World Cup play-offs: Norway will have to rewrite the history books to qualify for the World Cup in this evening's play-off second leg against the Czech Republic. No team has overturned a first-leg deficit since European zone play-offs were introduced ahead of the 1998 finals.
Vladimir Smicer's goal ensured a 1-0 win for the Czechs in Oslo on Saturday but Czech coach Karel Bruckner is taking nothing for granted.
"The Norwegians proved how resistant they might be, even on such a bad pitch they were dangerous," said Bruckner, who hopes to have Tomas Rosicky available despite an ankle injury picked up on Saturday. "And of course they are going to be better in Prague. The result means the match is the same as if we scored an early goal in the first minute."
Norway manager Age Hareide is under no illusions about the task his side face and called on them to display a ruthless streak.
"We have to play better than we've ever done before," he said. "We have to play the best match ever and break a barrier. Sportsmen have done it before, it's what they do best."
Midfielder Christian Grindheim has a cold but is expected to play, while Daniel Braaten is suspended.
Spain look assured of their place in Germany as they take a 5-1 lead to Slovakia. Liverpool's Luis Garcia scored a hat-trick in the first leg which left Slovakia coach Dusan Galis blaming referee Massimo di Santos.
As well as awarding Spain a penalty, Di Santos dismissed Slovakia's Marian Had and Galis said: "A country as developed as Spain that has such great football players, should not need that much help against a country like Slovakia. There are things the players remember well and all Slovaks have seen this game at home. I don't think they will give Spain a good welcome."
Spain coach Luis Aragones is unconcerned by the prospect of a hostile atmosphere. "There will be some shouts, they'll boo and whistle the team and individual players, but it won't go any further," he said. "I don't think it will be more violent than any other football match."
Aragones will be forced into at least one change, with midfielder David Albelda suspended. Liverpool's Xabi Alonso will partner Xavi Hernandez in central midfield.
Switzerland got a hint of what to expect from their second leg tie in Turkey when they received a hostile welcome at Istanbul's Ataturk airport.
Cameras from television channel CNN-Turk caught the scenes as the Swiss, who won the first leg 2-0 on Saturday, were greeted by boos and chants from dozens of angry natives as they arrived in the Turkish capital.
Turkey look like being without the injured Tolga Seyhan and Hasan Sas, while midfielder Huseyin Cimsir is banned. Newcastle midfielder Emre Belozoglu and Hamit Altintop return from suspension, however, and Hertha Berlin midfielder Yildiray Basturk should be fit to resume.
Switzerland will be without the suspended Ludovic Magnin. He is replaced in the starting line-up by Eintracht Frankfurt's Christoph Spycher, while Hamburg midfielder Raphael Wicky is back from his ban.
The inter-continental games are finely balanced after Uruguay edged Australia 1-0 in Montevideo and Trinidad & Tobago were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Bahrain on Saturday.
Australia face a tricky task at Telstra Stadium, Sydney, in overturning their first-leg defeat and making their first World Cup appearance since 1974.
Uruguay will be without injured striker Diego Forlan, the Spanish league's top scorer last season with Villarreal, but their playmaker Alvaro Recoba remains a real threat.
Bahrain have the clear advantage of an away goal before their game in Manama against Trinidad and Tobago.
The winners will make history as neither country have played at the World Cup finals before.
