Predictions for Round 8 of Euro 2024 qualifiers

We are getting into the business end of Euro 2024 qualification which means that each and every match starts to take on a little more importance.

Matchday 8 is going to be a really big one for many teams, particularly England and Italy who face off in one of the standout games of the round on Tuesday night. There is only one more round of internationals after this current set, so there is plenty of potential for nations to book their places in Germany over the coming days.

Plenty of Europe's best teams such as Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands are going to be in action, while Ireland and Wales have both got very important matches to navigate.

Let's look at how matchday eight could play out in Euro 2024 qualifying.

The action is going to be getting underway on Sunday afternoon with, naturally, Group A getting us underway. There are a huge 22 games to look forward to, although it would have been 23 if Israel were able to fulfil their fixture against Kosovo. The conflict in Israel/Palestine makes that impossible and it has been postponed.

The first Group A fixture sees Georgia take on Cyprus in Tbilisi and neither of these teams look to be in with a great chance of qualification. The Georgians have only amassed four points from their first five games and while they have a game in hand over Norway ahead of them, it will clearly be two of Spain, Scotland and Norway that qualify from Group A. One of the biggest games of the matchday sees Norway host Spain. A win would take Norway ahead of Spain by a point, but a Spanish win would create a five-point gap with a game still in hand over the Norwegians.

Over in Group B, there is a huge match between Greece and the Netherlands which takes place on Monday night. The two teams have both got nine points coming into this international break so both of their matches are vital. Ireland seem like they will have too much work to do, but they take on Gibraltar at home which is a great opportunity for another three points.

Group C really is one to watch in terms of the second qualification spot, given three teams are on seven points coming into this break. In the second set of games, Italy are going to be away at England in a very tough fixture, while Malta host Ukraine in a game that has to end in victory for the away side. England and Italy's clash is probably the most high-profile of the matchday and a win for England would all but secure qualification.

Wales face an absolutely crucial match as they host Croatia in Cardiff. The Welsh sit three points behind their opponents in Group D coming into the break, but there is a tight fight between those two sides and Armenia for second place. Leaders Turkey have a simple-looking home game against Latvia.

Belgium may well have assumed that Sweden would be their toughest opponents in Group F but it is Austria that have kept pace. Therefore, a home match against Sweden may not cause the Belgians too much trouble. They'll want to avoid a slip-up as Austria will expect to beat Azerbaijan on Monday.

There is a very big game in Group G which sees Serbia host Montenegro. They come into the break separated by just two points and Hungary are level with Serbia at the top. The other game in that group sees Hungary take on Lithuania.

Group H might be the most interesting given four of the six teams are separated by a single point after six games each. Slovenia and Denmark have 13, while Finland and Kazakhstan have 12. That makes the clash between the latter two teams on Tuesday very interesting. San Marino host Denmark, while Northern Ireland welcome Slovenia.

Portugal have still got their 100% record in Group J intact after six games and they will try to extend that by beating Bosnia and Herzegovina on Monday. That group will also see Iceland vs Lichtenstein and Luxembourg vs Slovakia.