Qualifying for the 2018 World Cup resumes this week and with only one team to automatically qualify from each group, every match counts.
In Group A, the top two teams meet in Paris, as Sweden travel to take on France. Both teams have 7 points from three games, with France dropping points at Belarus and Sweden dropping points at home to Holland. The Dutch will be hoping the game ends in a draw or away win, as they sit 3 points back, with a match upcoming against Luxembourg.
Group B is also interesting, with Switzerland currently top with maximum points and Portugal in second place, on 6 points. Having defeated Portugal at home, the Swiss are in the driving seat and with the Faroe Islands to play this week, should extend their 100% record in the group. Portugal should remain 3 points adrift, with Latvia to play at home.
Group D is very intriguing and any one of four teams could realistically finish top. Wales, who are currently third with 5 points from three games, welcome Serbia to Cardiff this week. Having dropped points at home against Georgia, Wales need to win this game to keep themselves in contention for first place. Second place Ireland travel to Austria, in the hope of extending their unbeaten run but this is one group which could easily go down to the final round of matches.
Another very tight group is Group E, which is currently topped by Montenegro on 7 points, with Poland in second place due to a lower goal difference. However, Romania cannot be ruled out and they have 5 points, ahead of their meeting with the Poles on Friday night. Denmark, having already lost two of their three matches, have a lot of work to do, if they are to remain in the hunt for the top two places.
The big match in Group F, is the game between England and Scotland at Wembley. The Scots lost their last match 3-0 at Slovakia, which was a very disappointing result but should have no problem lifting themselves for the match against their closest rivals. As for England, the 0-0 draw in Slovenia was not a great performance and Gareth Southgate will be determined to put his name forward for the permanent role of manager, by defeating Scotland. Lithuania and Slovenia will be hoping to take advantage of any slip-up by England and both could top the group, if England lose.
Group G is very exciting, with two heavy weights of world football, Spain and Italy, battling it out for one automatic qualifying place. Both Albania and Israel are currently 1 point behind the big two and will need to stay in touch with them for if possible, to stand any chance of breaking their hold on the group. Albania and Israel meet this week and one of them will need to win the game, to remain in contention.
The big match in Group H, is between Greece and Bosnia, with both teams hoping to stay in touch with Belgium at the top of the group. Belgium should defeat Estonia at home with ease, leaving the Greeks with a must win match, if they are to stay level with them at the top. Finally, the top two meet in Group I, with Iceland travelling to Croatia. Both teams have 7 points and Ukraine are waiting just below them, with 5 points, to take advantage of whoever drops points in that game.
There is still so much to play for in 2018 World Cup qualifying and there’s a great week of fixtures ahead.