Euro 2016: Leading nations to play catch-up from Thursday

Netherlands, Portugal look for redemption as Spain, Germany seek consistency

PARIS: The campaign to qualify for Euro 2016 intensifies with two rounds of matches played back-to-back over six days, starting Thursday, offering the chance for those countries who started badly last month to play catch-up.

That is the case for Guus Hiddink's Netherlands, who entertain Kazakhstan and then go to Iceland looking to bounce back from a defeat in the Czech Republic, and for Group A rivals Turkey, who were beaten in Iceland last time out and now host the Czechs before an awkward trip to Latvia.

Meanwhile, Portugal will play their first match under new coach Fernando Santos when they go to France for a friendly on Saturday before taking on Denmark away next Tuesday.

Santos has replaced Paulo Bento, who departed following the shock 1-0 home defeat to Albania in September, and has resorted to recalling experienced faces in 33-year-old Tiago Mendes, Danny, 31, and Monaco defender Ricardo Carvalho, 36.

"As we lost our first match, this has become more important for us,” said Carvalho.

Attention will also be drawn to the Group G meeting of Sweden and Russia, with the home side set to give captain Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who last month won his 100th cap, until the last minute as he bids to recover from a heel injury.

England stay serious against lowly San Marino

Elsewhere, England entertain the whipping boys of world football, San Marino, at Wembley Thursday before a trip to Tallinn to face Estonia in a Group E double-header that should provide few problems to Roy Hodgson's side.

Indeed, for England, after winning 2-0 in Switzerland in their opening qualifier last month, failure to beat San Marino, who have lost their last 59 matches, is unthinkable.

"You can't let your standards drop,” said midfielder James Milner. “Everyone knows it’s a game we should win and we want to keep improving and play better if we can.”

Champions Spain face Slovakia, Luxembourg

Reigning European champions Spain are on the road for two Group C fixtures against Slovakia and Luxembourg, with the first game in Zilina a potential banana skin for Vicente del Bosque's men.

Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos will miss the trip east with a calf injury, but Gerard Pique of Barcelona is back in the squad.

Valencia strike duo Rodrigo and Paco Alcacer, who scored in the opening 5-1 win over Macedonia, also feature, while Diego Costa is eager to get his first international goal.

Italy coach Antonio Conte has recalled Andrea Pirlo, 35, for the Azzurri's Group H matches against Azerbaijan in Palermo Friday and Malta away on Monday.

Germany, winners against Scotland in September, go to Poland in Group D before hosting the Republic of Ireland in Gelsenkirchen.

The World Cup winners' superb record in qualifiers could come under threat from a Robert Lewandowski-inspired Poland, who need results in a tough section in which Scotland will host Georgia and Ireland take on Gibraltar this weekend.