FIFA World Cup qualifiers: A look ahead to the last round of matches in the European section

Group A

Business in Group A has already been concluded. Belgium have qualified as group winners after the previous match where they came from behind to beat Croatia 2-1 thanks to a double from Romelu Lukaku.

Croatia with 17 points are also assured of second place as they lie 6 points ahead of Serbia. But the Croats have to make sure that they try and get a point away at Scotland as a bad defeat could leave them vulnerable to going out of the playoffs as the worst of the runners-up.

Group B

This group also has a winner – Italy clinched qualification with a 2-2 draw against Denmark in their last outing which happened to be keeper Gianluigi Buffon’s 137th game as he broke the record for most caps by an Italian player.

Second place is up for grabs and there are four teams who are vying for it – Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark and Armenia all stand a chance to claim that runners up spot.

Bulgaria play host to the Czech Republic in what is going to be the crucial game of the night for this group as both teams will look to come out of it with 3 points. Denmark though, will be hoping that the two teams draw, as that opens up the door for them with them hosting lowly Malta wherein they are rather assured of a win.

Armenia have a tough task with a trip to group winners Italy.

The downside for the four teams though is that their poor head-to-head record against the other teams in the group could likely mean that they are eliminated as the weakest of the runners-up.

The Czech Republic will definitely not make it if they come out of the group in second place.