FOOTBALL RACE HOTS UP
Crucial week in Europe to qualify for 2018 World Cup
Paris — The race to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia is hotting up with just four rounds of games remaining in the European qualifying campaign. Here is a glance at the groups — A to I — ahead of back-to-back rounds of fixtures over the next week. • An error by Hugo Lloris that gifted Sweden a 2-1 win in Stockholm needlessly complicated France’s qualifying hopes and left them facing a huge game against the Netherlands in Paris on Thursday. Coach Didier Deschamps’ preparations have not been helped by the noise surrounding Kylian Mbappe’s impending move from Monaco to Paris St-Germain. France are second on goal difference behind Sweden. Dick Advocaat’s Dutch are third and defeat in Paris will leave them facing the prospect of missing a second straight major tournament. • European champions Portugal have been playing catch-up with Switzerland ever since losing 2-0 in Basel last September. They are three points behind the Swiss, who have a perfect record ahead of matches against...
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