Monday’s Euro 2024 qualifiers:
Group B: Republic of Ireland vs France & Netherlands vs Gibraltar.
Group E: Poland vs Albania & Moldova vs Czechia.
Group F: Sweden vs Azerbaijan & Austria vs Estonia.
Group G: Montenegro vs Serbia & Hungary vs Bulgaria.
Group B
Republic of Ireland vs France
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Will it be a famous night in Dublin, or will France’s quality shine through?
It was 3-0 with just 20 minutes on the clock, Antoine Griezmann, Dayot Upamecano and Kylian Mbappé on the scoresheet, before Mbappé completed the rout late on.
In recent years, Didier Deschamps’ side have featured in four major finals, winning the World Cup in 2018 and the Nations League in 2021, beaten on penalties by Argentina in December’s World Cup Final.
Most would expect les Bleus to cruise through this group and, when they do, be amongst the favourites to win the Euros in Germany.
As for Republic of Ireland, this a huge test for them as they kick off their qualification campaign here.
The Boys in Green have missed out on the last three major tournaments and, with two juggernauts in this group, they’ll probably have to go through the play-offs to get to Germany.
On Wednesday, Stephen Kenny’s side warmed up for this game by beating Latvia 3-2 in a friendly, with Callum O’Dowda, Evan Ferguson and Chiedozie Ogbene on target.
This though will be an infinitely tougher test, with France likely to be simply too strong at the Aviva Stadium.
Netherlands vs Gibraltar
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After being smashed by France on Friday night, can Netherlands get off the mark in Rotterdam?
On matchday one, Oranje were embarrassingly beaten 4-0 at Stade de France, finding themselves three down after just 21 minutes.
The fact Memphis saw a stoppage time penalty saved compounded a miserable night for the Dutch.
Most would still expect France and the Netherlands to qualify from Group B, but Greece and Ireland will have been watching that Dutch performance believing they are catchable.
With Ronald Koeman’s side not in qualification action again until September, it’s vitally important that they claim three points here.
This seems a formality, given that Gibraltar have now lost all 39 qualifiers they’ve ever played, conceding 180 goals.
This continued on Friday with Julio César Ribas’ side swatted aside 3-0 by Greece at their temporary home of Estádio Algarve.
During World Cup 2022 qualifying, Netherlands beat Gibraltar 7-0 away and 6-0 at home, with a similar result expected at De Kuip.
Group E
Poland vs Albania
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After being smashed in their group opener on Friday, can Poland get back on track as they return to Warsaw?
On matchday one, the Fernando Santos era got off the worst possible start, with his new team demolished 3-1 by Czechia in Prague.
Damian Szymański’s goal three minutes from time scant consolation.
Poland have qualified for four successive European Championships, very much favourites to extend that streak this year.
However, if the Eagles were beaten again here, they’d immediately be under pressure.
This game is so crucial because the only side likely to challenge Poland and Czechia for a top two spot in Albania.
Even that seems a long-shot, given that the Red and Blacks have won just one of their last seven competitive fixtures.
This will be Sylvinho’s first game in charge of Albania, having previously managed Olympique Lyonnais and Corinthians with mixed results.
Poland have won their last seven meetings with Albania, winning 4-1 in Warsaw and 1-0 in Tirana during the most-recent World Cup qualifying cycle.
So, a home win seems likely at Stadion Narodowy.
Moldova vs Czechia
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After a very impressive victory on Friday night, will Czechia’s perfect start continue?
On matchday one, they demolished Poland 3-1 in Prague, with both Ladislav Krejčí and Tomáš Čvančara on target in the first three minutes, before Jan Kuchta secured the win.
Czech Republic have qualified for all seven Euros as an independent nation and, having smashed the group’s top seeds to start, Jaroslav Šilhavý’s side are in a great position to extend that record.
Moldova meanwhile held Faroe Islands to a 1-1 draw, thanks to Ion Nicolaescu’s penalty just two minutes from time in Chișinău.
Serghei Cleșcenco’s side have now won just one of their last 41 qualifiers, this a 1-0 victory over Andorra in 2019.
Thus, Czechia are confident of victory at Stadionul Zimbru.
Group F
Sweden vs Azerbaijan
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After suffering defeat on matchday one, can Sweden bounce back in Solna?
On Friday night, Janne Andersson’s side were easily beaten 3-0 by Group F’s top seeds Belgium at home.
In isolation, this is not disaster for the Blågult, but it means they’re winless in six competitive matches, losing five of them.
In 2022, Sweden were beaten in the World Cup play-offs by Poland before being ignominiously relegated to Nations League C.
In a competitive group, they simply cannot afford to drop points here.
Azerbaijan meanwhile began their qualification campaign by being smashed 4-1 by Austria in Linz on Friday.
Emin Mahmudov’s tenth international goal very much of the consolation variety.
Gianni De Biasi’s side are now winless in 19 qualifiers, with their most-recent qualification victory coming against San Marino in September 2017.
That fact isn’t likely to change at Friends Arena.
Austria vs Estonia
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After smashing one of the group’s minnows in Linz on Friday night, Austria are hoping for a repeat here.
On matchday one, Das Team demolished Azerbaijan 4-1, with Marcel Sabitzer bagging a brace, before Michael Gregoritsch and Christoph Baumgartner were both on target.
Austria have qualified for three of the last four European Championships, reaching the round of 16 for the very first time in 2021.
With games against Belgium and Sweden to come, it was vitally important that Ralf Rangnick’s side claimed maximum points in this two-game window.
Another home victory seems likely, given Estonia’s results historically.
The Blueshirts did win four out of four in the UEFA Nations League last year, albeit these victories came against Malta and San Marino.
In terms of qualifiers, Estonia have won just one of their last 17, with Thomas Häberli’s team unlikely to improve that ratio here.
An emphatic home win is expected at Raiffeisen Arena.
Group G
Montenegro vs Serbia
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Rewind 15 years, and these two countries were playing together at a World Cup, with Serbia & Montenegro competing as one in 2006.
Immediately after that tournament, the two separated, with both now desperate to back in Germany next summer.
Serbia made a winning start to Euro 2024 qualifying on Friday night, beating Lithuania 2-0 in Belgrade, with Dušan Tadić and Dušan Vlahović the scorers.
Despite featuring at three of the last four World Cups, the Eagles have never qualified for a Euros, but Dragan Stojković’s side are likely to change that fact in a generally weak group.
Montenegro meantime have never featured at a major tournament as an independent nation, but did make a winning start in this cycle.
The Brace Falcons beat Bulgaria 1-0 in Razgrad on Friday, with Nikola Krstović bundling home the winner 20 minutes from time.
If Miodrag Radulović’s side are going to finish above either Hungary or Serbia, their home fixtures against Group G’s big two will be crucial.
Expect a red-hot atmosphere at Stadion pod Goricom, but Serbia’s quality will likely see them leave victorious.
Hungary vs Bulgaria
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Hungary kick off their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign here and, having featured at both of the last two European Championships, are confident of extending that streak.
To get to Euro 2020, the Magyars had to come through the play-offs, smashing Bulgaria 3-1 in Sofia when these two sides last met.
More recently, last year, Marco Rossi’s side were extremely impressive in the Nations League, beating England twice and Germany away, ending up second in their League A group.
On Thursday, Hungary warmed up for this qualifier by beating Estonia in a friendly, with Martin Ádám’s header the difference.
Now, the serious business begins, so will the home supporters be celebrating a win in Budapest?
Bulgaria meanwhile haven’t qualified for a major tournament since 2004, and their hopes of changing that suffered a serious blow on matchday one.
Mladen Krstajić’s side were beaten 1-0 by Montenegro in Razgrad, the only goal coming 20 minutes from time.
So, the Lions have now won just five of their last 32 competitive games, unlikely to improve that ratio here.
A comfortable home win is likely to be on the cards at Puskás Aréna.
