten on Saturday) a draw with Ireland.
• Russia need only a point to ensure Ireland cannot catch them but require at least three to have a real play-off chance.
Group 2
• Saturday: Romania (8, 11) v Spain (8, 22), Italy (8, 19) v Estonia (8, 4)
• Wednesday: Czech Republic (9, 14) v Spain, Italy v FYROM (9, 1), Romania v Estonia
• Spain will qualify for the first time with a win in either game.
• Italy must secure four more points than Spain to come top but a victory against Estonia may be enough to secure a play-off.
Group 3
• Saturday: Denmark (8, 15) v Malta (8, 0), Iceland (8, 13) v Israel (8, 9)
• Wednesday: Malta v Switzerland (9, 25), Denmark v Israel, Iceland v Serbia (9, 10)
• Switzerland have won the group
• Denmark will seal second place with four points but even if they beat Israel are not sufficiently strongly positioned to make the play-offs
• Iceland need two wins, a defeat for Denmark, and an unlikely series of results elswehere.
Group 4
• Saturday: Sweden (8, 24) v Bosnia and Herzegovina (8, 9), Scotland (8, 21) v Faroe Islands (8, 2), Poland (8, 10) v Northern Ireland (8, 2)
• Wednesday: Sweden v Scotland, Northern Ireland v Faroe Islands, Poland v Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Sweden will qualify if they pick up more points than Scotland on Saturday.
• Assuming both teams win, Sweden will clinch the group on Wednesday as long as Scotland do not beat them by 3-1 or more.
• Whoever comes second is already well-placed to make the play-offs.
Group 5
• Saturday: Albania (8, 3) v Norway (8, 24), Netherlands (8, 19) v Portugal, Belgium (8, 13) v Greece (8, 0)
• Wednesday: Norway v Netherlands, Portugal v Belgium, Greece v Austria
• Norway will qualify with a victory on Saturday or a draw on Wednesday.
• The Netherlands are assured of a top-two finish and a win against Portugal could be enough for a play-off even if they lose in Norway.
Group 6
• Saturday: Ukraine (8, 16) v Turkey (8, 9)
• Wednesday: Ukraine v Wales (9, 19), Montenegro (9, 0) v England (9, 27), Turkey v Belarus (9, 6)
• England have won the group.
• Ukraine drew 1-1 in Wales so if Anatoliy Kutsev's team overcome Turkey, Wednesday's Lviv decider will be effectively a knockout second leg (if it then ended 1-1, Ukraine would be second on goal difference).
• However, to have a possibility of the play-offs, Ukraine or Wales would probably require a win.
Group 7
• Saturday: Finland (8, 21) v France (8, 24), Austria (8, 15) v Hungary (8, 9)
• Wednesday: France v Finland, Austria v Kazakhstan (9, 4), Bulgaria (9, 1) v Hungary
• France will qualify if they obtain at least two points against Finland, who need a victory and a draw (though even one point could potentially take them to the play-offs).
• Austria will overtake Finland if they make up the six-point gap and could mathematically reach the play-offs.