Sweden v. Greece: Last chance for the Greek team to qualify for the World Cup | sport, greece
A look at what is happening in European football in Tuesday’s qualifiers for the World Cup:
GROUP B
Two days after losing the Nations League final against France, Spain can be knocked out at the top of their World Cup qualifying group if Sweden beats Greece. That is easier said than done for Sweden, who lost to Greece in the first match between them. The Greeks are third, the only undefeated team in the group, and can move the level of points with Sweden in others if they win. In any case, Spain has a tricky run-in next month with Greece away and a potential decision against Sweden in Seville. Kosovo will also host Georgia on Tuesday. Both teams are already out of the game to qualify.
GROUP A
Serbia looks set to hold the group lead ahead of Portugal when it hosts last-placed Azerbaijan. The Serbs win a victory in their trip to Luxembourg, who will visit Portugal and need a victory to hold on to their narrow chances of qualifying. Portugal is one point behind Serbia but has a game in hand. Luxembourg is seven points behind Portugal with three games left. Portugal wins 3-0 over World Cup host Qatar, with a goal from Cristiano Ronaldo.
GROUP C
Switzerland aims for the top spot in the group and will, with the exception of outrage against last-placed Lithuania, go on par with the points with leader Italy. It would cancel next month’s match between Italy and Switzerland in Rome as a de facto World Cup final. Northern Ireland is third and its narrow hopes of reaching the World Cup via the play-offs almost certainly require a victory away against Bulgaria.
GROUP D
Ukraine could tighten its grip on second place and a place in the qualifiers if it can beat Bosnia and Herzegovina. It would move Ukraine within a point of group leader France, but the 2018 World Cup champion has an extra game to play. Finland is fourth and will likely be out of contention to qualify if it does not beat already eliminated Kazakhstan in the early game.
GROUP F
An eighth win in a row will ensure that Denmark qualifies as a group winner. The Danes are hosting Austria after not conceding a single goal so far. A draw would also be enough if second place Scotland does not beat the Faroe Islands, but Denmark is keen to continue its race. Third, Israel loses after a loss to Scotland last week and plays Moldova.
GROUP I
England need a maximum of five points from the three remaining matches to qualify. The first players will return to the starting line-up for a visit to Hungary at Wembley after French members of the squad in Saturday’s 5-0 tournament in Andorra. It will focus on visiting fans after England’s players faced racist abuse from Hungarians in the away match in Budapest last month. England have a four-point lead over Albania, which hosts third-placed Poland. Albania are chasing a play-off place as they try to reach a first World Cup. Hungary is in fourth place, nine points behind leader England. The last two teams in the standings are also in action with San Marino, still without points, against Andorra.