Cruise control
Europe’s big guns close in on qualification
PARIS: Most of the continent’s major football powers are in cruise control as they close in on qualification for next year’s European Championship.
Some are likely to secure their place in the finals this week, with two or three group games to spare.
Belgium, the world’s top-ranked nation, will become the first team to qualify if they beat last-place San Marino in Group I today. With the top two qualifying from each group, there’s a chance Russia, who are eight points clear in second place, could also advance by beating Scotland on the same night.
Italy hold a six-point lead in Group J after winning all six of their matches, and are guaranteed to qualify with victories over Greece and Liechtenstein over the next week.
Spain enjoy the biggest lead in European qualifying — by seven points in Group F after also winning six straight games — and might just need one victory in their matches at Norway and Sweden to advance.
Group A leaders England will qualify with a win at the Czech Republic tomorrow.
Two teams who are still in a fight to qualify are Portugal and France — the finalists in Euro 2016.
France, the world champions, are second in Group H on goal difference behind Turkey but would be joined on points by third-place Iceland with a loss in Reykjavik tomorrow. France then host Turkey on Monday.
Portugal, the defending European champions, are in second place in Group B and five points behind Ukraine, who they visit on Monday. A loss for Portugal in Kiev would leave third-place Serbia in with a chance of reeling in the title-holders. NO LLORIS
France coach Didier Deschamps will have to change his goalkeeper after Hugo Lloris was ruled out until next year because of a broken left elbow. Steve Mandanda looks to be an able deputy.
The 34-year-old Mandanda was recalled to the squad after some excellent performances for Marseille since the start of this season. Having recovered from a torn muscle, he has produced several decisive and spectacular saves to compensate for his team’s defensive shortcomings.
Mandanda was initially recalled to be No.2 behind Lloris but is now in line to win his 29th cap — and first since last year’s World Cup.
If Deschamps prefers youth to experience, Paris Saint-Germain’s Alphonse Areola — who is on loan at Real Madrid this season — and Lille’s Mike Maignan are the other two goalkeepers in the squad.
MIDFIELD DILEMMA
There is much to like about the newlook England under Gareth Southgate, particularly the potency of a frontline containing three of Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling, Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford, and also the raft of dynamic full-back options available.
One area where Southgate has yet to strike the right balance is in midfield — the department where England were exposed in the loss to Croatia in the World Cup semi-finals last year.
The current first-choice midfield appears to be Declan Rice, Jordan Henderson and Ross Barkley, but the emergence of playmakers Mason Mount and James Maddison leaves Barkley, in particular, vulnerable for his place.