The trio now each lie third in their respective groups, and failure to pick up three points on Wednesday would put a serious dent in their aspirations of being in Austria and Switzerland next year.

Euro 2004 finalists Portugal could only manage a 2-2 draw at home to Poland at the weekend, and host Serbia in Group A on Wednesday knowing victory is vital.

In the same pool, the top two go head to head when second-placed Finland welcome leaders Poland to Helsinki, while Kazakhstan host Belgium.

The match between Armenia and Azerbaijan has been cancelled due to a dispute over venues, with both sides awarded no points.

It could also be a decisive day in the 'group of death' with two massive matches in Group B.

World champions Italy travel to Ukraine while pool leaders France entertain second-spotted Scotland at the Parc des Princes.

The Scots stole a march on their qualification rivals on Saturday with the World Cup finalists holding each other to a goalless draw in Milan and Ukraine being pegged back by a last-gasp equaliser in a 1-1 tie against Georgia in Tbilisi.

Les Bleus will be without Barcelona striker Thierry Henry for the top-of-the-table clash with Scotland through suspension.

The other match in Group B sees point-less Faroe Islands travel to Lithuania.

In Group F, Spain had to rely on a late Andres Iniesta goal to earn even a point against Iceland in a rain-drenched encounter in Reykjavik.

Luis Aragones' side trail leaders Sweden by three points and surprise packages Northern Ireland on goal difference, and host fifth-placed Latvia knowing nothing less than three points is acceptable.

Northern Ireland can move joint-top alongside Sweden, who are not in midweek action, if they triumph in Iceland.

Fourth-placed Denmark are adrift of the leading trio but do have a game in hand, and take on Liechtenstein on Wednesday.

The top two go head to head in Group C when Greece tackle Norway in Oslo.

The defending European champions have suffered only one defeat in qualifying to date - a 4-1 home mauling by Turkey in March - but have won all six of their other games and lead the Norwegians by two points.

Norway have played a game more than the leaders, and could only manage a 1-0 away win over basement boys Moldova at the weekend.

Third-spotted Turkey will look to take advantage of the top two taking points off each other when they take on Hungary on Wednesday, while Moldova go to Sarajevo in search of their first victory against fourth-placed Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Holland can move level at the top of Group G with Romania if they can overcome Albania in Tirana on Wednesday.

The Dutch saw off Bulgaria 2-0 at the Amsterdam ArenA at the weekend to climb to second in the pool and another three points would keep Marco van Basten's team firmly on course.

The Bulgarians will aim to pounce on any Oranje slip-up when they face Luxembourg, who have yet to pick up a point in the qualifying campaign.

The other match sees the other two members of the bottom three - Slovenia and Belarus - meet in Celje.

Group E leaders Croatia can take another step towards next year's finals when they visit lowly Andorra - another team without a point to their name.

Second place in the pool will be up for grabs when third-placed England host Russia at Wembley.

Both teams head into the contest buoyed after recording 3-0 wins on Saturday - England over Israel and Russia against FYR Macedonia, who take on Estonia in midweek.

Czech Republic can close to within two points of Germany at the summit of Group D on Wednesday, with the unbeaten runaway leaders not in action.

The Czechs do not face an easy task, though, as they welcome third-placed Republic of Ireland to Prague for a match which could ultimately decide who joins Joachim Low's team at Euro 2008.

Also in Group D, fourth play fifth when Slovakia meet Wales, and the bottom two - Cyprus and San Marino - do battle in Nicosia.