Euro 2024: How Do The Tables Stand And Who Needs What To Qualify?5 min read
Italy are the reigning European champions, having beaten England at Wembley in the final of Euro 2020
We’re heading towards the business end of qualification for next summer’s European Championships.
England and Scotland lead the home nations’ charge, with the latter among a small group of countries who could seal their spot at the finals in Germany during the next round of fixtures.
Scotland top Group A with a 100% record, while England lead the way in Group C. Wales are still in the hunt, but the hopes of Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland hang by a thread.
Two teams qualify from each group, filling 20 of the 24 spaces in next summer’s tournament.
Hosts Germany qualify automatically, while the other three spots are decided via play-offs, with 12 participating teams determined by their performance in the 2022-23 Nations League.
BBC Sport gives you the lowdown on how qualifying is shaping up and the key fixtures on the horizon.
Scotland are in magnificent shape with five wins out of five.
Steve Clarke’s side swept Cyprus aside 3-0 on 8 September, as they did in the reverse at Hampden Park in March, to maintain their perfect record.
They could have qualified on 12 September without kicking a ball, but Norway’s win over Georgia denied them that luxury.
Scotland know a second successive European Championship appearance can be secured on Thursday with victory in Spain, whom they beat at home in March. They will also qualify if third-placed Norway fail to win in Cyprus.
Spain helped themselves massively by hammering Georgia 7-1 on 8 September before smashing Cyprus 6-0 four days later.
England also top their group, but their 100% winning record was ended on 9 September by a 1-1 draw with Ukraine in Poland.
Gareth Southgate’s team have a six-point lead over Italy, Ukraine and North Macedonia, although Italy have a game in hand on the other teams.
England do not play in the first set of fixtures in the next international break, but host European champions Italy on Tuesday in a game which could decide top spot.
With new manager Luciano Spalletti in charge, Italy were held to a draw by North Macedonia – the team who denied them a place at last year’s World Cup – on 9 September. But a subsequent 2-1 home win over Ukraine lifted Italy into second place.
They host minnows Malta before travelling to England.
Wales have work to do if they are to reach the finals. They helped themselves massively by winning 2-0 in Latvia on 11 September, but remain three points off second place in Group D as part of a four-way tussle for qualification.
Leaders Croatia have a game in hand, but their first fixture of the next international break is against second-placed Turkey, which could open the door for Rob Page’s Wales, who host the Croatians on Sunday.
Northern Ireland’s hopes of qualifying from Group H are all but over.
Losses in Slovenia and Kazakhstan during the most recent international break have left them with just three points from six games and 10 points behind the top two, Slovenia and Denmark.
Michael O’Neill’s side will no longer be able to qualify if they fail to beat lowly San Marino on Saturday or if Denmark and Slovenia win their games.
The Republic of Ireland have only one win from five games in Group B following losses to the top two – France and the Netherlands – in September.
Stephen Kelly’s side will be out of contention for the finals if they lose at home to Greece on Friday, or if they draw and the Netherlands beat France.
France have maximum points from five games, while the Netherlands boosted their qualification hopes with two victories during the most recent international break.
France will qualify if they beat the Netherlands, or if they draw and Greece lose in Ireland.
Belgium are top of Group F, level on points with Austria after beating Azerbaijan 1-0 on 9 September and Estonia 5-0 three days later.
The top two meet in their next fixture, knowing three points will seal qualification for the winners.
Third-placed Sweden sit out the next round of games before playing Belgium on Monday.
Portugal have won all six of their Group J games, scoring 24 goals and conceding none.
They followed a 1-0 win over Slovakia with a 9-0 hammering of Luxembourg in the most recent international break.
They will qualify if they beat Slovakia on Friday, or if they draw and Luxembourg lose to Iceland.
In the September break Switzerland had a minor check to their progress in Group I courtesy of a 2-2 draw in Kosovo, but bounced back to beat Andorra, which kept them top by two points.
Their main rivals – Romania and Israel – drew 1-1 before both won their second fixture to essentially make it a three-horse race.
No qualification can be decided in the first set of games this time around.
Israel’s fixture at home to Switzerland has been postponed by Uefa in light of the security situation in the country, while their trip to Kosovo is also likely to be suspended.
Hungary and Serbia are the stand-out sides in Group G, although Hungary have the advantage after their win in Belgrade on 7 September. They have superior goal difference and a game in hand.
A draw in Lithuania harmed third-placed Montenegro’s cause, but a subsequent win over Bulgaria means they are still in contention.
With Hungary hosting Serbia on Saturday, Montenegro’s trip to Serbia three days later is rendered crucial.
There is plenty of scope for change in Group E, where four teams are separated by four points.
The next international break brings big fixtures, with leaders Albania facing second-placed the Czech Republic on Thursday and fourth-placed Poland hosting third-placed Moldova three days later.
