Top Teams Keep Themselves There

Many of Europe’s powerhouses have qualified for next summer’s European Championship, including France, Germany, Italy and England.

The 16-team field has 11 participants after qualifiers around the continent on Saturday.

In the day’s most anticipated game, England and Turkey played to a 0-0 tie at Istanbul, a result that was good enough to clinch Group 7 for England, despite a missed penalty kick by David Beckham. Turkey finished in second place.

The 11 teams in are: host Portugal, France, Denmark, Czech Republic, Sweden, Germany, Greece, England, Bulgaria, Italy and Switzerland.

A non-seeded draw Monday in Frankfurt, Germany, will set two-game playoffs for Nov. 15 and 19 involving the second-place teams. The teams are: Slovenia, Norway, Netherlands, Latvia, Scotland, Spain, Turkey, Croatia, Wales and Russia.

In key games Saturday: Greece beat Northern Ireland, 1-0, in Athens on a second-half penalty by Vassilis Tsiartas to win Group 6. Filippo Inzaghi scored two goals as Italy beat Azerbaijan, 4-0, in Reggio Calabria to win Group 9. At Hamburg, Michael Ballack, Freddie Bobic and Kevin Kuranyi scored as Germany beat Iceland, 3-0, to win Group 5, and Scotland finished second after a 1-0 victory over Lithuania at Glasgow.

Denmark secured first place in Group 2 with a 1-1 draw at Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Norway finished second after a 1-0 victory over Luxembourg. Switzerland won Group 10 with a 2-0 victory over Ireland at Basel, and Russia finished second with a 3-1 victory over Georgia. Latvia reached the playoffs by beating Group 4 winner Sweden, 1-0, in Stockholm. Croatia took second in Group 8 by beating already-qualified Bulgaria, 1-0, in Zagreb. France finished as the only team with eight victories, beating Israel, 3-0, in Group 1.