Euro 2012: How the qualifying groups stand

Giovanni Trapattoni is ordering his Republic of Ireland players to avoid being sucked in by dirty tricks.

The veteran boss has Glenn Whelan, Kevin Doyle and Stephen Ward all one booking away from a suspension going into Friday’s game with Andorra.

Ireland face a make-or-break few days, with their Euro 2012 future likely to be decided by Tuesday’s final group game against Armenia.

During the 2006 World Cup qualifying campaign Andorra got more cards than any other team, and Trapattoni reckons the hosts will do their best to antagonise Ireland.

He said: “I know their mentality and it is important our players do not have any reactions to this.

“In great football you need to have bite, but you also need to know when to put the brakes on. As a player, I played against some great stars but I would not make bad fouls because I would think first.

“I never got a red card. It’s important that players think about these things.

“The game in Dublin next week will be another game, but first we need to look for a result against Andorra.”

Trapattoni still believes Russia meddled in Irish affairs by insisting they too had to play Andorra up the Pyrenees and not in ­Barcelona.

But the 72-year-old was making no excuses last night and said: “Ninety minutes are 90 minutes whether it is here or in Barcelona. UEFA rules said that we should be advised 60 days in advance if we are playing in one place or another.

“We are ready to play, wherever it is. The only ­difference would have been more of our fans in Barcelona.

“The measurements of the pitch are the same. In training we train on a smaller pitch than what we play on.

“All that is important is that we win.”

Elsewhere, Steven Davis will captain Northern Ireland against Estonia in recognition of his 50th cap.

Regular skipper Aaron Hughes has been denied an international farewell this week by a groin injury, so Rangers skipper Davis will lead the side out for the third occasion at Windsor Park.

He said: “The captaincy is something I am looking forward to. I enjoy it at Rangers and I’m looking forward to the game.”

Davis also conceded Fulham defender Hughes, who bows out with 79 caps, will be a big loss for Northern Ireland.

“Everyone looks up to Aaron and it would have been great for him to have a last game,” he added.

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HOW THE GROUPS STAND BEFORE FRIDAY'S MATCHES

Group A

Germany have already qualified, with Turkey favourites to be runners-up ahead of Belgium. Austria could finish on the same number of points but cannot qualify because of their head-to-head record.

               P W D L F A Pts

Germany 8 8 0 0 28 5 24

Turkey 8 4 2 2 11 8 14

Belgium 8 3 3 2 16 11 12

Austria 8 2 2 4 12 16 8

Azerbaijan 8 2 1 5 9 21 7

Kazakhstan 8 1 0 7 5 20 3

Fixtures: Azerbaijan v Austria 5pm, Turkey v Germany 7.30pm, Belgium v Kazakhstan 7.45pm

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Group B

Russia are in control of the group, but could be pipped by either Republic of Ireland, Armenia or Slovakia.

              P W D L F A Pts

Russia 8 5 2 1 10 4 17

Rep of Ire 8 4 3 1 11 6 15

Armenia 8 4 2 2 17 7 14

Slovakia 8 4 2 2 6 8 14

Macedonia 8 2 1 5 6 9 7

Andorra 8 0 0 8 1 17 0

Fixtures: Armenia v Macedonia 4pm, Slovakia v Russia 7.15pm, Andorra v Republic of Ireland 8.30pm

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Group C

Italy are already through and Serbia are favourites for the play-offs, but Estonia and Slovenia also have a chance.

          P W D L F A Pts

Italy 8 7 1 0 16 1 22

Serbia 8 4 2 2 12 10 14

Estonia 9 4 1 4 13 13 13

Slovenia 9 3 2 4 10 7 11

N Ireland 8 2 3 3 8 8 9

Faroe Islands 10 1 1 8 6 26 4

Fixtures: Northern Ireland v Estonia 7.45pm, Serbia v Italy 7.45pm

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Group D

Only Bosnia-Herzegovina can stop France qualifying, and the two countries meet in Paris in the final round of qualifying. Romania could still finish second but it would take a series of unlikely results, including Bosnia-Herzegovina losing to Luxembourg.

            P W D L F A Pts

France 8 5 2 1 11 3 17

Bosnia-Herz 8 5 1 2 11 7 16

Romania 8 3 3 2 10 6 12

Belarus 9 3 3 3 6 5 12

Albania 8 2 2 4 6 10 8

Luxembourg 9 1 1 7 3 16 4

Fixtures: Bosnia-Herzegovina v Luxembourg 7pm, Romania v Belarus 7.30pm, France v Albania 8pm

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Group E

Holland’s record in qualifying is so good that even if they lose their final two matches they will qualify for the finals as best runners-up. Sweden could also take that position, but could also finish third in the group behind Hungary.

              P W D L F A Pts

Holland 8 8 0 0 34 5 24

Sweden 8 6 0 2 26 8 18

Hungary 9 6 0 3 22 14 18

Finland 8 3 0 5 15 14 9

Moldova 8 2 0 6 8 15 6

San Marino 9 0 0 9 0 49 0

Fixtures: Finland v Sweden 5.15pm, Holland v Moldova 7.30pm

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Group F

Croatia and Greece meet on Friday night. A Croatia win would ensure their qualification, but a draw or a Greek victory means the final round of games on Tuesday will be decisive.

           P W D L F A Pts

Croatia 8 6 1 1 16 5 19

Greece 8 5 3 0 10 4 18

Israel 9 4 1 4 11 11 13

Georgia 9 2 4 3 6 7 10

Latvia 8 2 2 4 7 10 8

Malta 8 0 1 7 4 17 1

Fixtures: Latvia v Malta 6pm, Greece v Croatia 7.45pm

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Group G

England need just a point in Montenegro on Friday, but a home win means they will hold the head-head-head advantage over the Three Lions. A Montenegro win over Switzerland on Tuesday week would then send England into the play-offs.

              P W D L F A Pts

England 7 5 2 0 15 3 17

Montenegro 6 3 2 1 5 3 11

Switzerland 6 2 2 2 10 8 8

Bulgaria 7 1 2 4 3 12 5

Wales 6 1 0 5 3 10 3

Fixtures: Wales v Switzerland 7.45pm, Montenegro v England 8pm

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Group H

Portugal, Denmark and Norway are in a thrilling race to the tape, with Denmark hosting Portugal in the final match next week.

               P W D L F A Pts

Portugal 6 4 1 1 15 7 13

Denmark 6 4 1 1 9 4 13

Norway 7 4 1 2 7 6 13

Iceland 7 1 1 5 3 9 4

Cyprus 6 0 2 4 5 13 2

Fixtures: Cyprus v Denmark 7.30pm, Portugal v Iceland 9pm

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Group I

Reigning European champions Spain already have the group won. The Czech Republic are favourites to finish second, but Scotland still cling to the hope of beating them to the punch.

           P W D L F A Pts

Spain 6 6 0 0 21 5 18

Czech Rep 6 3 1 2 8 5 10

Scotland 6 2 2 2 7 7 8

Lithuania 7 1 2 4 3 9 5

Liechtenst’n 7 1 1 5 3 16 4

Fixtures: Czech Republic v Spain 75pm. Saturday: Liechtenstein v Scotland 6.30pm