Euro 2016 qualifying, Sun-Tues matches

Significant remaining matches:

Today
Poland v Rep Ireland
Ireland nick 2nd with a win, otherwise playoffs.
(If they draw and Germany lose at home to Georgia, all three end on 19 pts and I think Ireland win the group with Germany 3rd! Shame that won't happen.)

Armenia v Albania
Who would have thought this would matter?! If Albania win they're through; lose or draw and they're in the playoffs, with Denmark going through instead. Armenia may be bottom but they're no easy pushover - they've only conceded 11 in 7 games.

Elsewhere, I expect Romania to sneak a win in the Faroes to qualify.

Monday
Ukraine v Spain
Slovakia will beat Luxembourg so Ukraine can't climb into 2nd place - but if they beat Spain (who are through) they'll qualify as the best 3rd-placed team. If they don't win, it's likely Hungary will get that winning lottery ticket.

Elsewhere, Russia, in 2nd place in their group, host Montenegro and need only a point to shut the door on Sweden, who will be in the playoffs instead.

Tuesday
Turkey v Iceland
Netherlands v Czech Republic
Both away teams are through and have little to play for - so the Dutch look pretty screwed. I expect Turkey to do the business and seal the playoff spot.

Italy v Norway
Malta v Croatia
Assuming Croatia win, then Norway must win in Rome to qualify. Even though Italy have nothing to play for, a Norway win seems unlikely.

Elsewhere, Bosnia go to Cyprus and, in order to stay in 3rd place, have to match whatever Israel do in Belgium. So they probably won't need anything.

 

If the Dutch fail to qualify, it will be the first Euros without them since 1984, when there were only 7 qualifying places.

Netherlands looked set to win their group back then, as Spain needed to beat Malta by 11 goals in the last match to go above them. At half-time it was 3-1 to Spain, but through sheer brilliance and no corruption at all, Spain then romped to a 12-1 win to qualify. Nothing remotely dodgy about that!

 

Playoffs latest:

Definitely in the playoffs
Rep Ireland, Denmark, Hungary

Likely to be in the playoffs
Turkey, Bosnia, Slovenia, Sweden, Norway

The Irish will be hoping for Slovenia. Hungary or Norway wouldn't be bad either. I think they'd rather avoid Turkey - that's always a challenging away trip.

 

I hope they get the hardest one, whoever that is, and get battered.

 

They could well be facing a world-class striker.
Sweden: Ibra
Bosnia: Dzeko
Denmark: Bendtner

 

Ukraine trailing Spain at half-time. Looking good for Hungary.

 

Russia and Slovakia through today, then. Slovenia, Sweden and Ukraine confirmed in the playoffs.

It's yet to be confirmed, but I think Ukraine's defeat guarantees Hungary's place as the "best" third-placed team.

 

Actually, if Turkey beat Iceland tomorrow AND Kazakhstan win in Latvia to climb out of 6th place, then Turkey will get the slot ahead of Hungary. Unlikely.

 

The significant Italy v Norway game is live on ITV4 tonight.

God bless that channel - it's worth more than ITVs 1, 2 and 3 put together.

 

What happens in your house Tuckin if anyone doesn't want to watch the football? You seem to have an unlimited appetite for the beautiful game.

 

Funny how channels with 4's seem to be better.

BBC Four, ITV4...

 

Under 21's 3-0 Akpom scored.

 

There's only two of us and the missus has work to get on with. Truth be told I have too - I'll whack Italy on as a background distraction, though.

 

They just showed the suspended De Rossi in the stands with his girlfriend. Holy crap, she's tidy - no wonder he got himself banned.

 

Get in Norway! 1-0.

Tettey smashed that'un.

 

Norway 1 up! Lovely strike from Tettey.

 

Holland losing at home after 23 mins 0 - 1

 

Not looking good for the Netherlands. They've gone behind against the Czechs.

They're majorly ****ed.

 

2-0 Holland down

 

Make that 0 - 2