Qualifying for the 2008 European Championship in Austria and Switzerland continues with games Saturday and next Wednesday, the first of five double dates in 2007.
Here's a look at Groups
6 and 7:
GROUP 6. Spain faces must-win games against Denmark on Saturday and Iceland next Wednesday after falling into fifth place, nine points
behind leader Sweden.
Atletico Madrid forward
Fernando Torres, who is battling Valencia's
Fernando Morientes
and
David Villa for a place in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Danes in Madrid's Bernabeu Stadium, says Spain needs to win both games.
"There is no room for error because losing or drawing will be very dangerous," he said.
Denmark is in second place after opening with two wins and a draw. Captain
Jon Dahl Tomasson, who plays for La Liga club Villarreal, knows the pressure Spain faces.
"It is like a final for Spain, but it is for us too," the
striker told Spanish media this week. "Winning in Madrid would be a very big triumph."
STANDINGS:
Sweden 12 points;
Denmark, Northern Ireland 7;
Latvia, Spain, Iceland 3;
Liechtenstein 0.
SCHEDULE:
Saturday, March 24
Spain-Denmark (TV: Telemundo, West Feed, live, 2 pm PT; East Feed, delay, 11:30 pm ET)
Liechtenstein-Northern Ireland
Wednesday, March 28
Northern Ireland-Sweden
Liechtenstein-Latvia
Spain-Iceland
GROUP 7. The Netherlands looks to stretch its lead in Group G when
it hosts Romania on Saturday in Rotterdam. The Oranje is unbeaten in its last eight games against Romania with six wins (including 2-0 wins in both 2006 World Cup qualifiers) and two ties.
Goalkeeper
Edwin van der Sar is injured, so Ajax's
Maarten Stekelenburg could start in goal.
Dirk Kuijt and
Ryan Babel might play on the wings in place of the injured
Robin van Persie and
Arjen Robben. AZ midfielder
Demy de Zeeuw could debut as holding midfielder.
For Romania, the big concern is the
absence of captain
Cristian Chivu on the backline. Romania coach
Victor Piturca will probably go with
Dorin Goian and
Valentin Badoi in the middle of the defense if
Gabriel Tamas isn't
ready to go.
STANDINGS:
Netherlands 10 points;
Bulgaria 8;
Romania 7;
Belarus 4;
Slovenia 3;
Albania 1;
Luxembourg
0.
SCHEDULE:
Saturday, March 24
Netherlands-Romania
Luxembourg-Belarus
Albania-Slovenia
Wednesday, March 28
Romania-Luxembourg
Slovenia-Netherlands
Bulgaria-Albania