England aren’t the only big team in danger of missing out on Euro 2008. One of the two World Cup finalists will have to skip the tournament if Scotland beat Italy on Saturday on the unluckiest day of the year for Italians.

A home victory in Glasgow would send the flying Scots to Austria and Switzerland with world champions Italy having to win against the Faroes on Wednesday while hoping Ukraine do them a big favour by beating France at home.

The Italians would rather the fixtures had fallen on any other date.

Like 13 in many countries, 17 is Italy’s unlucky number because of the roman numeral XVII, an anagram of VIXI, which is Latin for ‘I have lived’ or ‘I am no more’. The date of Nov 17 is even worse as November is Italy’s month of the dead. Kick-off time is also 17 GMT.

But If Roberto Donadoni’s men can improve on recent patchy performances and edge out the Scots, Alex McLeish’s side will miss out despite beating France twice and being the form team in Group B qualification.

Among other big sides in trouble, England are most at risk of failing to qualify with matters not even in their own hands. A win for Russia in Israel would effectively prevent England from reaching a championship for the first time since the 1994 World Cup.

Guus Hiddink’s Russia could fail, however, if they go down in Israel and England grab a result at home to Group E leaders Croatia, who will only miss out in a bizarre set of circumstances.

Perennial underachievers Spain will squeeze through as long as they get some points from their two remaining home games, leaving 1992 winners Denmark out in the cold.

Holders Greece, who missed the last World Cup, have raced away with Group C and would love to see rivals Turkey lose in Norway on Saturday and crash out.

The Netherlands and Portugal are unlikely to be skipping next year but their places are still not secure. Belgium are long gone, like World Cup quarter-finalists Ukraine and Chelsea striker Andriy Shevchenko.

Other big name players who are already planning holidays for June 2008 include Barcelona’s Icelandic forward Eidur Gudjohnsen and Ireland and Tottenham striker Robbie Keane, not to mention the raft of South American players who light up European leagues each week.

PHOTO: Italy coach Roberto Donadoni gives instructions to his players at the Coverciano training grounds near Florence, November 14, 2007. REUTERS/Giampiero Sposito