Euro 2012 qualifying preview: Thrilling finish beckons

Five places in the finals and several playoff berths will be on offer when Euro 2012 qualifying concludes on Tuesday.

England s 2-2 draw in Montenegro on Friday secured Fabio Capello s side top spot in Group G, and saw them become the fifth team to secure a place at next year s tournament in Poland and Ukraine as group winners.

Spain, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands are the other teams to have already qualified.

The nine group winners and the best runner-up qualify automatically, with the eight other group runners-up being thrown into the playoffs.

In Group B, Slovakian hopes ended Friday after a 1-0 home defeat against Russia.

That left Dick Advocaat s Russian side two points clear of the Republic of Ireland, and three ahead of third-placed Armenia.

Russia only need a point at home on Tuesday against the group s bottom side, Andorra, to claim top spot, while Armenia s trip to Dublin will likely decide which of the two sides enters the playoffs.

Slovakia travel to Skopje to play Macedonia in the group s other match.

Portugal and Denmark are level on 16 points on top of Group H ahead of their showdown in Copenhagen.

Denmark are guaranteed at least second place in the group, but must win their final qualifier to claim top spot because of their inferior head-to-head record against the Portuguese.

With their qualification hopes dashed following a 2-0 defeat to the Danes in September, Norway will look to restore some pride when they host Cyprus in Oslo.

Estonia put the pressure on Serbia in Group C after their 2-1 win over Northern Ireland last week put them one point clear in second place.

That result means Serbia can take second place with a win in Maribor against Slovenia, while Italy host Northern Ireland.

France are a point ahead of Bosnia and Herzegovina after both teams won on Friday, and the pair s clash in Paris will decide who wins Group D.

Albania host Romania in the group s other match.

In Group F, Greece lead the standings by two points from Croatia and a draw against Georgia in Tbilisi would secure qualification for the 2004 champions.

Croatia welcome Latvia to Rijeka while Malta and Israel end their campaigns in Ta Qali.

The Netherlands are yet to drop a point in qualifying, with Bert van Marwijk s side wrapping up first place in Group E with a 1-0 win over Moldova in Rotterdam on Friday.

Sweden are guaranteed at least a play-off berth, but could claim automatic entry as the best runner-up by beating the Dutch in Solna.

Group E s other matches sees Finland travel to Hungary, while Moldova welcome San Marino.

Montenegro s draw with England saw them secure second place in Group G, and they will get a final hit out with Switzerland ahead of the playoffs.

Group rivals Wales and Bulgaria will meet in Sofia.

In Group A, Belgium will need to defeat Germany in Dusseldorf to be assured of a playoff spot, while Turkey host Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan await the visit of Austria.

It is a similar story in Group I, with Spain already through and Scotland just one point ahead of the Czech Republic in second.

The Czechs have a better head-to-head record against Craig Levein s side, and travel to Lithuania for their final match.

The Scots have it all to do – travelling to Alicante to do battle with reigning world and European champions Spain.

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