Will The Netherlands be first to clinch place at 2010 World Cup finals?

The Netherlands can become the first European side to clinch a place at the 2010 World Cup on Saturday.

While England and Denmark are among the other teams able to move closer to a spot in South Africa, the Dutch can get there with two games remaining with victory at Iceland.

The Netherlands has almost a full-strength side for the game in Reykjavik, one of 14 qualifiers in Europe on Saturday.

Only midfielders Wesley Sneijder and Ibrahim Afellay are missing for the Group 9 leaders, who have won all five of their qualifiers and are eight points clear of second-place Scotland.

"We want to grab this first chance," captain Giovanni van Bronckhorst said. "We've never been able to qualify so quickly for a tournament.

"Now we have to make sure we take the chance immediately. It's been a long season, but we all want to qualify for the World Cup, so we must beat Iceland."

The Netherlands beat Iceland 2-0 in Rotterdam last year through goals by Joris Mathijsen and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.

The Dutch host Norway four days after the Iceland match in the next round of qualifying and that game could now be a celebration.

Group 6 leader England also has maximum points ahead of its next two qualifiers but may still have to wait even if it wins at Kazakhstan on Saturday and then against visiting Andorra on Wednesday.

"We want the job done as soon as possible," England midfielder Steven Gerrard said. "With all due respect to Kazakhstan and Andorra, these are games we should win, so we need to approach them with the right attitude.

"If we win these two games, we will be three points away from qualification with three games to play and that puts us basically in the driving seat."

England is without injured players David James, Rio Ferdinand, Michael Carrick and Shaun Wright-Phillips but should still stretch its five-point lead over second-place Croatia.

Croatia hosts Ukraine on Saturday but is idle Wednesday.

Croatia will be relying on Mladen Petric for goals because striker Eduardo da Silva is out injured.

"It would be stupid to say that we're the same team with or without Eduardo," said captain Darijo Drna, who plays in Ukraine for UEFA Cup winner Shakhtar Donetsk. "They can surprise anyone. But we can't ignore the fact that we're a better team."

Group 1 co-leader Denmark can almost end the qualification chances of Sweden and take greater control of its own fate if it beats its Scandinavian rival in the teams' 100th meeting.

Sweden could wind up 10 points behind Denmark with five games to play if it loses.

Denmark has refreshed its experienced squad with newcomers, Kristian Bak Nielsen, Simon Kjaer and Jakob Poulsen, while coach Morten Olsen also picked Jesper Groenkjaer after an 18-month absence from the national squad because of injury.

But Groenkjaer and Liverpool defender Daniel Agger pulled out of training Wednesday. Groenkjaer has a sore knee and Agger a back problem which could mean he won't play on Saturday, according to team doctor Soren Kaalund.

Like Sweden, Portugal must win on Saturday to stay in contention in Group 1.

Portugal must snap a four-game winless streak in qualifying at Albania after taking six points from five games - seven fewer than Denmark and Hungary.

"This game is not about Albania; it's about Portugal, about us playing the good football we know we can play," Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz said. "We have to make that happen."

Albania coach Josip Kuze, who replaced Ari Haan last month, said he'd be happy with a draw and anticipated head-on attack from Portugal.

"They'll be twice as motivated as us," said Kuze, who will make his debut against the Portuguese. "I know that Portugal will press hard from the start, attacking and doing everything they can for a good result."

Slovakia will probably take top spot in Group 3 when it hosts last-place San Marino, with current leader Northern Ireland in friendly action at World Cup holder Italy.

The home team could face a hostile crowd in Pisa because local fans are upset over their club's relegation to the third division.

They have announced that they do not want Italy to play in their town in such a difficult moment.

"I understand the disappointment of the Pisan fans. But we have an agreement and the national team will play in Pisa," coach Marcello Lippi said. "I hope that good sense prevails at the stadium."

Lippi has called up an experimental squad for the friendly.

Italy's friendly could give Ireland the chance to go top in Group 8 when it plays at Bulgaria.

Ireland captain Robbie Keane and goalkeeper Shay Given missed training early in the week but should be fit, but Manchester United midfielder Darron Gibson has been ruled out because of a groin injury.

The Canadian Press