UEFA’s newest national team competition guarantees exciting, competitive games every matchday; here is the best of what is coming up in the final group contests.
Thursday
A4: Croatia v Spain (20:45)
Spain were stunned last month when England raced into a three-goal lead in Seville and eventually prevailed 3-2 to end the hosts’ 27-match unbeaten run. That reverse stopped them sealing top spot in the group but victory in Zagreb will send them into June’s finals. However, Croatia will be desperate to avenge their 6-0 defeat in the reverse fixture and will take hope from a first clean sheet in eight games when they held England in October.
B3: Austria v Bosnia and Herzegovina (20:45)
Bosnia and Herzegovina have won all three pool matches and need just a point in Vienna to guarantee promotion. Coach Robert Prosinečki’s defence will surely have a say in whether they progress, having conceded only three goals in their last ten outings, but Austria away represents their toughest assignment for some time. Franco Foda’s men have won eight of their last 11 games and could go up if they claim victory in their final two group fixtures.
Friday
A1: Netherlands v France (20:45)
The sleeping giant appears to be waking in 2018, with the Oranje winning 3-0 against Germany and in Portugal, and prising draws away to Italy and Belgium. However, France remain their nemesis, having inflicted the last two competitive losses on the Dutch, and Les Bleus require only a point to reach the finals. Didier Deschamps’ team will be confident of getting the necessary draw, given they are unbeaten in 15 matches.
B4: Wales v Denmark (20:45)
It’s a case of winner takes all in Cardiff, with promotion the prize for whoever emerges victorious. Wales will very likely have to stop Christian Eriksen if they want to secure the summit – the Tottenham midfielder has scored 15 times in his last 20 internationals and grabbed both, unanswered, goals in the reverse fixture. Denmark, who have lost just once in 23 games, could take a draw then beat the Republic of Ireland on Monday to go up.
Saturday
A3: Italy v Portugal (20:45)
Portugal need a point to make the finals and Italy will have to shrug off the weight of history if they are to prevent Fernando Santos’s side taking it. The Azzurri are winless in five home matches for only the second time in their history – the last occurrence was between March 1923 and January 1925. One thing that may work in coach Roberto Mancini’s favour is the element of surprise, considering Italy’s last 12 goals have all been scored by different players.
C4: Serbia v Montenegro (20:45)
These countries competed as one until Montenegro became independent following the 2006 FIFA World Cup, but it was not until October’s reverse fixture in Podgorica that they locked horns. Aleksandar Mitrović scored both goals in that game and he is surely key to Serbia holding off their neighbours for pole position given he has netted ten of their last 14 goals.
Sunday
A2: Switzerland v Belgium (20:45)
Few teams have a final-game task as unenviable as Switzerland, who last beat Belgium in November 1983 but may need a two-goal win in Lucerne to overhaul them at the summit. If that wasn’t daunting enough, the Red Devils had lost just one qualifier in the last seven years and one competitive game since UEFA EURO 2016 ahead of their match with Iceland on Thursday. Over to you, Vladimir Petković!
A4: England v Croatia (15:00)
It is almost exactly 11 years since one of England’s darkest days unfolded in this fixture. A 3-2 win at Wembley Stadium ensured already-qualified Croatia headed for UEFA EURO 2008 by knocking out the Three Lions and ending Steve McClaren’s reign in the process. Gareth Southgate will hope lightning does not strike twice as a defeat would see England relegated.
Monday
A1: Germany v Netherlands (20:45)
The landscape looked very different for these nations a year ago. Germany were planning their defence of the World Cup following a perfect ten qualifying victories while the Dutch were licking their wounds after failing to reach Russia. Fast-forward 12 months and Joachim Löw’s men have lost their global crown and go into this game with four defeats from six competitive matches. The revitalised Oranje could scarcely have dreamed of completing this section by relegating their rivals, but that could happen in Gelsenkirchen.
B1: Czech Republic v Slovakia (20:45)
Another meeting of two nations with a shared past, and glory in the form of Czechoslovakia’s triumph at the 1976 UEFA European Championship. They will be going their separate ways again after this contest, with relegation the only issue to be settled in the group after Ukraine wrapped up first place with a game to spare.
Tuesday
B2: Sweden v Russia (20:45)
These countries came into the final two matchdays in distinctly contrasting form. Sweden had failed to win in five games and were bottom of the section while Russia were unbeaten in six matches, a run that started with their famous toppling of Spain at the World Cup, and at the summit.
D3: Kosovo v Azerbaijan (20:45)
Having lost their last nine World Cup qualifiers, Kosovo were not expected to be in contention for promotion yet 2018 has seen a startling turnaround for UEFA’s newest association. Heading into matchdays five and six they were unbeaten under Bernard Challandes, winning their first three friendlies before taking eight points from four games in this section to leave their destiny in their own hands.
*All times CET
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