Skip to content

Friday's World Cup Qualifiers preview: Spain close on World Cup spot

MADRID, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 02: Spanish players  celebrate after beating Italy 3-0 during the FIFA 2018 World Cup Qualifier between Spain and Italy at Estadi
Image: Spain can secure their spot in the World Cup on Friday

Spain could book their place at the World Cup in Russia on Friday as they host Albania, live on Sky Sports.

Julen Lopetegui's men currently sit top of Group G and will qualify if Italy - who sit three points behind them in second - fail to match or better their result.

A draw for the Italians against Macedonia at the Olimpico di Torino guarantees them a top-two finish and at least a spot in the play-offs, with both matches live on the Sky Sports Football red button.

It is also worth keeping an eye on Spain fans' reaction to Gerard Pique, who could start at the Estadio Jose Rico Perez in Alicante, after he voiced his support for Catalan independence. He was booed by fans attending team training earlier in the week.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Barcelona star Gerard Pique was booed at training for Spain's international team after offering support for Catalan independence

Elsewhere in Group G, Lichtenstein host Israel with the former yet to register a point during the World Cup Qualifiers.

Serbia can also qualify for the finals in Russia next year if they beat Austria on Friday evening, currently top of Group D with 18 points, with the group also containing home nations Wales and the Republic of Ireland.

Chris Coleman's men will be guaranteed a top-two finish if they beat Georgia (5pm) at the Boris Paichadze Stadium and the Republic of Ireland lose at home to Moldova with both games live on Sky Sports Football.

Also See:

However, Georgia and Moldova occupy the bottom two spots of Group D, and the battle for second could go down to the final game where Wales host the Republic of Ireland live on Sky Sports on Monday, October 9.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Chris Coleman feels that Wales are still very much in the hunt for World Cup qualification

It is a bit more complicated in Group I, whose teams are also in action on Friday, with Croatia and Iceland able to secure the top two places if they both win their games and Ukraine fail to beat bottom of the table Kosovo.

Croatia arguably have the easier of the ties with a home match against Finland while Iceland travel to Turkey, with both sides level on 16 points at the top of the table although the Croatians sit in first place on goal difference.

Watch Georgia v Wales (5pm) and the Republic of Ireland v Macedonia (7.45pm) live on Sky Sports Football with the remaining fixtures available on the Sky Sports Football red button.

Play Super 6
Play Super 6

There's £250k up for grabs in this weekend's Super 6. Enter your predictions for free here.

Around Sky