Article from ESPNSTAR : With just under 200 days to the kick off of Euro 2008, the remaining four of the sixteen finals places are up for grabs today.
Two teams in three of the seven groups have already qualified. However, group winners will be seeded for the World Cup 2010 qualifying draw on Sunday, so that is today’s incentive for Italy and France in group B, Czech Rep and Germany in Group D, and Romania and the Netherlands in Group G.
In Groups A, C, E and F qualification spots are all to play for with only Greece certain of topping their group.
In Group A, Portugal face Finland in a crucial final game where a Finnish win would see the Portuguese fail to qualify. Poland play Serbia away, looking to hold onto top spot. Serbia versus Kazakhstan was twice called off last weekend due to heavy snow in Belgrade and will now be played on Saturday, by which time it will be meaningless should today the Serbs fail to beat Poland or Finland not defeat Portugal. However, two wins can potentially still see Serbia through, and Portugal are still capable of topping the group.
espnstar.com’s forecast: 1st: Portugal, 2nd Poland
In Group B, Italy look set to ensure top spot today with a home game against the Faroes and avoid repeating their 1984 shame in failing to qualify for the European finals while being world champions. France play the Ukraine away in what might have been a tricky final game had there been more to play for.
espnstar.com’s forecast: 1st Italy, 2nd France
Group C was comfortably won by Euro 2004 winners Greece before the weekend, but the battle for second place took an interesting turn with Turkey’s 2-1 away win at Norway which took them above their hosts and into second place. A home win today against Bosnia will send the Turks through at the expense of the Norwegians, who play Malta away.
espnstar.com’s forecast: 1st Greece, 2nd Turkey
In Group D, the Czech Republic and Germany both enjoyed comfortable victories and remain level at the top, with the Czechs boasting the better head to head record. Germany hope to beat Wales at home today to put pressure on their fellow Euro 96 finalists for top spot, which is still up for grabs as the Karel Bruckner’s outfit travel to Cyprus who boast a strong home record this campaign, including comfortable wins over Ireland and Wales and a draw with Germany.
espnstar.com’s forecast: 1st Czech Rep, 2nd Germany
In Group E, a 2-0 England win over Croatia at Wembley would see them top the group, while a draw would be enough for them to eliminate Guus Hiddink’s Russia, who play Andorra away.
espnstar.com’s forecast: 1st England, 2nd Croatia
In Group F, Spain top the group while Sweden require a point at home to Latvia to qualify. Northern Ireland need to win in Spain and hope that Latvia win in Sweden.
espnstar.com’s forecast: 1st Spain 2nd Sweden
In Group G, re-emerging Romania qualified prior to this weekend and will top the group with a home win over Albania today. Holland’s unconvincing 1-0 home win over Luxembourg confirmed their attendance in Austria and Switzerland next year, holding off Bulgaria who handed the group leaders their first loss this campaign.
espnstar.com’s forecast: 1st Romania, 2nd Holland
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