Friday 9 October 2015

European Championship Qualifiers - update

In less than a week the final composition of the first stage of qualification for Euro 2016 will be completed.

Several groups remain on a knife edge, with qualification dependent on results in the final games.

Last night alone saw some thrilling fixtures with Republic of Ireland beating Germany, and Poland snatching a last grasp draw with Scotland, thanks to Robert Lewandowski, surely the most in form striker in the world.

Group A


TeamsPWDLFA+/-Pts
Iceland Iceland86111531219
Czech Republic Czech Republic86111610619
Turkey Turkey8332119212
Netherlands Netherlands83141310310
Latvia Latvia8044416-124
Kazakhstan Kazakhstan8026516-112
Iceland and Czech Republic have already qualified, but that doesn't mean the excitement is over in Group A. The Netherlands and Turkey are chasing the play-off place, Turkey face Czech Republic and Iceland, whilst Netherlands face Kazakhstan and the Czech Republic.

Group B

TeamsPWDLFA+/-Pts
Wales Wales853092718
Belgium Belgium85211731417
Israel Israel8413149513
Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina83231210211
Cyprus Cyprus83051213-19
Andorra Andorra8008330-270
Wales have done a great job to be in pole position for qualification. They face Bosnia and Andorra, needing only a point effectively to guarantee qualification, for their first ever European Championships.

To automatically qualify Israel have to hope Andorra pull off a shock against either Wales or Belgium, and then have to beat Belgium in their final group game.

The most likely scenario is that Wales and Belgium are through, but the play-off place is still open. Israel and Bosnia both face Cyprus, and have a game against one of the top 2.

This puts Israel in pole position.

Group C

TeamsPWDLFA+/-Pts
Spain Spain87011831521
Slovakia Slovakia8611135819
Ukraine Ukraine8512123916
Belarus Belarus8215714-77
Luxembourg Luxembourg8116419-154
FYR Macedonia FYR Macedonia8107616-103
Spain are almost certainly qualified as they face Luxembourg and Ukraine in their final two games, needing only a point.

Slovakia, are in a good position also, with games against Belarus and Luxembourg, needing 3 points.

Ukraine would need some exceptional results for Luxembourg, and a great performance against Spain to help them qualify. However a play off spot is guaranteed.

Macedonia will be looking to move off of bottom spot in their games against Belarus and Ukraine.

Group D

TeamsPWDLFA+/-Pts
Germany Germany96122281419
Poland Poland95313192218
Republic of Ireland Republic of Ireland95311851318
Scotland Scotland93331612412
Georgia Georgia9306914-59
Gibraltar Gibraltar9009250-480

Group D is almost certainly the most exciting, and last night proved why, Poland's last minute equaliser changed the group complexion completely, as did Ireland's win over Germany.

Germany have not yet qualified, as they have an inferior record against Ireland and Poland (by virtue of an away goal). However a point against Georgia will secure Germany qualification.

Poland and Republic of Ireland will battle it out in Warsaw to decide who qualifies. A 0-0 or 1-1 draw would send Poland through, where as a higher scoring draw would send the Republic of Ireland through. The most unlikely scenario is that Germany lose, and Poland and Ireland draw.

The consolation for Poland, Republic of Ireland and in an unlikely circumstance Germany, is the play-off, with Scotland out of contention by virtue of Lewandowski's last minute strike.

Group E


TeamsPWDLFA+/-Pts
England England88002632324
Switzerland Switzerland8503168815
Slovenia Slovenia84041510512
Estonia Estonia831446-210
Lithuania Lithuania8305614-89
San Marino San Marino8017127-261

England are guaranteed qualification with a 100% record before their final 2 games. 

Switzerland need to get a result against San Marino and Estonia to obtain automatic qualification.  If Slovenia win both their matches, and Switzerland only manage 3 points, Slovenia would progress with the superior head-to-head record.

Estonia have an outside chance of a play-off spot, but would need a result against either England or Switzerland and hope Slovenia fail to pick up sufficient points against Lithuania and Slovenia. 

Lithuania's chance is slightly improved, if they can beat Slovenia by 2 goals and pick up a result against England they can steal the play-off spot.

The most likely scenario is the group stays as it is.

Group F


TeamsPWDLFA+/-Pts
Northern Ireland Northern Ireland9621157820
Romania Romania945082617
Hungary Hungary944185316
Finland Finland932489-111
Faroe Islands Faroe Islands9207614-86
Greece Greece9036311-83
 
Northern Ireland have secured qualification to their first ever European Championships. Romania will qualify if they beat Faroe Islands away, anything less and Hungary can steal the spot by beating Greece, who will finish bottom of the group, even if they manage their first win.

If Hungary and Romania finish level on points, Hungary will qualify automatically, by virtue of their away goal in Romania.

Group G


TeamsPWDLFA+/-Pts
Austria Austria87101631322
Russia Russia84221741314
Sweden Sweden8332119212
Montenegro Montenegro832388011
Liechtenstein Liechtenstein8125221-195
Moldova Moldova8026312-92

Austria have qualified and are currently unbeaten. Russia, Sweden and Montenegro are in a battle for the second automatic spot and the play-off spot. 

Russia face Moldova and Montenegro, Sweden face Liechtenstein and Moldova, and Montenegro face Austria and Russia.

Montenegro would need a significant win against Russia to overhaul them if they finish joint on points. If Russia fail to overcome Montenegro and Sweden win both matches, Russia would still go through.

The most likely scenario in this group is the status quo.

Group H


TeamsPWDLFA+/-Pts
Italy Italy8530115618
Norway Norway8512108216
Croatia Croatia *84311651114
Bulgaria Bulgaria822479-28
Azerbaijan Azerbaijan8134613-76
Malta Malta8026313-102
To qualify automatically Croatia need to beat Bulgaria and Malta, and hope Norway and Italy fail to beat Malta and Azerbaijan respectively.

Norway face Italy in the final game, which will most likely decide the group winners.

Group I


TeamsPWDLFA+/-Pts
Portugal Portugal760194518
Denmark Denmark833285312
Albania Albania732275211
Serbia Serbia *7214711-44
Armenia Armenia7025511-62
Portugal have qualified after beating Denmark 1-0. Denmark are now dependent on Albania's game against Armenia. Albania could have secured qualification last night but lost to Serbia.

The most likely scenario is that Albania beat Armenia and qualify. If Albania only draw, then Denmark qualify. Albania and Denmark are guaranteed a play-off place at least.