Germany, Spain, Italy and the Netherlands have qualified for 2012, along with the hosts Poland and Ukraine. But there are groups in which qualification goes to the wire.  Greece vs. Croatia, in Athens  Qualification could all be on this game. If Croatia wins, it is certain to make the finals tournament. Greece, however, has been unbeaten in 14 matches since Fernando Santos took over from Otto Rehhagel, the coach who masterminded the Greeks’ ultra-defensive tactics that won the 2004 Euro.  Santos has gone back in time to select Angelos Charisteas, whose goal won that final seven years ago. Now 31, and playing back home in Greece after a decade with German, Dutch and French clubs, Charisteas was recalled along with another striker, Fanis Gekas, who had retired from the national team a year ago.  Experienced men for the big occasion, and Charisteas believes more than soccer is riding on the result. “It was a shock, coming home to experience the situation close up,” he said. “It’s more important than ever to make Greeks forget their troubles.”  The teams drew in their first matchup in Croatia.  Turkey vs. Germany, in Istanbul  The Germans are clear, qualified and with a perfect record. The Turks are desperate to finish second in the group and prolong hopes of qualifying as a runner-up — ahead of its main rival for that prize, Belgium.  Germany’s striker, Miroslav Klose, has personal reasons to pass his fitness test and play. The game Friday against Turkey, and the final group match on Tuesday against Belgium, offer him two more chances to close in on Gerd Müller as the all-time German national team record goal scorer. Now, playing professionally with Lazio, Klose has 62 goals for his national team, while Müller scored 68.  France vs. Albania, in Paris  Still not secure, and still trying to rebuild after their 2010 World Cup shame, the French have two matches at their Stade de France home in which to qualify — first against Albania, then on Tuesday against Bosnia-Herzegovina, the second-place team in the group.  Having won the politics of scheduling, and saving their last games for home soil, Les Bleus must be favorites. However, it is as if the squad is cursed. Defender Bacary Sagna broke a leg playing for Arsenal on Sunday; Franck Ribéry, Blaise Matuidi, Karim Benzema and Kévin Gameiro are all out with injuries; and Éric Abidal is doubtful after damaging his right thigh last weekend.  If it all comes down to Tuesday, it could be a test of nerves as well as body for France.  Montenegro vs. England, in Podgorica  A small Balkan nation of less than a million people, and five years into its independence, Montenegro should be a small fry to England’s reputation as the motherland of world soccer.  Though England needs only one point to qualify, Montenegro held the English, 0-0, in London, and is relishing a giant-killing opportunity in Podgorica.  “At Wembley, they didn’t play seriously against us,” recalls striker Dejan Damjanovic. “England didn’t show us respect. This time, they will take us seriously, but our stadium is small, and England will feel like they are playing in a box.”  With an emerging star, Marko Cetkovic, and Mirko Vucinic and Stevan Jovetic, who missed the game in London, Montenegro is preparing for the match of its life.  Argentina vs. Chile, in Buenos Aires  After its summer of discontent, and failure to go beyond the quarterfinals of the Copa América, staged in Argentina in July, this is yet another fresh start, under yet another new coach, Alejandro Sabella, for one of South America’s major soccer powers.  Argentina regrets that two of its strikers, Carlos Tévez and Sergio Agüero, will not be available for the start of the World Cup campaign. Tévez is in no state to perform after apparently refusing to play for his club, Manchester City. Agüero has been magnificent for the same club, but has a groin strain.  Chile, however, arrives in Buenos Aires with a much longer-term casualty. Its finest player, the Barcelona forward Alexis Sánchez, is out for two months after a bad foul from a Real Sociedad opponent in September.
Matches over the next few days will determine who and who does not make the soccer tournament next year.