Euro 2016: 5 teams who took a major step towards qualification

While the ongoing Latin-American showpiece Copa America has been the main attraction this summer, back in Europe teams played out their crucial qualifiers for Euro 2016 to be held in France next summer. Six rounds of games have been played and the qualifiers are slowly taking shape.

Some teams have all but booked their tickets for the coveted championship while many others are still in contention. We take a look at five teams who won their respective games last weekend and took a giant leap towards the European tournament.

1) Portugal

Ronaldo reacts to the Messi chants by the home crowd with an amazing treble.

A blistering hat-trick by Cristiano Ronaldo against Armenia on Saturday ensured Portugal maintain their slender 2-point advantage at the top of Group I. After a shock loss to minnows Albania on the opening day, the Seleccao have won the next 4 games, thanks largely to their talismanic captain Ronaldo, who has now scored 5 of the 7 goals in the group.

Being drawn against the likes of Serbia and Denmark, Portugal were thought to labour their way out of the group considering their erratic performances in the qualifiers but have however managed to get the better of both the sides and clinch the top spot. Although a reverse against both the aforementioned sides are yet to take place, Portugal just need to avoid a defeat in those games, provided they win at Elbasan in Spetember.

Portugal have booked their place in the last 3 major competitions only through the play-offs and looking at the way things are panning out for them this season, the Seleccao may finally escape the gruelling extra ties to secure a berth in the finals.

**Group I**
Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Portugal	5	4	0	1	7	4	3	12
2	Denmark	5	3	1	1	8	4	4	10
3	Albania	4	2	1	1	4	5	−1	7
4	Serbia	5	1	1	3	6	8	−2	1
5	Armenia	5	0	1	4	5	9	−4	1

2) Austria

Jancko’s stunner settled the tie in Russia.

2008 Euro co-hosts Austria are edging closer and closer towards only their second appearance in Europe as their vital win over Russia in Moscow puts them firmly at the summit of Group G with 16 points after 6 qualifiers. After a dour start to the campaign with a 1-1 draw against Sweden, Das Team have won 5 games on the trot and are 4 points above Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s Sweden, who sit second.

In the remaining 4 games, the Austrians have just one tricky fixture left – an away trip to Sweden in September and are expected to saunter away with all 3 points in the games against Moldova, Lichtenstein and Montenegro. Mathematically though, just 5 points is all they need to ensure direct qualification.

**Group G**
Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Austria	6	5	1	0	11	2	9	16
2	Sweden	6	3	3	0	10	4	6	12
3	Russia	6	2	2	2	9	4	5	8
4	Montenegro	6	1	2	3	4	8	−4	5
5	Liechtenstein	6	1	2	3	2	12	−10	5
6	Moldova	6	0	2	4	3	9	−6	2

3) Slovakia

Slovakia were in jubilant mood after the win over Macadonia as they close in on Euro 2016.

Having failed to qualify for the World Cup last summer, Slovakia look determined to mark a return to the major international competitions as they made it 6 wins in 6 games with a marginal 2-1 victory over Macadonia this Sunday. Kornel Salata and Napoli star Marek Hamsik struck early on to put the tie out of the reach.

They were predicted to finish behind Ukraine and the mighty Spain when the draws were made, but proved that they were no pushovers when they pulled off shockers against Ukraine and Spain in the opening 3 games and sit atop the group with a 100% win record.

Ranked 17th in the world, it has been a dream run so far for Slovakia and will be hoping to continue in the same vein for the rest of the games. If they are able to rack up another 7 points out of a possible 12, then they will find themselves participating in Euro for the very first time in their history.

**Group C**
Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Slovakia	6	6	0	0	13	3	10	18
2	Spain	6	5	0	1	15	3	12	15
3	Ukraine	6	4	0	2	9	2	7	12
4	Belarus	6	1	1	4	4	11	−7	4
5	Macedonia	6	1	0	5	6	14	−8	3
6	Luxembourg	6	0	1	5	3	17	−14	1

4) Wales

Bale bailed out Wales with a sublime finish past Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

The tiny UK representatives took a giant leap towards one of the most historic moments for the nation as they beat their closest group rivals Belgium 1-0 in Cardiff to climb to the top of Group B. The world’s most expensive player Gareth Bale was the hero once again as his strike midway in the first half was enough to secure 3 vital points against the second best team in the FIFA rankings.

The Dragons have never played in a European competition and their last appearance in a major international tournament came way back in 1958 when they played in that year’s World Cup in Sweden. 57 years have passed and the wait for the nation’s desire to compete at an elite level again, is edging tantalizingly closer to the finish line.

The Welsh have won 4 matches and drawn two of their 6 qualifiers so far and with 3 points above Belgium, are in a really favourable position.

**Group B**
Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Wales	6	4	2	0	8	2	6	14
2	Belgium	6	3	2	1	13	2	11	11
3	Israel	6	3	0	3	10	9	1	9
4	Cyprus	6	3	0	3	12	11	1	9
5	Bosnia & Herzegovina	6	2	2	2	8	7	1	8
6	Andorra	6	0	0	6	3	23	−20	0

5) England

Wayne Rooney scored the winner against Slovenia.

The only other side apart from Slovakia to do a clean sweep so far, England were riding high on Jack Wilshere’s brace as they survived a scare and edged out a gritty Slovenia side with a 3-2 victory. The win was their sixth in succession in the qualifiers and they appear to be in great form ahead of the mega-event.

After a disastrous World Cup on Brazilian soil last year, which saw them bowing out in the group stage itself, the Three Lions have hit back strongly and are now undefeated in the 10 games they’ve played since then. Pitted in a really easy group, Switzerland appeared to be the only able side to mount a challenge for the top spot in Group E.

But the Swiss stood no chance against England as they were beaten 2-0 at home when the two sides last met in September. Another slip-up, in the very next game, to Slovenia meant they now trail the leaders by a massive 6 points.

Amongst all other teams, England are the closest to the qualification, with only 4 points separating them from a place in France.