Teams can take one step closer to the FIFA World Cup Group Stage in Russia in 2018 with some able to secure their passage altogether when international football returns with some midweek qualifiers, with action right through the weekend to keep you entertained.
Selected European FIFA World Cup Qualifiers
Thursday, October 5th
Northern Ireland vs Germany
Montenegro vs Denmark
England vs Slovenia
Scotland vs Slovakia
Friday, October 6th
Austria vs Serbia
Turkey vs Iceland
Kosovo vs Ukraine
Spain vs Albania
Northern Ireland vs Germany
Northern Ireland welcome world champions Germany to Windsor Park in Belfast on Thursday evening with one thing in mind… to win! Michael o’Neill’s men have had a wonderful campaign thus far with their only defeat coming at the hands of this weeks opponents. Joachim Low’s side have been flawless so far with eight wins from eight qualifying matches played, scoring a whopping 35 goals along the way and will secure automatic passage through to the World Cup proper if they can manage at least a draw on Thursday. Julian Draxler and Sami Khedira were on target for Germany in their 2-0 victory the last time the sides met nearly a year ago. Germany have won six and drawn three of their last ten meetings with Northern Ireland with their last defeat coming back in November 1983.
England vs Slovenia
The Three Lions will secure a spot at Russia 2018 under new head coach Gareth Southgate if they can come away with a win against a stubborn Slovenia side at Wembley on Thursday. When the teams met in October of last year, England were held to a 0-0 draw in Ljubljana, one of only two games in which they’ve dropped points this campaign, and had Joe Hart to thank in goal for preventing an even more embarrassing result. Harry Kane scored a memorable hat-trick in Malta in the last round of matches before they dispatched Slovakia three days later to edge ever closer to yet another international tournament. England have four wins and one draw from five matches against Slovenia, scoring nine and conceding four.
Turkey vs Iceland
Either Turkey or Iceland will take a massive step towards the World Cup if they can muster a win over the other when they meet in Eskisehir. Iceland sit level on 16 points with group leaders Croatia who play Finland on Thursday, while Turkey are just two points adrift, the same number as Ukraine who travel to Kosovo. Iceland, who were mightily impressive at Euro 2016 beating Austria and England on their way to the quarter-finals where they eventually succumbed to the tournament’s runners-up France, will be looking to qualify for their second-ever tournament and first appearance at a FIFA World Cup and will secure at least a play-off spot with a win over Turkey on Friday. Iceland won the corresponding fixture 2-0 although the Turks did manage a 1-0 victory over them in the qualifiers leading up to Euro 2016.
Spain vs Albania
Group G leaders Spain will secure automatic qualification to the World Cup if they manage at least a draw against minnows Albania who have had a reasonably good campaign which included wins over Israel and Macedonia while they beat Lichtenstein both home and away. They still hold the faintest hopes of making the playoffs but will need to beat both Spain and Italy in their remaining games and will need results to go their way too. Diego Costa and Nolito netted the goals in a 2-0 win for Spain when the sides faced off last year, ending Albania’s unbeaten start to the group. Their most recent qualifier saw La Roja put eight unanswered goals past Lichtenstein for their second 8-0 qualifying win over their opponents in the space of a year.