Bosnia and Croatia fans clash before friendly

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Four Croatian football fans were injured in a brawl with Bosnians before a friendly match between the two national teams on Wednesday, police said.
The clash between some 40 Croats and about the same number of Bosnians happened at about 2 p.m. local time (1200 GMT) in Sarajevo's central pedestrian zone. Witnesses told Reuters the fans pelted each other with chairs and some of them pulled knives.

Doctors who treated the Croats said they had bruises and cuts from shattered glass but were stable following treatment.

Matches between former Yugoslav states are regarded as high-risk and are routinely heavily policed.

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Germany became the first team to book their place alongside hosts Austria and Switzerland in June's UEFA EURO 2008™ finals with a draw in the Republic of Ireland on Saturday but they could have several more teams for company come Wednesday night. uefa.com looks at the state of play with only three sets of fixtures to go.

Group A
Four teams still have hopes of qualifying from the sole eight-nation group. Poland are the best placed and will ensure qualification with a victory against Belgium in November after coming from behind to beat Kazakhstan 3-1, a result which leaves them four points ahead of Portugal – 2-0 victors in Azerbaijan – and Finland, who were held 0-0 by Belgium. Portugal have three games left to Poland and Finland's two, likewise Serbia who are three points further back after a goalless draw in Armenia. Poland and Finland sit out Wednesday when Portugal visit Kazakhstan while Serbia go to Azerbaijan. If Portugal and Serbia both lose, Poland qualify.

Group B
Two points separated the top three at kick-off on Saturday and Scotland, France and Italy all won to keep things that way with two games left each. Leaders Scotland eliminated Ukraine with a 3-1 win while, a point behind, world champions Italy beat Georgia 2-0. France, a further point adrift, won 6-0 in the Faroe Islands but as Italy visit Scotland next month, Les Bleus know maximum points from here on would be sufficient. Scotland could qualify on Wednesday if they gain more points in Georgia than France pick up against Lithuania. Italy's next game is the 17 November trip to Glasgow.

Group C
Reigning champions Greece beat Bosnia-Herzegovina 3-2 and are now four points clear as Turkey were held in Moldova. However, Turkey moved a point ahead of Norway who were not in action while Bosnia-Herzegovina are four points further back with two games left instead of their rivals' three. Greece will qualify if they win in Turkey on Wednesday while Norway visit Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Group D
Germany only needed a point in Ireland to reach the finals and drew 0-0 to book their place. The Czech Republic, not in action on Saturday, are three points behind unbeaten Germany but are five ahead of Ireland, who have only two games left. If the Czech Republic win in Germany on Wednesday they are through, and will have further chances to book their place at home to Slovakia and in Cyprus next month. Ireland must win at home against Cyprus on Wednesday to keep their hopes alive.

Group E
Croatia, like Germany, are yet to lose and their 1-0 win against now eliminated Israel on Saturday keeps them three points clear of England, 3-0 victors at home to Estonia, but more significantly eight clear of Russia, who have three games left. If Russia do not defeat England on Wednesday, Croatia will qualify, and an away win in Moscow will also take Steve McClaren's side into the finals.

Group F
Spain and Sweden gained away victories in Denmark and Liechtenstein respectively and both hold a six-point cushion over Northern Ireland, who have three matches remaining to the leading pair's two. Denmark are two further points adrift. If Sweden defeat Northern Ireland on Wednesday they will qualify while Denmark must win against Latvia to maintain any hopes of their own. Spain will have to wait until November when they welcome Sweden and Northern Ireland.

Group G
Romania moved three points ahead of the Netherlands with a 1-0 win and their score of seven wins and two draws from nine games means they share the best record in 2008 qualifying with Germany and Croatia. Bulgaria are two points behind the Netherlands but if they do not win in Albania on Wednesday, Romania can qualify with victory in Luxembourg. The Netherlands, unbeaten until their trip to Romania, will aim to get back into winning ways at home to Slovenia.

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After their fifth-straight 3-0 victory in Euro 2008 qualifying, England head off to Moscow for a game that could well seal their fate.

On the bright side, a win would see England qualify—and mark a satisfactory end to a campaign which looked to be coming off the rails last year.

Should the game end in defeat for the Three Lions, though, the Russians will need only wins over Israel and Andorra to advance to the European Finals—ahead of an expectant England side.

That certainly wasn't in the script.

Even a draw will leave England needing a point at home against Croatia in the final qualifier to ensure safe passage to Austria and Switzerland.

So can England win?

Given their recent play—including a 3-0 win over Russia at Wembley just last month—you would presume so. But this match is fraught with danger.

To counter the Russians, England will be employing a 4-3-3 instead of their customary 4-4-2. What's more, captain John Terry won't be 100 percent healthy, and Ashley Cole is out with an injury he suffered against Estonia.

Elsewhere on the roster, Steven Gerrard is a man searching for his best form. With Michael Owen still working towards full fitness, the spine of the team won't be as strong as England would like.

The 3-0 Wembley victory was closer than the score indicated, as the Russians enjoyed long spells of possession and could easily have bagged an equaliser barring a very controversial offside decision.

The game in Moscow will be played on artificial turf in subzero temperatures, which will benefit a Russian side accustomed to playing in such conditions.

The bottom line: There are plenty of reasons for everyone associated with England to be nervous ahead of this game. If things don't go well, coach Steve McLaren may be destined for a very short reign as England manager.

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Germany became the first nation to qualify for Euro 2008 on Saturday, their goalless draw in Dublin enough to ensure a spot in Austria and Switzerland next summer.

The point left the Germans three points clear of the Czech Republic in Group D and eight ahead of Ireland, vindicating the faith placed in Joachim Loew. "We're all delighted now that we've qualified for the Euro finals," said the jubilant coach. "Hats off to the team."

The feat is unique given the competitive nature of most of the sections, with three or four teams fighting for two places at the finals in most of them. However, the Czechs, Romania, who beat the Netherlands 1-0, Croatia, Spain and Sweden all appear likely to join the party.

Victor Piturca, the Romania coach, confessed as much after his side's impressive triumph. over the Dutch. "It is a huge step towards qualifying for next year's finals," he said of a win that moved his side to the top of Group G with 23 points - three clear of the Dutch, with Bulgaria third on 18.

Croatia lead Group E from England and Russia, after a goal by Eduardo da Silva, the Arsenal striker, earned them a 1-0 home win over Israel, while Sweden and Spain should go through from Group F, with both on 22 points, six clear of Northern Ireland after wins.

Holders Greece hold a four-point lead in Group C after a 3-2 win over Bosnia, with rivals Turkey held to a 1-1 draw in Moldova ahead of the sides' meeting Istanbul this week.

Portugal are in a four-way race in Group A after a 2-0 win against Azerbaijan. They trail Poland, after their 3-1 win over Kazakhstan, with Finland and Serbia both also in contention.

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Eduardo da Silva has denied he has lost form since joining Arsenal, after declaring himself fit for Croatia's clash with Israel.
The Brazilian-born striker had been doubtful for the Euro 2008 qualifier in Zagreb, after he missed Arsenal's win over Sunderland with a groin problem.

But Eduardo has been able to train without feeling any reaction and says he is ready to face Israel on Saturday.
"I will be ready for Saturday's match," he said.
The £7.5million hitman, a surprise signing from Dinamo Zagreb in the summer, has managed only two goals at the Emirates Stadium and is yet to find the net in the Premiership.

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Only three of Israel's starters against England at Wembley last month will be in the team's lineup against Croatia in the crucial Euro 2008 qualifier on Saturday night.

Israel coach Dror Kashtan will be forced to make eight changes after injury and suspension ravaged his squad. Dudu Awat, Arik Benado and Yoav Ziv are all suspended, after picking up their second yellow cards of the campaign at Wembley.

Walid Badier, Yaniv Katan and Yuval Shpungin paid the heaviest price for the national team's embarrassing display in England and weren't even called up to the squad. Idan Tal withdrew from the squad on Wednesday with chest pains and Barak Itzhaki didn't fly out with his teammates on Thursday after failing to recover from a knee injury.

Also missing for a second straight qualifier is Israel's top scorer of the campaign Roberto Colautti, who is still struggling to regain full fitness.

Israel, which is fourth in Group E with 17 points, must win on Saturday to maintain its slender chance of qualifying for the European Championships.

Croatia has never lost a competative match in Zagreb since the country's independence in 1991. The team is top of Group E with 23 points and needs just four more points from its three remaining qualifiers to guarantee a place in Euro 2008.

Israel's poor form, combined with Croatia's outstanding recent play, meant optimism was a rare commodity in the blue-and-white camp that flew out to Zagreb on Thursday.

"I don't think we have much of a chance against Croatia," Israel Football Association chairman Avi Luzon said. "Even if we manage to win in Zagreb our chances of qualifying are still small because we need other results to go our way."

Slaven Bilic's team has also been hit by injury, but he's not letting it affect his confidence. "We have a lot of faith in the players who are available, because there is more than enough quality here to get the result we need," Bilic told reporters in the team's training base. "We also have a lot of respect for Israel but I don't think we'll have too much to worry about if we perform to the best of our abilities."

Croatia will be without injured strikers Igor Budan, Bosko Balaban and Mladen Petric, but will have a fit again Eduardo da Silva. The Arsenal striker scored a hat-trick in Croatia's 4-3 victory over Israel at Ramat Gan last year and is the obvious danger for the national team once more. Croatia captain Niko Kovac is also out, while midfielder Darijo Srna is doubtful with a hamstring problem.

Goalkeeper Nir Davidovitch, who will replace Awat between the posts, will likely be the busiest Israeli player on the field. Tal Ben-Haim and Shimon Gershon will anchor Israel's defense once again, with Eyal Meshumar and Yigal Antebi expected to start in the right and left back positions respectively.

Yossi Benayoun will once again be the key to any attacking play and will probably be joined in the midfield by Gal Alberman and Tamir Cohen. Aviram Bruchian is the favorite to fill the final midfield position, with Pini Balili and Elyaniv Barda likely starting in the side's attack.

"Croatia are a better team than us, their form is excellent and there is no question that they are the favorites," Benayoun said. "We will do whatever we can and try to get a good result, but it won't be the end of the world if we don't win."