Reigning champions France will become the first team to qualify for next season's European Championship finals if they beat Cyprus in Paris and other results go their way on Saturday.

After a traumatic World Cup finals last year when they lost their global crown in a first-round elimination, France have bounced back with five wins out of five in their Group One qualifiers.

They are already virtually certain to reach the 16-team finals for which hosts Portugal are the only team already assured of their place.

But France will erase all doubts if they beat Cyprus as expected at the Stade de France -- and second-placed Slovenia fail to beat Israel at home.

The qualifying competition enters a decisive stage this week with 40 matches being played across the continent on Saturday and next Wednesday.

While no other team can make absolutely certain of their places in the Portuguese sun on Saturday, a number could be very close to the finals by Wednesday night.

ITALIAN TEST

Italy, runners-up in 2000, are one of a number of Europe's major powers starting Saturday's match in second place in their group, but two wins would lift them back to the top.

Germany, England and Spain are all in second place in their sections and all need wins over the next few days to ensure their progress. Anything less and they could be consigned to the play-offs -- or worse -- next month.

Italy, buoyed by last month's 1-0 friendly win over Germany, meet Group Nine leaders Wales in Milan and will be seeking revenge for their 2-1 defeat in Cardiff last October.

Wales, who started their campaign with four successive victories, lost their first qualifier 1-0 to Serbia and Montenegro last month but remain in a strong position.

Italy start favourites against the Welsh, but coach Mark Hughes and his men cannot be written-off these days as they were in the past and Italy will have to fight hard for the three points they need.

With Wales (12 points), Italy (10), Serbia and Montenegro (8) and Finland (6) all in the chase, victories for Italy over Wales and Serbia and Montenegro on Wednesday will give them the edge, with Wales favourites to reach November's play-offs.

HOT ICELAND

Germany are also in the unfamiliar position of being second to a much smaller nation in Group Five. Iceland made history of their own by going to the top of a qualifying group for the first time ever when they beat the Faroes last month, dislodging the Germans by a point.

But Germany should go back on top when they visit Reykjavik on Saturday and could put themselves well clear of the pack with a win over Scotland and their former coach Berti Vogts in Dortmund on Wednesday.

England are also in second place in Group Seven, trailing the newly-empowered Turkey by two points, although England have a match in hand.

But while Turkey (15 points) travel to tiny Liechtenstein on Saturday, England (13) face a tougher job in Skopje against Macedonia who battled to a 2-2 draw against England at Southampton last season -- the only points England have dropped in five matches.

Even if England have the tougher task, victories for both are likely. With England sure to beat Liechtenstein at Old Trafford next Wednesday, the deciding match awaits in Istanbul on October 11.

On that occasion, as in Macedonia, the behaviour of the fans will be a concern for the English with the threat of possible expulsion from the finals hanging over them.

GREECE CLOSE

Spain are also looking up at an unfamiliar leader in Group Six with Greece top on 12 points, one more than the Spaniards. Spain are without a match on Saturday -- they play Ukraine at home next Wednesday -- but Greece can put themselves in touching distance of the finish line with a win in Armenia on Saturday.

Another victory over Northern Ireland next month will guarantee Greece top place no matter what Spain do in their remaining matches.

There is a fascinating scenario developing in Group Three where the Czech Republic and the Netherlands are both on 13 points -- and facing each other next Wednesday.

Both should win their matches on Saturday against Belarus and Austria respectively -- and while both are unbeaten Dutch coach Dick Advocaat has dropped veterans Ronald de Boer and Clarence Seedorf from his squad and called in younger men to freshen it up.