Saturday 4th June Group 1
Armenia 1-2 Macedonia
Czech Rep 8-1 Andorra
Holland 2-0 Romania
After yesterdays results the table showed that Holland and the Czechs are very likely to finish as the top 2 teams. Both have played 7 matches - Holland 19, Czech Rep 18. Romania are their closest rivals, with 13 points .. but seeing as they have played a match more, that is a
long way behind. Finland have 2 matches in hand, but the table suggests that those matches are against the top 2..
Group 2
Albania 3-2 Georgia
Turkey 0-0 Greece
Ukraine 2-0 Kazakhstan
Ukraine have strengthened their strong position at the top of Group 2. They have played the same amount of matches as both Greece (15) and Turkey (13) .. but have 20 points and remain undefeated. The battle for 2nd place is still tight though, with Denmark also in with a chance - 7 matches played and 9 points.
Group 3
Estonia 2-0 Liechtenstein
Portugal 2-0 Slovakia
Russia 2-0 Latvia
Group 3 is turning out to be one of the most interesting groups of this WCQ campaign! Atm, 5 teams have a chance of playing in Germany next year (369 days away!
) Portugal look the strongest at this stage - they lead the table with 17 points. Slovakia and Russia are joint 2nd with 14 points each. Estonia are 4th with 11 and Latvia 5th with 10. All but Estonia have played 7 matches .. Estonia have played 8.
During the next gameday I expect Latvia to move into 4th. Estonia are playing Portugal and will most likely lose, leaving them with a small chance of reaching 2nd place.
Group 4
Faroe Islands 1-3 Switzerland
Ireland 2-2 Israel
1. Switzerland. 12.
2. Israel. 11.
3. Ireland. 10.
4. France. 10.
I dare anyone to predict who will finish top!
All 4 teams haven't lost a single match. Switzerland have played one more of the smaller teams (Cyprus & Faroe Islands) and so they have won 3, compared with 2 for the rest. Isreal have played a match more and so have drawn one more than Ireland and France.
By Thursday Ireland will be top.
Group 5
Belarus 1-1 Slovenia
Norway 0-0 Italy
Scotland 2-0 Moldova
Scotland's chances of reaching the WC next year were being heavily written off 8 months ago, but yet if they manage to beat Belarus on Wednesday then they'll be only 1 point behind 2nd placed Norway & Slovenia, and equal in terms of matches played.
Equally, if Belarus win they'll go into 2nd, ahead of Norway on GD!
This group is also exciting!
Group 6
Azerbaijan 0-3 Poland
Simple - Poland have played a match more and so lead England by 2 points. No more matches are due to be played in this group until September. The top 2 places are only between 3 teams though.
Group 7
San Marino 1-3 Bosnia & H
Serbia & M 0-0 Belgium
Spain 1-0 Lithuania
Another one of the close groups! Serbia (yes Serbia
) lead the group with 12 points after 6 matches. Spain are equal with them on every stat except GD - Spain have scored 9 and conceded 1 .. Serbia have scored 10 and have yet to concede!
Lithuania are on 9 points .. Belgium 8. Both have also played 6 matches. Bosnia still have an outside chance as they've only played 5 times and have 6 points.
Group 8
Bulgaria 1-3 Croatia
Iceland 2-3 Hungary
Sweden 6-0 Malta
Croatia (16) and Sweden (15) look like the teams that will qualify from Group 8. Hungary (10) and Bulgaria (8) are their closest rivals, but with 6 matches played each now, its getting to that point where both Croatia and Sweden need to lose twice - unlikely.
Wednesday: Iceland - Malta .. the race for the wooden spoon.
