Germany and Spain on brink of Euro 2012

PARIS - European powerhouses Germany and Spain are on the brink of reaching Euro 2012 ahead of the latest round of qualifying matches on Friday and Saturday.

World Cup semifinalist Germany, which has won all seven of its Group A matches to date, will be assured of a place in Poland and Ukraine if it defeated Austria in Gelsenkirchen on Friday evening.

"We just need to take the final step," said Germany coach Joachim Loew.

"We have earned 21 points in seven qualifying games and we have almost qualified for the European Championship. That wasn't expected straight after the World Cup success."

Germany is in a buoyant mood after edging Brazil 3-2 in a friendly in Stuttgart last month, but it will be without Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira (groin) and Bayern Munich striker Mario Gomez (thigh).

World and European champion Spain will be just three points from the final if the Czech Republic drops points against Scotland in Glasgow in the only match taking place on Saturday.

Should Craig Levein's side secure a positive result against the Czechs, Spain will be able to rubber-stamp its place in the finals by winning at home to Group I's bottom side Liechtenstein three days later.

Although most of the nine groups are topped by recognized continental heavyweights, not all of Spain and Germany's rivals for next summer's title are sitting quite as pretty.

The Netherlands, which replaced Spain as the No 1 side in the FIFA ranking last week, top Group E but is only three points clear of Sweden ahead of Friday's visit of San Marino.

France visits Albania seeking to protect a one-point lead over Belarus - albeit with a game in hand - in Group D, while England, which visits Bulgaria, is only above Montenegro on goal difference in Group H.

England's preparations for the trip to Sofia have been given a shot in the arm by the form of the squad's Manchester United contingent, which hit form with a scarcely credible 8-2 annihilation of Arsenal on Sunday.

Phil Jones, 19, Chris Smalling, 21, and 22-year-old Tom Cleverley were all called up for the Bulgaria game by England coach Fabio Capello, who has been enthused by their start to the season.

"It is really interesting," Capello said. "(Danny) Welbeck, Smalling, Jones, Cleverley. All these players are playing really good.

"After the game they played against Manchester City at Wembley (a 3-2 win in the Community Shield), they are improving."

Welbeck missed the cut after injuring his hamstring shortly after scoring against Arsenal, while fellow United player Rio Ferdinand was also overlooked as he recovers from a hamstring complaint of his own.

England goes to Bulgaria as a strong favorite but it cannot afford a slip-up, with Montenegro visiting a Wales team demoralized by its recent slump to 117th in the world ranking.

France coach Laurent Blanc has recalled wingers Franck Ribery and Mathieu Valbuena for its double-header with Albania and Romania.

Les Bleus are bidding to build on an 11-game unbeaten run stretching back to a shock 1-0 defeat at home to Belarus exactly a year ago, in what was Blanc's first competitive game in charge.

"We've been on a journey," said Blanc. "But have we improved a lot, have we gone far enough? I don't know.

"The important thing is that we qualify for the European Championship. We have everything to win."

Italy, which beat Spain 2-1 in a friendly on August 10, will bid to stretch its five-point lead in Group C when it visits the Faroe Islands.

The biggest obstacle for the azzurri may be a lack of match fitness in its squad, with the 2011-12 Serie A campaign yet to begin due to a player strike.

With the finishing line creeping into sight, Groups B and H are the most finely poised.

Group B features a three-way tie between Ireland, Russia and Slovakia at the summit with four games to go, while Portugal, Norway and Denmark are locked on 10 points at the top of five-team Group H with three matches remaining.

Agence France-Presse