GERMANY V SWEDEN
Germany will look for a measure of revenge when they travel to Sweden for their final FIFA World Cup qualifier on Tuesday.
The only blip for Joachim Low's side in Group C came in a 4-4 draw with Erik Hamren's men in October 2012, after surrendering a 4-0 lead in Berlin.
Germany have won their other eight fixtures and comfortably qualified to next year's showpiece event in Brazil, with progression officially confirmed with a straightforward 3-0 triumph over Republic of Ireland on Friday.
Goals from Sami Khedira, Andre Schurrle and Mesut Ozil did the damage in Cologne.
Ozil has been influential throughout the qualifying campaign for Germany, notching seven goals in nine games, while Marco Reus has also aided the cause by netting five times.
Despite already confirming their World Cup place, Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger insists Germany will not lose focus ahead of the tournament.
"All our games from now on are about preparing for the World Cup," he said.
"We need to improve, develop and build confidence as a team."
With 20 points, Sweden have ensured they will finish second and now must wait to see if they have done enough to secure one of the eight best runners-up spots in order to contest the play-offs.
Victory in Solna on Tuesday will boost their chances, but it is an unenviable task, with Germany undefeated in World Cup qualifiers since their 5-1 humbling at home to England in September 2001.
However, Sweden have won their last five fixtures and will be buoyed by their 2-1 success over Austria on Friday.
Sweden fell behind to Martin Harnik's first-half strike, but goals from Martin Olsson and Zlatan Ibrahimovic ensured they claimed maximum points.
France head into their final FIFA World Cup qualifier with
Finland knowing that they are unlikely to secure automatic passage to
Brazil.
Didier Deschamps' men sit second in UEFA Group I, three points adrift of world and European champions Spain, and would need to beat Finland and hope that Georgia can inflict Spain's first defeat in World Cup qualification since March 1993 to reach the finals automatically.
But even that could still not be enough for France, who also require a four-goal swing in goal difference to ensure their place at next year's tournament in Brazil.
However, although Deschamps' side look destined to finish second in the group, France will be eager to gain momentum ahead of a prospective qualification play-off.
France hammered Australia 6-0 in a friendly on Friday and will be confident of clinching victory against a Finland side that they have yet to lose to in their history.
Striker Olivier Giroud approaches the game following a double against Australia, while Karim Benzema will be out to find the net again after ending a 16-month goal drought for his country in the same game.
However, Finland - who have already been eliminated from World Cup contention - should provide stern opposition at the Stade de France, having tasted defeat in just two of their last 11 outings in qualifiers and friendlies.
A goal from Roman Eremenko gave Mixu Paatelainen's men a 1-0 win against Georgia on Friday, but they will need to be more clinical in front of goal if they are to end their unsuccessful campaign on a high.
Finland have scored just five goals in qualification, with midfielder Kasper Hamalainen and striker Teemu Pukki - who have scored two goals each - accounting for the majority of those strikes.
Paatelainen's side have lost twice in qualifying despite their poor record in front of goal and gained an impressive result back in March when they held Spain to a 1-1 draw.
The only blip for Joachim Low's side in Group C came in a 4-4 draw with Erik Hamren's men in October 2012, after surrendering a 4-0 lead in Berlin.
Germany have won their other eight fixtures and comfortably qualified to next year's showpiece event in Brazil, with progression officially confirmed with a straightforward 3-0 triumph over Republic of Ireland on Friday.
Goals from Sami Khedira, Andre Schurrle and Mesut Ozil did the damage in Cologne.
Ozil has been influential throughout the qualifying campaign for Germany, notching seven goals in nine games, while Marco Reus has also aided the cause by netting five times.
Despite already confirming their World Cup place, Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger insists Germany will not lose focus ahead of the tournament.
"All our games from now on are about preparing for the World Cup," he said.
"We need to improve, develop and build confidence as a team."
With 20 points, Sweden have ensured they will finish second and now must wait to see if they have done enough to secure one of the eight best runners-up spots in order to contest the play-offs.
Victory in Solna on Tuesday will boost their chances, but it is an unenviable task, with Germany undefeated in World Cup qualifiers since their 5-1 humbling at home to England in September 2001.
However, Sweden have won their last five fixtures and will be buoyed by their 2-1 success over Austria on Friday.
Sweden fell behind to Martin Harnik's first-half strike, but goals from Martin Olsson and Zlatan Ibrahimovic ensured they claimed maximum points.
Ibrahimovic has
unsurprisingly been Sweden's most potent attacking player throughout
qualifying, contributing six goals in nine games.
FRANCE V FINLAND
Didier Deschamps' men sit second in UEFA Group I, three points adrift of world and European champions Spain, and would need to beat Finland and hope that Georgia can inflict Spain's first defeat in World Cup qualification since March 1993 to reach the finals automatically.
But even that could still not be enough for France, who also require a four-goal swing in goal difference to ensure their place at next year's tournament in Brazil.
However, although Deschamps' side look destined to finish second in the group, France will be eager to gain momentum ahead of a prospective qualification play-off.
France hammered Australia 6-0 in a friendly on Friday and will be confident of clinching victory against a Finland side that they have yet to lose to in their history.
Striker Olivier Giroud approaches the game following a double against Australia, while Karim Benzema will be out to find the net again after ending a 16-month goal drought for his country in the same game.
However, Finland - who have already been eliminated from World Cup contention - should provide stern opposition at the Stade de France, having tasted defeat in just two of their last 11 outings in qualifiers and friendlies.
A goal from Roman Eremenko gave Mixu Paatelainen's men a 1-0 win against Georgia on Friday, but they will need to be more clinical in front of goal if they are to end their unsuccessful campaign on a high.
Finland have scored just five goals in qualification, with midfielder Kasper Hamalainen and striker Teemu Pukki - who have scored two goals each - accounting for the majority of those strikes.
Paatelainen's side have lost twice in qualifying despite their poor record in front of goal and gained an impressive result back in March when they held Spain to a 1-1 draw.
The visitors have conceded six goals in their seven qualifiers and will
need to maintain their defensive strength if they are to end their wait
for a win over a team that has scored 10 goals in their last two
matches.
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