Italy and Spain have slipped back in European Championships qualifying. However, they're not starting to worry just yet.
Italy drew 0-0 with France on Saturday, the country they beat on penalty kicks to win last year's World Cup final.
Saturday's result dropped Italy to third in Group B with 17 points, one point behind Scotland and two points behind leaders France.
With only two countries from each group qualifying for next year's finals in Switzerland and Austria, Italy will look to get their campaign on track with a win over Ukraine tomorrow. Ukraine have 13 points.
"It was important not to lose against France but going to Ukraine aiming for only a point would be a mistake," Italy coach Roberto Donadoni said. "We've got to win."
Italy are keen not to let history repeat itself. When they won the World Cup in 1982, they didn't qualify for the 1984 European Championships.
Gennaro Gattuso will miss the Ukraine game through suspension, and after the lackluster performance of forwards Alessandro Del Piero and Filippo Inzaghi against France, Donadoni could pick Cristiano Lucarelli, who recently transferred to Shakhtar Donetsk in Ukraine.
France host Scotland hoping to avoid another upset. The Scots beat them 1-0 last October in Glasgow.
"The match against Scotland is more important than the one against Italy," France coach Raymond Domenech said. "A defeat against Scotland would be more serious than if we had lost against Italy."
Spain salvaged a late 1-1 draw with Iceland on Saturday, and finished with 10 men after Xabi Alonso was sent off in the 19th minute. But their ranking in Group F was helped by Northern Ireland losing 1-0 to Latvia. Spain host Latvia tomorrow and Northern Ireland visit Iceland.
Spain's draw ended a six-game winning streak.
"We are better off than before the game but worse than I had hoped," Spain coach Luis Aragones said. "Every time that I don't win it feels like a setback, but football is like that and the feeling is not so bad this time."
Group F leaders Sweden, with 19 points, are idle tomorrow. Northern Ireland and Spain have 16 points.
England had a better time on Saturday, beating Israel 3-0. They host Russia tomorrow in a tight Group E.
Croatia lead the group with 20 points and are likely to add three more when they play at Andorra. Russia are second with 19 points, one more than England, after a 3-0 win over Macedonia on Saturday.
"I'm sure Russia will watch our video and not relish coming to Wembley on that performance," England coach Steve McClaren said after the Israel win. "We made it a comfortable win against a difficult side. Russia will be as tough and we need the same performance."
The Netherlands believe their qualification is back on track after a 2-0 win over Bulgaria.
"I'm happy, relieved and satisfied," coach Marco van Basten said. "Qualifying for the European Championships in principle can't go wrong anymore."
Next up is a trip to Albania tomorrow. Romania lead Group G with 20 points, followed by the Dutch with 17 and Bulgaria with 15.
Defending European Champions Greece are also in a good position at the top of Group C. Greece have 18 points, two more than second-placed Norway, who they visit tomorrow.
"Greece will be a very difficult opponent," Norway coach Age Hareide said.
But, Greece will be without defenders Paraskevas Antzas and Christos Patsatzoglou, who both have stomach problems, while striker Angelos Charisteas and influential midfielder Stelios Giannakopoulos are both injured.
Czech Republic will be without suspended top scorer Jan Koller when they meet the Republic of Ireland tomorrow. Another forward, Milan Baros, is also doubtful with a back injury, and missed the 3-0 win over San Marino on Saturday.
Coach Karel Bruckner called up rookie forward Libor Dosek as cover.
Ireland drew 2-2 with Slovakia on Saturday, while Group D leaders Germany are now one win away from qualifying. Germany, idle tomorrow, have 22 points, followed by the Czech's with 17 and Ireland with 14.
Group A leaders Poland visit second-place Finland. The Poles have 20 points, two more than Finland. Portugal, runners-up to Greece in the 2004 European Championships, are in third place with 16 points, although they have played a game less, and host Serbia.
Portugal drew 2-2 with Poland after a late equalizer from Jacek Krzynowek, who struck on the counterattack, surprising goalkeeper Ricardo with a low drive for the equalizer.
"It's a result that feels like a defeat," Portugal coach Luis Felipe Scolari said.
"We had the chance to put ourselves in a great position but unfortunately, because that's the way football is, we could not win," he said.
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