Euro 2008 Round-up:GROUP F: Northern Ireland manager Nigel Worthington is confident that record goalscorer David Healy, who skipped training yesterday, will be fit to face Iceland in Reykjavik tomorrow.
The Fulham striker had taken a kick on the calf and missed the session as a precautionary measure. Healy has scored 11 goals in the campaign and 31 overall in 58 international appearances.
Healy is not the only concern for Worthington as he looks for the team to bounce back after Saturday's 1-0 defeat in Latvia.
Sheffield United winger Keith Gillespie and Manchester United defender Jonny Evans are also facing a race to be fit to face Iceland, who drew 1-1 against Spain at the weekend.
Both players also sat out training, Gillespie with a bruised knee, Evans with a bruised ankle.
Worthington has taken some comfort from the fact that leaders Sweden and highly-fancied Spain failed to gain victories when they were expected to at the weekend.
While the North suffered their first defeat in six matches by losing to Latvia, Sweden and Spain both had to settle for a point against Denmark and Iceland respectively.
It leaves the Euro 2008 qualifying group still delicately balanced.
Sweden lead the way on 19 points with Worthington's side second with Spain on 16.
GROUP B:Scotland skipper Barry Ferguson is set to return to the starting line-up to face France at the Parc des Princes tomorrow.
The Rangers skipper missed Saturday's game at Hampden Park against Lithuania through suspension and watched from the stands as the Scots won 3-1 to move in to second place in the group.
Scotland coach Andy Watson, however, indicated that Ferguson will slot back into the midfield for the game in Paris. He said: "I would think that with Barry being captain and being one of our key players, then all being well he should be fit and available for selection, as they say. Everyone trained and there is obviously the bumps and knocks that you get after games which take a day or two to settle down."
France are on top of the group after the 0-0 draw against World Cup winners Italy at the San Siro on Saturday while Scotland's nervy victory against Lithuania saw them leapfrog the Azzurri into second place, a point behind France.
The president of the Scottish Football Association George Peat has apologised to his Lithuanian counterpart after the visitors' national anthem was booed before Saturday's qualifier.
GROUP D:Wales arrived in Slovakia yesterday with skipper Craig Bellamy back in the ranks but leaving midfielders Jason Koumas and Mark Jones at home. Bellamy's week-old daughter was discharged from hospital early today after feeding complications.
Bellamy had spent three days at her bedside and clearly was unable to figure against the Germans.
Koumas has picked up a foot injury that would stop him training for two days so it was decided to send him back to Wigan for treatment. Wrexham youngster Jones was running a high temperature overnight and was also sent home to rest. Club-mate Steve Evans was passed fit after an ankle scan.
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