England, Portugal, Sweden, Turkey eye Euro berths
Updated: 2007-11-20 16:41
LONDON - The remaining four Euro 2008 finals slots should be decided on Wednesday with nine teams still harbouring hopes of filling them.
However, it will be something of a surprise if England, Portugal, Sweden and Turkey fail to advance to next year's tournament in Switzerland and Austria where all the continent's leading sides should be on duty despite some mid-campaign wobbles that threatened the old order.
Portugal, runners-up on home soil in 2004, need only one point from their home game against Finland to go through behind Poland from Group A.
Finland need to win in Porto to have a chance of getting through for the first time but would also need Serbia to fail to win their two remaining games.
Weekend snow in Belgrade led to two postponements of Serbia's game against Kazakhstan - which will now be played on Saturday - while they host Poland on Wednesday.
If Portugal lose, two wins would send Serbia through.
Things are more clear-cut in Group E where England need a point from their Wembley meeting with Croatia to join their opponents in the finals.
TERRIFIC WIN
England, who looked down and out before Israel's 2-1 win over Russia on Saturday, should now advance to their sixth successive European championship but if they do slip up, Russia need only beat Andorra to take their place.
Sweden also need a home draw, against Latvia, to go through from Group F but even if they lose they would only miss out if Northern Ireland beat already-qualified Spain away.
Turkey, who pulled off a terrific 2-1 win in Norway on Saturday to regain the initiative in Group C behind Greece, should complete the qualifying quartet.
The Turks, however, will almost certainly need to beat Bosnia, who they lost to in June, in Istanbul to stay above Norway, who visit bottom team Malta.
There are other issues at stake elsewhere with seedings to be gained, and avoided, by the teams already assured of their places.
With Austria, Switzerland and holders Greece filling three of the four top seed positions, there is an advantage in being placed in the second pot to earn a theoretically easier group.
Either Germany, who host Wales, and the Netherlands, who visit Belarus, will fill the other top seed spot though both teams have stressed they will be trying to win on Wednesday.
The Dutch will take the seeding if they gain a point.
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