Euro 2016 Qualifying action heats up as group standings begin taking shape
MONDAY
Bosnia vs. Belgium
Bosnia at least stopped the rot with a goalless draw away to Wales on Friday, but it remains racked by an injury crisis that has robbed it of several key defenders and by a lack of confidence in the coach Safet Susic, whose reputation was perhaps irreparably damaged by the tactical incoherence of the defeat to Nigeria in the World Cup. Belgium has played just once in qualifying after its match away to Israel last month was postponed, and a 6-0 victory over Andorra simply demonstrated that it has midfielders who are very good on the ball if given space. Eden Hazard should be fit from a toe injury to face the Bosnians, who now lie second bottom of the group, but can perhaps take some consolation from the fact that other teams will drop points in Cardiff, while Cyprus lost in Israel. No side is making a real run for second place behind Belgium (assuming Marc Wilmots’s side does kick on to win the group.)
Iceland vs. The Netherlands
Already this looks a vital game in Group A, which has rapidly split into two halves. On the one hand there are the Netherlands, Iceland and the Czech Republic, and on the other are Turkey, Latvia and Kazakhstan. The first three look to be battling for the two automatic qualifying slots and the play-off place; the other three have already seen their chances dwindle. Iceland has been the recent revelation of European football. Despite a population of just 325,000, it got to the play-offs for World Cup qualification last year and has begun qualifying for the Euros with 3-0 wins at home to Turkey and away to Latvia. The Dutch, meanwhile, have struggled, beaten by the Czech Republic in Prague, before scrabbling to victory over Kazakhstan on Friday. The Guus Hidink reign has not begun well and the sense is the Netherlands might be vulnerable to a confident Iceland.
Belarus vs. Slovakia
The assumption was that, after a disappointing World Cup Spain would refresh and rejuvenate – it is, after all, not exactly short of gifted young players – and come back stronger in the Euro qualifiers. That may yet happen, but it’s taking time and Friday’s defeat to Slovakia sent a tremor through the group. Spain has been fortunate with the fixtures in that it can recover with a relatively gentle game away to Luxembourg, while Slovakia, having already won in Ukraine, could take a major step to sealing its place in France in 2016 with a third straight victory away to Belarus, which has already lost to Ukraine and failed to beat Luxembourg. Marek Hamsik impressed as a false nine against Spain but it’s not clear whether that was a one-off tactic for the Spain game or whether he sees that as the future of his team.
TUESDAY
Denmark vs. Portugal
Why can’t Portugal do qualifiers? After needing play-offs to make the last two World Cups and Euro 2010, it began the latest round of qualifiers in characteristically abysmal style, losing at home to Albania. What it probably didn’t need next was a visit to the next highest-ranked side in the group Denmark – particularly after a friendly defeat to France in Saturday. Paulo Bento was sacked as coach after the Albania defeat and has been replaced by Fernando Santos. He desperately needs a good start in a group in which any of the five sides are capable of qualifying but he will start his tenure watching from the stands as he serves an eight-game touchline ban imposed after he was sent off during Greece’s defeat to Costa Rica in the last 16 at the World Cup. Cristiano Ronaldo is back for Portugal having missed the game against Greece through injury. Denmark, having battle back to beat Armenia in its opening game, forced a draw in Albania on Saturday with a late equaliser; a win would put it in control of the group.
