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European Qualifiers: Road to the World Cup so far

All you need to know after a busy weekend of European Qualifiers brought the teams to the halfway stage, with Germany and Switzerland perfect and Poland and England well set.

England's win against Lithuania gave them a four-point lead at the Group F summit
England's win against Lithuania gave them a four-point lead at the Group F summit ©Getty Images

• Nine group winners advance directly to join Russia at 32-team 2018 FIFA World Cup
• Eight runners-up with best record against teams first, third, fourth and fifth in their groups proceed to play-offs to decide remaining four European berths

Group A
Leaders: France (13 points)
Second: Sweden (10)

What happened?
The Netherlands are in danger of missing two successive major tournaments for the first time since 1986 after Spas Delev's first two international goals lifted Bulgaria two points above the Dutch, and just one behind second-placed Sweden. That result spelt the end for Oranje coach Danny Blind. Both Sweden and France enjoyed comfortable wins ahead of their June showdown in Solna.

Results
Saturday: Sweden 4-0 Belarus, Luxembourg 1-3 France, Bulgaria 2-0 Netherlands

Next games
9 June: Belarus v Bulgaria, Sweden v France, Netherlands v Luxembourg

Highlights: Portugal 3-0 Hungary

Group B
Leaders: Switzerland (15)
Second: Portugal (12)

What happened?
Switzerland maintained their perfect record and two Cristiano Ronaldo goals helped Portugal move five points clear of third-placed Hungary. At the bottom, Andorra got off the mark by ending a 58-game run of competitive defeats stretching back to 2005, preventing the Faroes from catching Hungary on seven points.

Results
Saturday: Andorra 0-0 Faroe Islands, Switzerland 1-0 Latvia, Portugal 3-0 Hungary

Next games
9 June: Latvia v Portugal, Faroe Islands v Switzerland, Andorra v Hungary

Highlights: Azerbaijan 1-4 Germany

Group C
Leaders: Germany (15)
Second: Northern Ireland (10)

What happened?
Germany conceded a goal for the first time in qualifying but otherwise things went swimmingly for the World Cup holders in Azerbaijan as André Schürrle, in his first start since 2015, scored two and set up Thomas Müller. Victorious against Norway, Northern Ireland are outright second following Azerbaijan's loss, which also allowed the Czech Republic to move up to third.

Results
Sunday: San Marino 0-6 Czech Republic, Azerbaijan 1-4 Germany, Northern Ireland 2-0 Norway

Next games
10 June: Azerbaijan v Northern Ireland, Norway v Czech Republic, Germany v San Marino

Highlights: Georgia 1-3 Serbia

Group D
Leaders: Serbia (11)
Second: Republic of Ireland (11)

What happened?
Ten-man Wales held on for a draw in the Republic of Ireland, enabling Serbia to wipe out a two-point deficit and join the Irish at the top. Austria's victory brought them level with Wales, albeit four points behind the front two.

Results
Friday: Georgia 1-3 Serbia, Republic of Ireland 0-0 Wales, Austria 2-0 Moldova

Next games
11 June: Moldova v Georgia, Republic of Ireland v Austria, Serbia v Wales

Highlights: Montenegro 1-2 Poland

Group E
Leaders: Poland (13)
Second: Montenegro (7)

What happened?
Robert Lewandowski scored for the tenth consecutive qualifier, but it was Łukasz Piszczek's late winner that gave Poland the spoils in Montenegro and lifted them six points clear of their hosts, the biggest lead in any of the groups. Denmark are now level with Montenegro on seven points, with Romania one behind in fourth as they prepare to visit Poland.

Results
Sunday: Armenia 2-0 Kazakhstan, Montenegro 1-2 Poland, Romania 0-0 Denmark

Next games
10 June: Kazakhstan v Denmark, Montenegro v Armenia, Poland v Romania

Highlights: England 2-0 Lithuania

Group F
Leaders: England (13)
Second: Slovakia (9)

What happened?
With Jermain Defoe returning to score his first England goal in four years, Gareth Southgate's side doubled their group advantage with their success against Lithuania at Wembley. Slovenia had been unbeaten in second but lost to a late goal in Scotland, which let in Slovakia to go second. Just four points separate Slovakia from fifth-placed Lithuania.

Results
Sunday: England 2-0 Lithuania, Malta 1-3 Slovakia, Scotland 1-0 Slovenia

Next games
10 June: Scotland v England, Slovenia v Malta, Lithuania v Slovakia

Highlights: Spain 4-1 Israel

Group G
Leaders: Spain (13)
Second: Italy (13)

What happened?
Spain continue to lead on goal difference, but Gianluigi Buffon registered a clean sheet for Italy on his 1,000th professional appearance, also moving one clear of Iker Casillas's old European record by reaching 168 international caps. Israel are now four points off the top two, but still three above Albania.

Results
Friday: Liechtenstein 0-3 FYR Macedonia, Italy 2-0 Albania, Spain 4-1 Israel

Next games
11 June: FYR Macedonia v Spain, Israel v Albania, Italy v Liechtenstein

Highlights: Belgium 1-1 Greece

Group H
Leaders: Belgium (13)
Second: Greece (11)

What happened?
A late Romelu Lukaku equaliser kept Belgium ahead of visitors Greece as both teams remained unbeaten at the summit. That enabled Bosnia and Herzegovina to climb within a point of Greece going into their June fixture.

Results
Saturday: Bosnia and Herzegovina 5-0 Gibraltar, Cyprus 0-0 Estonia, Belgium 1-1 Greece

Next games
9 June: Gibraltar v Cyprus, Estonia v Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina v Greece

Highlights: Croatia 1-0 Ukraine

Group I
Leaders: Croatia (13)
Second: Iceland (10)

What happened?
Nikola Kalinić's goal for Croatia kept them clear at the top and allowed Iceland to leapfrog Ukraine into second spot. Both Ukraine and Turkey, for whom Cenk Tosun scored twice, are now two points short of the Icelanders, who face Croatia next.

Results
Friday: Turkey 2-0 Finland, Croatia 1-0 Ukraine, Kosovo 1-2 Iceland

Next games
11 June: Finland v Ukraine, Kosovo v Turkey, Iceland v Croatia

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