The next 10 days will see another round of Euro 2024 group qualifiers take place, with Turkiye, Azerbaijan and all four UK Home Nations in action and several big matches to savour.
On Thursday, Scotland will be hoping to maintain their one hundred percent record in the Euros when they play Spain in a top of the table clash away in Seville. Currently the Scots top Group A with a maximum 15 points from five games. Spain is second with nine points and a game in hand.
The two teams played in the reverse fixture at Hampden earlier this year, which Scotland won 2-0. However, Spain has gone on to thrash group rivals Georgia and Cyprus in recent games. Should Scotland pull off a win against Spain, they would qualify for the finals of Euro 2024.
Turkiye is also in action on Thursday night, taking on Group D leaders Croatia. The Turks dropped three vital points at home against Croatia, who beat them 0-2 in March. Can they reverse the results at the Opus Arena in Osijek? The Turks’ new manager, former Roma striker Vincenzo Montella will hope so.
The Turks also play on Sunday, hosting Lativa at the Torku Arena in Konya. It’s a game Turkiye must win if it wants to remain in with a chance of qualifying for the Euros in Germany next year.
Azerbaijan, second bottom of Group F, plays Estonia, who prop up the group, on Friday. Both teams currently have just 1 point each from, have played four (Azerbaijan) and five (Estonia) games respectively in a tough group that includes Belgium, Austria and Sweden.
England play Australia in a friendly on Friday night, before facing reigning European champions Italy at Wembley on Tuesday night. Unbeaten England are looking comfortable at the top of Group C on 13 points, having drawn in September against Ukraine and won its four previous games. Italy, who have a new manager, Luciano Spalletti, and a game in hand, are currently second in the group with 7 points having lost 1-2 at home to England in March.
Northern Ireland have two home fixtures in their Group H clashes, against San Marino, who are bottom of the group, and Slovenia, who top the table.
Wales, who are in the same group as Turkiye, play Croatia at Cardiff City Stadium on Sunday in a game they must win to keep their hopes of qualifying alive.
October 2023 Fixtures
Thursday 12 October
Spain vs Scotland, 19:45 (Group A)
Croatia vs Turkiye, 19:45 (Group D)
Friday 13 October
Estonia vs Azerbaijan, 17:00 (Group F)
International Friendlies
England vs Australia, 19.45
Saturday 14 October
Northern Ireland vs San Marino, 14:00 (Group H)
Sunday 15 October
Turkiye vs Latvia, 19:45 (Group D)
Wales vs Croatia, 19:45 (Group D)
Monday 16 October
Azerbaijan vs Austria, 17:00 (Group F)
Tuesday 17 October
England vs Italy, 19:45 (Group C)
Northern Ireland vs Slovenia, 19:45 (Group H)
International Friendlies
France vs Scotland, 20:00
All kick-off times above are UK times.
