Big guns going well in World Cup Qualifying

The UEFA qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup have reached the half-way stage and things are starting to take shape in the groups.

We can look at the groups and begin to get an idea of which teams are going to make it to the finals in Russia.  Many of the teams are names you would expect to see but there are a couple of nations which would hope to do better.

France sit top of Group A with 13 points from their five matches and it looks like being between the French and Sweden for the automatic qualifying spot.  The two nations meet in Sweden in the next round of fixtures in June and with both on the same goal difference, this could be the match which makes the difference.  Having lost to Bulgaria last time out and seeing their manager sacked, it looks as though Holland will not make it to Russia.

Switzerland top Group B with maximum points and European champions Portugal, are 3 points behind in second.  They will play each other on the final match day and with the other teams in the group already well adrift, Switzerland and Portugal will finish in the top two places but who will claim that all-important first place?

Germany are in control of Group C and will qualify automatically as winners of the group.  Second place in the group looks like being between Northern Ireland, who have 10 points and Czech Republic who are on 8 points.  Northern Ireland and Czech Republic meet in Belfast in September.

Group D has been very tight, with the top four teams all taking points off each other.  Three teams are undefeated, with Serbia on top with 11 points, Republic of Ireland second on goal difference and Wales in third, 4 points behind them.  Serbia could end Wales’ hopes next time out in Belgrade and Republic of Ireland could also pull away from Austria by defeating them in Dublin.

Poland are well clear at the top of Group E and should secure an automatic place at the 2018 World Cup.  Four teams remain in contention for second place but with Montenegro and Denmark on 7 points and Romania and Armenia on 6 points, there is a chance this could be the group which misses out on a second-place team reaching the play-offs.

Group F is in the control of England and they sit top on 13 points, 4 clear of Slovakia in second.  Both Slovenia and Scotland have a chance of making it into the play-off round by finishing second and the next two rounds of matches will go a long way in deciding who that will be.

Spain and Italy, the two powerhouses in Group G are taking command and are currently first and second respectively, with 13 points each.  Israel are 4 points adrift in third but with Albania and Macedonia to come at home and Spain and Italy meeting each other, they could get themselves in contention before heading to Italy in September.

Belgium looked well in control of Group H but the home draw with Greece has allowed the Greeks and Bosnia to keep themselves involved.  With Belgium on 13 points, Greece on 11 and Bosnia on 10, the top two places will be contested between these teams and with Bosnia meeting Greece next, Belgium will hope to open a gap at the top of the group and pull away from at least one of them.

Finally, to Group I and Croatia are well-placed at the top of the Group with 13 points from five games.  Iceland, who performed so well at Euro 2016, are second on 10 points but Ukraine and Turkey are only 2 points behind them.  There are some exciting games to come in this group and with Iceland hosting Croatia in June, this could be the one group which goes down to the wire.