Friday’s Euro 2024 qualifiers:
Group B: France vs Netherlands & Gibraltar vs Greece.
Group E: Czechia vs Poland & Moldova vs Faroe Islands.
Group F: Sweden vs Belgium & Austria vs Azerbaijan.
Group G: Serbia vs Lithuania & Bulgaria vs Montenegro.
📰 Table Of Contents
Group B
France vs Netherlands
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Group B’s two heavyweights go head-to-head in this glamorous Friday night fixture in Paris.
With Greece, Republic of Ireland and Gibraltar completing this section, both are expected to end up in a top two spot.
When France were last in action, it was no less than in a World Cup Final, beaten on penalties by Argentina back in December.
This means, under Didier Deschamps, they’ve reached four major finals, winning both the World Cup in 2018 and the Nations League three years later.
So, to complete the set, les Bleus would love to win their first Euros since 2000 next summer in Berlin.
Before then, of course, they’ve got to qualify but, given that France haven’t lost a home qualifier since March 2013, this shouldn’t be too challenging.
As for Netherlands, Ronald Koeman is back for his second stint as manager, less than three years after leaving.
During his first spell, Koeman guided Holland to the inaugural Nations League Final, beating Germany, France and England en route.
He also led his country to Euro 2020 qualification, which was a big deal, given that they’d missed out on back-to-back tournaments beforehand.
Including friendlies, Oranje are unbeaten in 20 matches, topping their Nations League group last September before reaching the World Cup quarter-finals, dumped out by Argentina on penalties.
This record will be sorely put to the test in Paris, given that the Dutch haven’t beaten France away from home for 87 years, losing their last five encounters on French soil.
Will les Bleus make home advantage count at Stade de France?
Gibraltar vs Greece
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Will Greece’s major tournament exile finally come to an end?
The former Euro winners qualified for five of six tournaments between 2004 and 2014, but have failed to reach four in a row, since being ousted on penalties by Costa Rica in Brazil.
However, times they are a changin, with Gus Poyet leading them to promotion in the Nations League, winning five of six League C fixtures last year.
Now, the Sky Blues and Whites are desperate to get back to a tournament, but that certainly won’t be easy with France and Holland in this group.
Thus, Greece are focussed on strong performances and building momentum, knowing that a play-off spot is already secured.
Gibraltar, in contrast, have lost all 38 qualifiers they’ve ever played, conceding 177 goals.
Julio César Ribas’ side also accumulated just one point from six Nations League C matches last year, so will face Cyprus in a relegation play-out this time next year.
With Victoria Stadium currently being redeveloped, this game will take at Estádio Algarve in Faro/Loulé, Portugal.
Wherever this match is taking place, Greece should put three points on the board.
Group E
Czechia vs Poland
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Group E’s big two go head-to-head in Prague, both seeking to take control of this group.
Czechia have, impressively, qualified for all seven European Championships as an independent nation, reaching the quarter-finals of Euro 2020.
However, their wait for a first World Cup appearance since 2006 continues, with Jaroslav Šilhavý’s side beaten by Sweden in the play-offs exactly 12 months ago today.
Since, Czech Republic have been relegated to Nations League B, so are actually winless in five competitive fixtures.
Nevertheless, Czechia should face little difficulty in securing a top two finish.
The same can be said of Poland, who’ve qualified for back-to-back World Cups as well as four successive Euros.
Back in November, the Eagles reached the World Cup knockout phase for the first time since 1986, eventually dumped out by France in Qatar.
Since then, Euro 2016 winning coach Fernando Santos has taken over as manager, with this his first fixture in charge.
Poland have lost all three previous fixtures in the Czech Republic, most-recently beaten 2-0 in World Cup qualifying 14 years ago.
Will there be a winner at Fortuna Arena?
Moldova vs Faroe Islands
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Group E’s two minnows go head-to-head in Chișinău, both very much targeting a rare qualifying win in this fixture.
Faroe Islands have only ever won 15 of 158 qualification matches, but have impressed in the UEFA Nations League.
Håkan Ericson’s side won promotion to League C in 2020, before preserving their third-tier status last year, courtesy of home wins over Lithuania and Türkiye.
Moldova meanwhile have won just 14 of their last 116 qualifiers, ending World Cup 2022 qualification with a solitary point to their name.
Serghei Cleșcenco’s side, unlike their visitors, are in the Nations League’s bottom-tier, missing out on promotion to Latvia by virtue of head-to-head goal difference.
These two teams met in the last qualification cycle, drawing 1-1 at Stadionul Zimbru, before the Faroes prevailed 2-1 at Tórsvøllur.
Will there be a winner in this latest clash of minnows?
Group F
Sweden vs Belgium
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A fresh start for Belgium with this Domenico Tedesco’s first game in charge.
Back in November, the Red Devils crashed out in the World Cup group stages, and this signalled the end for Roberto Martínez, after 80 games and three major tournaments in charge.
So, Tedesco has come in, having previously managed Schalke, Spartak Moscow and RB Leipzig.
He takes over a team in transition, with Simon Mignolet, Toby Alderweireld, Axel Witsel, Dries Mertens, Eden Hazard and Christian Benteke all having retired.
In this group, Belgium are seeking to qualify for three successive Euros for the first time ever and, despite being drawn alongside Sweden and Austria, are confident of achieving that.
So what about Sweden?
Having featured at all six European Championships this century, their supporters will very much be expecting to make the pilgrimage to Germany next summer.
However, 2022 was a difficult year for the Blågult, first beaten by Poland in the World Cup play-off final 12 months ago.
Then, in September, Janne Andersson’s side were ignominiously relegated to Nations League C, losing four consecutive matches in that competition.
So, Sweden are under pressure to secure automatic qualification, and their clashes with Austria, on 20 June and 12 September, are likely to be key in that regard.
These two have only met twice in competitive fixtures in the last 62 years, both at European Championships.
Belgium won 2-1 on home soil in Euro 2000′s opening match, before a 1-0 victory in Nice 16 years later.
Will this clash at the Friends Arena also go the way of the Red Devils?
Austria vs Azerbaijan
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In a competitive Group F, Austria simply cannot afford to drop points in this opener.
Das Team have qualified for both of the last two European Championships, reaching the knockout stages for the first time in 2021.
However, Ralf Rangnick’s team will have to work hard if they’re to feature in Germany next summer.
Back in September, Austria were relegated back to Nations League B, beating Croatia in Osijek on matchday one, before failing to win any of their subsequent five fixtures.
Here, they find themsleves in a group that also contains Belgium and Sweden; their clashes with the Scandinavians, scheduled for 20 June and 12 September, are likely to be decisive.
On Monday, Austria will welcome Estonia to Linz, knowing only maximum points will do from this two-game window.
A home seems like a formality, given Azerbaijan’s minnow status.
Gianni De Biasi’s did end their Nations League C campaign with three successive wins, beating Slovakia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, thereby finishing second in that section.
However, in UEFA qualifiers, Azerbaijan have only ever won 13 of 134 fixtures, with their only away wins coming against San Marino in 2014 and Liechtenstein five years earlier.
A comfortable home victory will surely be on the cards at Raiffeisen Arena.
Group G
Serbia vs Lithuania
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Will Serbia, finally, qualify for a European Championships for the very first time?
Despite featuring at three World Cups, Serbia have never qualified for a Euros as an independent nation in four attempts.
Last time round, the Eagles beat Norway in their play-off semi-final, before a heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat at the hands of Scotland.
Now though, Dragan Stojković’s side are confident of automatic qualification, having secured promotion to Nations League A back in September.
Serbia and Hungary are odds-on favourites to qualify from Group G, with the home side looking to assert themselves in this opener.
Lithuania meanwhile are likely to be the whipping boys of this section.
The Rinktine are winless in eight competitive games, so will need to beat Belarus next March to avoid relegation to Nations League D, the bottom-tier.
Edgaras Jankauskas is back in charge, this his second stint as manager, dreaming of securing Lithuania’s first qualification win on the road since 2014.
These two teams met in the Nations League in 2018 and then during qualifying the following year, with Serbia winning each time, scoring 11 goals.
This clash at Stadion Rajko Mitić is also likely to go the home team’s way.
Bulgaria vs Montenegro
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Will either side make a winning start to their campaign?
Bulgaria have featured at seven World Cups and two Euros in their illustrious history, although the most-recent of those came almost two decades ago.
Given that the Lions have won just five of their last 32 competitive fixtures, this doesn’t look like changing any time soon.
If Mladen Krstajić’s side are to challenge Serbia and Hungary for a top two spot, this home game is simply must win.
Montenegro meantime are one of 20 UEFA members who’ve never qualified for a major tournament, with the majority of the list often assigned minnow status.
This will be the Brave Falcons’ eighth attempt to get there as an independent nation and, to date, they’ve won just 19 of 68 qualifiers.
In fact, Montenegro have only won nine of their last 32 competitive games, so very little is expected of Miodrag Radulović’s team.
The last three meetings between these two have been drawn, the most-recent of which came in Euro 2020 qualifying, ending 1-1 in Sofia and goalless at Podgorica.
Will there be anything to separate them at Huvepharma Arena in Razgrad?
