Euro 2016 Qualifying: Dates, Times and Full Schedule for Matchday 9
The business end of the race to qualify for the 2016 European Championship is here with just two matchdays remaining in the group phase.
England, Iceland, Austria and the Czech Republic are the only teams to have secured their place alongside France thus far, so there's plenty of crucial fixtures left to play.
For some history is to set to be made, while for others heartbreak awaits.
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Here is the full schedule for Matchday 9:
| Thursday, Oct. 8 | 5 p.m./12 p.m. | Georgia v Gibraltar |
| Thursday, Oct. 8 | 7:45 p.m./2:45 p.m. | Republic of Ireland v Germany |
| Thursday, Oct. 8 | 7:45 p.m./2:45 p.m. | Scotland v Poland |
| Thursday, Oct. 8 | 7:45 p.m./2:45 p.m. | Hungary v Faroe Islands |
| Thursday, Oct. 8 | 7:45 p.m./2:45 p.m. | Northern Ireland v Greece |
| Thursday, Oct. 8 | 7:45 p.m./2:45 p.m. | Romania v Finland |
| Thursday, Oct. 8 | 7:45 p.m./2:45 p.m. | Albania v Serbia |
| Thursday, Oct. 8 | 7:45 p.m./2:45 p.m. | Portugal v Denmark |
| Friday, Oct. 9 | 7:45 p.m./2:45 p.m. | Macedonia v Ukraine |
| Friday, Oct. 9 | 7:45 p.m./2:45 p.m. | Slovakia v Belarus |
| Friday, Oct. 9 | 7:45 p.m./2:45 p.m. | Spain v Luxembourg |
| Friday, Oct. 9 | 7:45 p.m./2:45 p.m. | England v Estonia |
| Friday, Oct. 9 | 7:45 p.m./2:45 p.m. | Slovenia v Lithuania |
| Friday, Oct. 9 | 7:45 p.m./2:45 p.m. | Switzerland v San Marino |
| Friday, Oct. 9 | 7:45 p.m./2:45 p.m. | Liechtenstein v Sweden |
| Friday, Oct. 9 | 7:45 p.m./2:45 p.m. | Moldova v Russia |
| Friday, Oct. 9 | 7:45 p.m./2:45 p.m. | Montenegro v Austria |
| Saturday, Oct. 10 | 5 p.m./12 p.m. | Iceland v Latvia |
| Saturday, Oct. 10 | 5 p.m./12 p.m. | Kazakhstan v Netherlands |
| Saturday, Oct. 10 | 5 p.m./12 p.m. | Azerbaijan v Italy |
| Saturday, Oct. 10 | 5 p.m./12 p.m. | Norway v Malta |
| Saturday, Oct. 10 | 7:45 p.m./2:45 p.m. | Croatia v Bulgaria |
| Saturday, Oct. 10 | 7:45 p.m./2:45 p.m. | Czech Republic v Turkey |
| Saturday, Oct. 10 | 7:45 p.m./2:45 p.m. | Andorra v Belgium |
| Saturday, Oct. 10 | 7:45 p.m./2:45 p.m. | Bosnia and Herzegovina v Wales |
| Saturday, Oct. 10 | 7:45 p.m./2:45 p.m. | Israel v Cyprus |
Wales on the Verge of Historic Qualification
Eden Hazard's winner for Belgium against Cyprus, following Wales' 0-0 draw with Israel, ensures the Dragons still haven't qualified for Euro 2016.
Manager Chris Coleman admitted there was a dejected mood in the dressing room after the draw, per BBC Sport's Dafydd Pritchard:
"The players were a little bit disappointed; you could sense it on their faces. We all wanted to do it and make the Welsh public happy. They are a bit frustrated, but if we do the same again, it's over. We only need one point now."
However, it will definitely be worth the wait—the showpiece will be only the second major tournament Wales have qualified for in their history, having failed to reach one since the 1958 World Cup.
Coleman's side deservedly top Group B, having won five and drawn three of their eight games.
Though they have only scored nine goals, unbeated Wales have defended phenomenally and conceded just two goals. Squawka Football highlights just how impenetrable they've been:
A draw in their final two games, away at Bosnia and Herzegovina and at home to Andorra, will be enough to guarantee a top-two spot.
Wales will almost certainly beat Andorra, but expect them to go all-out in their match with Bosnia and Herzegovina, as they seek to wrap up their most important point in 57 years with Gareth Bale, who has scored six goals in qualification so far, leading the charge.
Netherlands Could Miss Third-Place Play-Offs
In stark contrast to Wales, the Netherlands have been extremely disappointing in qualification so far and indeed could even miss out on a play-off spot.
The Oranje are currently two points behind Turkey, with two matches to go, having lost 3-0 to them in their last outing, despite desperately needing a win.
Benefoot.net's Michiel Jongsma highlights Holland's reversal of fortunes under Guus Hiddink and Danny Blind, following Louis van Gaal's fairly successful reign:
Jongsma also expressed his disbelief that a squad filled with talent from European clubs could struggle so much:
However, the Netherlands' poor form is not as surprising as it might seem on the surface.
The traditional mainstays of their side throughout the last decade—the likes of Robin van Persie, Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar—are all on the wrong side of 30, and, with the exception of Robben, are no longer capable of operating at the world-class level they once enjoyed.
There are promising younger players emerging, such as Memphis Depay and Georginio Wijnaldum, but they don't yet have a great deal of international experience. Indeed, the two players mentioned have just 19 and 22 caps, respectively.
Though Holland face minnows Kazakhstan in their next match, while Turkey face a trip to the Czech Republic, on current form the Oranje seem incapable of mustering even a point. Meanwhile, the Czech Republic have already sealed qualification, so Turkey could easily come away with a surprise result.
The Netherlands need to finish in the top three to have a chance of going through, but they will need a serious turnaround to qualify now and an even more remarkable one to make any sort of impact on the tournament should they miraculously get there.
