The latest round of European Championship qualifying games take place in the next few days, and they should prove to be the most important yet. England, who take on Switzerland at Wembley on Tuesday, are the only side with a 100 per cent record and a place in France after seven games, but now a number of sides are on the threshold of reaching Euro 2016. Wales (who need just one more point) and Iceland (who have also qualified) are the biggest surprise packages of this qualifying campaign, but Slovakia have also raised eyebrows in a group containing current European champions Spain and Euro 2012 co-hosts Ukraine. A win against the latter would secure a place in France.
Spain were back to their best in a 2-0 victory over Slovakia on Saturday and will secure the chance to defend the title they won in 2008 and 2012 with a win away to Macedonia on Tuesday. Elsewhere Austria have made waves in a group featuring Sweden and Russia and victory away to the Swedes will see them progress. These games look likely to be hard-fought and tight, but there is certainly a profit to be made for any punter making a shrewd bet amongst the drama.
- England v Switzerland – Wayne Rooney to score any time (6/5 at Bet365)
- Slovakia v Ukraine – Slovakia to win (6/4 at BetVictor)
- Macedonia v Spain – Spain to win by three or more goals (15/8 at Sky Bet)
- Sweden v Austria – Draw (5/2 at Totesport)
England v Switzerland – 8th September
England’s 6-0 win at San Marino was an entirely unspectacular affair, but it did throw up some interesting points. Jonjo Shelvey’s assured performance and Fabian Delph’s cameo from the bench were timely reminders to the absent Jack Wilshere and Jordan Henderson that their places in the starting line-up are far from assured. Less surprising was the fact England have qualified for Euro 2016, albeit unusually with the only 100 per cent record in European qualifying. Given England’s reputation for making straightforward things look difficult, that is a pleasing statistic. The headline, however, was Wayne Rooney drawing level with not one but two record England goalscorers on 49 strikes apiece – Bobby Charlton and Own Goals. Tuesday’s game against Switzerland is the perfect setting for the Manchester United striker to be the first to reach a half-century of goals for the Three Lions; unless Own Goals beats him to it.
England face a Swiss side that have made a habit of rescuing themselves from dire situations. Two defeats from the opening two games put Switzerland’s push for the top two in doubt, but five successive wins plus slip-ups by Slovenia and Estonia have put Vladimir Petkovic’s side in a strong position. Their last win came against Slovenia, and even that was in the face of adversity, as a Josip Drmic brace helped Switzerland to a 3-2 win despite trailing 2-0 with 10 minutes left. Switzerland’s defending was abject in the first half however, and England have plenty of potent attacking players such as Theo Walcott, Harry Kane, Ross Barkley and of course Rooney. The latter will be in the spotlight for this one, and Bet365 are offering 6/5 on Rooney scoring at any time during the match to overtake Sir Bobby Charlton and make history.
- Wayne Rooney to score any time – 6/5 at Bet365
Slovakia v Ukraine – 8th September
Despite a 2-0 defeat to Spain on Saturday, things are very much looking up for Slovakia. Jan Kozak’s side won all six of their opening Group C games, and a victory over Ukraine would see both them and Spain qualify should Vicente del Bosque’s side defeat Macedonia. Slovakia will also have been buoyed by the World Cup qualifying draw, in which they are clear second favourites to qualify behind England and well ahead of Scotland and neighbours Slovenia. Their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign began with a highly impressive 1-0 win in Ukraine, and Slovakia will be confident of repeating the feat on Tuesday.
Ukraine, whose wins have come exclusively against the bottom three of Belarus, Macedonia and Luxembourg, need to beat Slovakia to have a chance of making the top two. The odds are against Mykhaylo Fomenko’s side, and quite rightly, as they looked tepid in 1-0 defeats to both Slovakia and Spain. Goals will be at a premium most likely, with both boasting mean defences, but Slovakia are at 6/4 with BetVictor to win this tense tie and get their qualification party started.
- Slovakia to win – 6/4 at BetVictor
Macedonia v Spain – 8th September
Spain, winners of Euro 2008 and Euro 2012, have enjoyed a pretty straightforward qualifying campaign. It began with a 5-1 demolition of Tuesday’s opponents Macedonia, with Sergio Ramos, Paco Alcacer, Sergio Busquets, David Silva and Pedro all on the scoresheet. A 2-1 defeat in Slovakia rocked the European champions, but a 2-0 win against the same opposition in Oviedo on Saturday returned Vicente del Bosque’s side to the summit for the first time since the opening round of qualifiers. Since the reverse in Zilina, Spain have won five on the spin without conceding a single goal, and they will be looking to extend their fine form in Skopje.
Macedonia were never likely to threaten the top three – their battle was with fellow minnows Luxembourg, and they will be disappointed as a 1-0 defeat on Saturday countered a 3-2 win over Luxembourg back in October. Both games featured stoppage time goals, but this game is unlikely to be as dramatic. Spain, with six wins from seven, take on Macedonia, who have lost six of their seven games, and there is only one likely outcome. Sky Bet are offering 15/8 on a more resounding win for Spain, with the Group C leaders winning by three goals or more.
- Spain to win by three or more goals – 15/8 at Sky Bet
Sweden v Austria – 8th September
Top seeds Russia were the favourites to progress from Group G, but they have been edged out by two highly impressive sides. Austria lead the way by a full seven points with six wins and one draw from their opening seven games. Those wins include 1-0 victories both home and away against Russia, and Marcel Koller’s side need just one point from their final three games to qualify for their first major tournament since they co-hosted the European Championships alongside Switzerland in 2008. Austria exited Euro 2008 after the group stage with just one point earned, but fuelled by the likes of Bayern Munich’s David Alaba they will be much more confident this time around. At this stage it is a case of when Austria qualify, not if.
Sweden cannot be as confident of their progression. Three draws and a defeat to Russia leaves Erik Hamren’s side just a point clear of the top seeds with three games left. Zlatan Ibrahimovic has scored five of Sweden’s last six goals in Group G, and the talismanic PSG striker will be needed again against an Austria side that has only conceded two goals thus far. Sweden and Austria shared the spoils with a 1-1 draw in Vienna on the opening matchday, and with both sides looking strong the 5/2 offered by Totesport on a draw is worth taking. A point would suit Austria, as it would secure their place in France, but with Russia breathing down their necks the same cannot be said for the Swedes.
- Draw (5/2 at Totesport)