Group One
Tonight in Group One the Czech Republic, Romania and Holland all face minor sides in the group, Andorra, Macedonia and Armenia respectively.
The group is tightly poised with all the big three in this group still in with a chance to qualify.
The Dutch have an impressive unbeaten record and are favourites to continue this run as they entertain Armenia. Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink of PSV Eindoven has been added to the attack with the absence of Arjen Robben of Chelsea for the fixture.
The Czechs and Romanians, who are looking to keep the pressure on the Dutch, both have tricky away days in the group.
Group Two
Group two is poised on a knife edge. Ukraine top the group but there are three teams hunting them down who all have the ability to qualify for the finals.
Tonight sees a huge game in terms of the group. Andrei Schevchenko’s Ukraine entertain the threat of the Danes in Kiev. Denmark have agreed with Aston Villa to rest Martin Laursen for the fixture. If the Ukraine can get a result they will almost guarantee their place in Germany and hammer the first nail in the coffin of the Danes World Cup dreams.
Greece entertain Albania while Turkey travel to Georgia. Both Turkey and Greece are in positions to keep hopes alive of qualifying, wins for both will put pressure on the leaders and go a long way to securing a spot in Germany.
Group Three
Surprise package Slovakia against the stars of Portugal is without a shadow of a doubt the game of the day. The two sides are level on points at the top of the group.
Slovakia’s Robert Vittek has six goals to his name as does the Portugese top scorer Pauleta, with both these sides unbeaten, the game is a mouth watering prospect.
Russia travel to Estonia hoping to push for the second spot in the group, but unfortunately it is looking very doubtful. The group logistics are decided, Slovakia and Portugal should definitely attend Germany 2006, it is now a matter of in which order they finish their group. They are both too strong to let the Russians catch them, it looks as though the rest of the group are playing for pride.
Group Four
This is the group with four teams all still unbeaten and challenging for qualification, the Republic of Ireland, Switzerland, Israel and France.
Steve Marlet of Marseille has been called up to replace an injured Sidney Govou for the French trip to Israel. Both these sides as well as the Republic of Ireland are all on nine points, so the top spot in the group is up for grabs in Israel.
The French also have Thierry Henry missing, and with their current form, a tricky trip to Israel is no easy task, it should be an interesting game.
Elsewhere in the group Switzerland hope to build on their performance against France and preserve their unbeaten record when they host Cyprus, there is still a chance for qualification, if the Swiss win and France lose, they are level on points with each other. Swiss fans will be pleased with the progress of Arsenal defender Phillipe Senderos, who gains his second cap later tonight.
Group Five
Norway and Slovenia both play tonight, both of them fighting desperately for qualification, it is shaping up for one of these two to accompany Italy in qualifying from the group.
Slovenia will be looking to Milenko Acimovic of Lille for the goals as they host Belarus.
Norway gained a boost ahaead of their trip to Moldova with the news that Sunderland Goalkeeper Thomas Myhre has declared himself fit, former Tottenham and Wolves striker Steffen Iversen will renew a partnership up front with John Carew of Besiktas.
Group Six
England entertain Azerbajan at St James Park. The English press and public are expecting a demolishing after Poland beat them 8-0 in Warsaw.
Sven Goran Eriksson has warned against this, he would just be happy with the points at the end of ninety minutes. Eriksson has named an unchanged line-up from the team that beat Northern Ireland 4-0, with Joe Cole looking to become a permanent fixture on the left of midfield.
Poland will look to continue their rampaging form against Northern Ireland. The only news from the Irish camp is that Southampton’s Chris Baird has been passed fit to start.
The group itself is starting to take shape, Austria could possibly make a late push for second place but it seems Poland and England will fight it out for the top spot in the group.
Group Seven
Spain against Serbia and Montenegro is the highlight of the games in Group Seven.
Mateja Kezman of Chelsea will be looking to improve on his single only goal in the qualifiers.
Spain, in their last game, ran home easy 3-0 winners in a friendly against China, BUT the big question for Luis Aragones is if he will start Real Madrid’s out-of form striker Raul.
Its very tight at the top of the group with spain and Lithuania both just two points of Serbia and Montenegro. Lithuania unbeaten in qualifying look to capitalise on any Spanish loss when they play Bosnia Herzegovina tonight, former Arsenal trialist Tomas Danilevicius will be hoping to spearhead a Lithuanian win.
If Spain lose, they would lose serious ground on the front two, and it may cost them dear, come the summer of 2006.
Group Eight
Croatia could take the lead in the group if they beat Malta at home, as they have a game in hand on the Swedes.
The Croatian player of the year, Dado Prso is in great form for club Rangers, having bagged 14 goals in 25 games, he will be a handful for the Malta defence.
The other game in the group sees Bulgaria travel to Hungary, the Bulgarians need to keep fighting and pushing for the second spot. Dimitar Berbatov has five goals to his name in the group stages, he will be hoping to add to that in order to aid the Bulgarians campaign.
