Battle for summit continues in Europe
A GROUP-BY-GROUP preview of this week's European World Cup qualifiers.
The winners of the nine groups qualify directly for Russia while the best eight of the second-placed teams take part in two-leg playoffs for four more places.
Results against the bottom team in the group will be discarded in calculating the best eight runners-up.
GROUP A (Sweden 13, France 13, Netherlands 10, Bulgaria 9, Belarus 5, Luxemburg 1)
The Dutch are sitting in last chance saloon and know they must at least pick up a point — and preferably three — away to France on Thursday to have any chance of making it to Russia.
Sweden, meanwhile, visit Bulgaria knowing that a win for the hosts could throw the group wide open. Both France and Sweden face relatively straightforward matches the following Sunday when the French host Luxemburg and Sweden visit Belarus, while the Dutch and Bulgarians face each other.
GROUP B (Switzerland 18, Portugal 15, Hungary 7, Faroe Islands 5, Andorra 4, Latvia 3)
The group has boiled down to a two-horse race between Switzerland, who have a 100 percent record, and Portugal, who have won all their games since losing to the Swiss in their opener, and should be settled when they meet again in Lisbon on October 10.
In the meantime, both are expected to easily win their next matches today when Switzerland host Andorra Portugal entertain the Faroes.
Hungary, however, could throw a spanner in the works by taking a point or three off the Portuguese in Budapest on Sunday. and GROUP C (Germany 18, N Ireland 13, Czech Republic 9, Azerbaijan 7, Norway 4, San Marino 0)
Having won all six matches so far, world champions Germany face a potentially awkward trip on Friday to the Czech Republic who really need to win to keep their chances flickering.
The Czechs would ideally have to also pull off another win against Northern Ireland three days later, especially if Michael O'Neill's team beat San Marino tomorrow in what appears to be a formality.
If Germany win in Prague, they could seal top spot on Monday by beating Norway at home - provided Northern Ireland fail to beat the Czechs.
GROUP D (Serbia 12, Ireland 12, Wales 8, Austria 8, Georgia 3, Moldova 2)
Wales host Austria on Saturday in a match which will almost certainly end the losing side's interest in the group. Meanwhile, Ireland visit Georgia and Serbia host Moldova. Ireland then host Serbia in a topof-the-table clash on Tuesday.
GROUP E (Poland 16, Montenegro 10, Denmark 10, Romania 6, Armenia 6, Kazakhstan 2)
Poland visit Denmark on Friday knowing that a win would give them a chance to wrap up qualification at home to Kazakhstan the
following Monday.