There’s 14 games left, and mostly these are all tied up. But there are some to watch, and it’s Monday morning and I’m already looking to procrastinate
Group A Finished
Group B Not finished, but decided
Group C We have our first game to watch!
Ukraine v Italy, 20th November 19:45 GMT, BayArena Leverkusen
Ukraine will qualify with a win over Italy, Italy just need to avoid defeat (both on 13 points). Whichever doesn’t qualify directly, will enter the nation’s league playoff.
Note: Italy would enter playoff Bracket A, Ukraine would enter Bracket B. Therefore affecting the brackets other teams may qualify for.
Group D Croatia or Wales can still qualify
Croatia v Armenia, 21st November 19:45 GMT, Station Maksimir Zagreb
Wales v Turkey, 21st November 19:45 GMT, Cardiff City Stadium Cardiff
Wales need to beat Turkey and Croatia fail to beat Armenia to qualify directly, else Croatia qualifies. Wales are 2 points behind, but win the head-to-head. Both teams are guaranteed a playoff place if they fail to qualify.
Group E Moldova and Czech Republic can still qualify
Czech Republic v Moldova, 20th November 19:45 GMT, Andruv Stadion Olomouc
If Moldova beat Czech Republic, they qualify directly, else Czech Republic qualifies. Moldova cannot qualify for the playoffs, so this is their only shot. Czech Republic are guaranteed a playoff spot if they lose.
Group F Finished
Group G Finished
Group H Slovenia and Kazakhstan can still qualify
Slovenia v Kazakhstan, 20th November 19:45 GMT, Stadion Stozice Ljubljana
Kazakhstan need to beat Slovenia to qualify, else Slovenia qualifies. Kazakhstan are guaranteed a play off spot should they fail to qualify, for Slovenia however this is their only chance.
if Kazakhstan qualify directly, their playoff space will fall to Azerbaijan
Group I Not finished, but decided
Group J Finished
In Summary
Of the 14 games on tonight and tomorrow, the ones to pay attention to in terms of qualification are:
Tonight
Ukraine v Italy
Czech Republic v Moldova
Slovenia v Kazakhstan
Tomorrow
Croatia v Armenia
Wales v Turkey
Czechia-Moldova game brings me back to 2001, when Bulgaria was in a similar situation - we were travelling to Prague for a final group fixture. We needed a win to make it to the playoffs, CzechRep would do with a draw. Czech were favorites with Nedved, Poborsky, Baros but we had a moderately strong team, with emerging Berbatov, Martin and Stilian Petrov, and legend Balakov as a playmaker. People were excited and making comparisons with our epic win against France in 1993.
Czechia won 6-0.
Czechia youth team beat BG youth team 8-1.
Czechia won 6-0.
Have nightmares with that score made by a czech team. Hope it won’t be the same case
The play-off system is insane.
Excited for the Ukraine Italy game tonight 👏🏻
#HAI MOLDOVA
In France, we’ll have a simulcast tonight. So, I’ll be able to watch the three games at the same time. I can’t wait for the kickoff. Imagine Moldova and/or Kazakhstan qualify tonight.