Euro 2016 qualifiers : England, Austria just a win away from finals berth

Both sides are unbeaten in their respective groups so far.

PARIS: The first qualifiers for the Euro 2016 finals in France could be decided on Thursday, Friday and Saturday in the first of a double-header of matchdays.

England have won every game so far in Group E and can clinch qualification for the finals by maintaining that record when they face minnows San Marino in Serravalle on Saturday. Indeed, simply matching Slovenia’s result from their game in Switzerland would suffice but anything other than a victory would be an embarrassment for Roy Hodgson’s side. After all, San Marino are ranked 192nd in the world and have still never won a competitive match.

In addition, unbeaten Austria will qualify from Group G with three games to spare if they beat Moldova in Vienna on Saturday and Russia fail to beat Sweden in Moscow. A draw would also be enough depending on results elsewhere going their way. Austria, who will be playing their 100th match in the European Championship, have only appeared at the finals once, being eliminated at the group stage as co-hosts in 2008.

Iceland have never reached a major finals but their fine form so far in Group A has put them in a tremendous position and they face Netherlands on Thursday, who have so far struggled and lie third behind the Czech Republic.

Defending European champions Spain will seek revenge on Slovakia for a 2-1 defeat in Zilina in October last year when they entertain the Slovaks in the northern city of Oviedo on Saturday. Slovakia have won all six games so far and are already certain to finish in the top three in Group C.

Group D is one of the tightest and leaders Poland are a point clear of World Cup holders Germany before the sides meet in Frankfurt on Friday. Scotland are third and a win in Georgia would be a huge boost to their chances, especially with fourth-placed Ireland travelling to play whipping boys Gibraltar and the Scots hosting Germany next.

Wales are still unbeaten in Group B and will move to the brink of a place at the finals with a win in Cyprus on Thursday, where they have lost on their last two visits. Belgium host Bosnia in a match that is vital to the hopes of the latter in particular.

With 24 teams competing at an expanded finals next year, including hosts France, the likelihood of any major nations missing out on Euro 2016 is slim. However, Euro 2004 winners Greece are already all but out of contention in Group F after collecting just two points from their first six matches. As they prepare to host Finland under interim coach Kostas Tsanas, they are 11 points adrift of the automatic qualifying berths with only four games to go.

Turkey are also in trouble in Group A — having endured a poor campaign so far, they will be on the brink of elimination if they lose to Latvia in Konya on Thursday and the Czech Republic win at home to Kazakhstan.

Russia are third in Group G, four points behind second-placed Sweden, and so are in real need of a win as they host the Swedes at Spartak Moscow’s Otkrytie Arena on Saturday in what will be Leonid Slutsky’s first game since replacing Fabio Capello as coach. 

Published in The Express Tribune, September 3^rd,  2015.

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