Football | Euro 2012 | Spain, Italy look to book Euro spots

Spain, Italy look to book Euro spots

Both Spain and Italy will be looking to seal their places in next summer's European Championships on Tuesday night.

Defending champions Spain are currently top of Group I, leading second-placed Czech Republic by five points and having played a game less. With only two qualifiers left under Tuesday's matches, a win against Liechtenstein would guarantee Spain's presence at next year's finals in Poland and Ukraine.

In Group I's other fixture, Scotland will look to keep their faint hopes of qualification alive when they play hosts to Lithuania.

Italy are another team who can book their place on Tuesday, but they will have to be wary of second-placed Slovenia, who will have been buoyed by the Azzurri's insipid peformance in their 1-0 win over Faroe Islands last Friday.

The Islanders themselves will travel to face Serbia, while Group C's final fixture sees Estonia host Northern Ireland.

One team who have already guaranteed their presence in Poland and Ukraine next summer is Germany, who are cannot be overtaken at the top of Group A.

It is now down to Turkey and Belgium in the fight for the second qualifying spot, although only the former are in action on Tuesday, when they travel to play Austria.

Group A's other match on Tuesday will be a battle of the bottom sides when Azerbaijan play hosts to Kazakhstan.

Things are starting to heat up in Group B with just three qualifiers remaining, and leaders Russia will know they cannot afford to slip up in their home game against second-placed Republic of Ireland.

Hoping to capitalise on either side's slip-up will be third-placed Slovakia, who are currently level with the Irish on 14 points, two behind the Russians. The Slovaks take on Armenia on Tuesday evening, while Macedonia host Andorra.

In Group D, France will be looking to edge closer to next summer's finals when they travel to play Romania, while Bosnia-Herzegovina and Belarus both know a loss in their encounter will spell the end of their qualification prospects.

The group's other match sees Luxembourg take on Albania.

Fresh from an 11-0 trashing of San Marino, Holland travel to Finland knowing a win would all but guarantee them a place at Euro 2012.

Level on points behind the Dutch are Sweden and Hungary, who will be looking to stay alive with wins in their respective matches against San Marino and Moldova.

Things are looking very tight in Group F with leaders Greece leading second-placed Croatia by just a point, while Israel are a further three behind.

Greece will travel to play Latvia on Tuesday, while Croatia entertain Israel in a must-win game for either side. Bottom side Malta will be looking for their first points of the campaign when they play hosts to Georgia.

England are currently top of Group G, leading second-placed Montenegro by three points with only two games remaining, but with the latter not in action on Tuesday, the English will have to wait till the next matchday before they can be fully assured of their participation next summer.

They face a hungry Wales side on Tuesday evening, while third-placed Switzerland will look to keep their faint hopes of qualifying alive when they host Bulgaria.

Finally, Group H is also heating up, with Portugal and Norway level at the top on 13 points, while Denmark sit in third, three points behind.

With the Portuguese not in competitive action on Tuesday, Denmark will entertain Norway, while Iceland and Cyprus play off in the clash of the basement sides.