World Cup Qualifiers (Euro Edition)

We're slowly making it to the end of qualifying for next year's World Cup. Today we've had some ins and outs after the dust settled on the fixtures. So let's take a look.

In Europe we had some suprising results. Group 1 featured Sweden taking a one-nil win in Malta, a one all draw between Albania & Denmark in Tirana, and a one-nil victory for Portugal in Hungary. We're coming down to and now all the Danish need to do to qualify is defeat Sweden, then they will automatically qualify.

Group 2 had Israel dump Luxembourg seven-nil, Latvia & Switzerland drew two-two, and Moldova grabbed a home draw with Greece. The next matchday (Oct. 10th) features a make or break game between Greece & Latvia in Athens. The winner of that match is almost assured a play-off spot atleast.

Group 3 is very much up for grabs. Milan Baros went silly on San Marino, scoring four goals in the Czech Republic's seven-nil victory, but the most suprising result of the night for me, Slovakia two, Northern Ireland nil. This is suprising because the game was in a jam-packed Windsor Park. This severely dents the Northern Irish qualification hopes. This allowed Slovenia to move into second place in the group with their three-nil home win over Poland. Here's the shocker: There is a siuation where both Poland & the Czech Republic may be eliminated on Oct. 10th.

Group 4 is pretty much done and dusted. Germany and Russia basically will be fighting for the automatic spot on that magic date of Oct. 10th. The Winner goes to World Cup 2010, the loser meets the play-offs. Let's take a look at the results anyway, Liechtenstein got a home draw with Finland, one-one. The Germany wallked past that mgihty footballing power Azerbaijan four-nil. My comedic game of the night was the three-one victory for Russia in Wales in front of the great crowd of 11,589 at the Millennium Stadium.

I'm gonig to step away from qualifying to rant a little about Welsh football, why? because it's a joke. The Millennium Stadium was, by my calculations, 15 % filled for a World Cup qualifier! Are you kidding me? This is ridiculous. Wales produces so many good footballers, yet can't get anywhere as a national team. Three names off the top of my head, Giggs, Ramsey, Bellamy. great players, never been to a World Cup, and Giggs will never go now. I think it's worrying for any Welsh person that Craig Bellamy was their only player thirty years or older in the squad. There's no leadership there. Mr. Bellamy is now an after thought at Darth Vader home in Manchester. So who's going to step up when it's needed? Maybe Mark Hughes could strap'em up again. No? Darn.

Now that that's out of my system let's move to Group 5 where Spain have triumphantly made the World Cup. Whoopdie-freaking-do! Who cares? Spain beat Estonia three-nil. Bosnia & Turkey both blew a huge chance at qualification by playing to a one-one draw. While Armenia stunned Belgium two-one. This only leaves Bosnia & Turkey battling for a play-off spot.

Group 6 has been won by England after their five-one victory at Wembley over Croatia, while Belarus & Ukraine played to a nil-nil stalemate. While Kazakhstan & Andorra played a meaningless game but Kazakhstan took three points with a three-one victory.

Group 7: France & Serbia played to a one-one draw as did Austria & Romania. In the group's only other game the Faroe Islands beat Lithuania two-one. Now all France have to do to make the play-offs is take out the Faroe Islands at home.

Group 8 is down to two teams basically after Italy defeated Bulgaria two-nil while Montenegro & Cyprus played to a one-one draw. This sets up Ireland vs. Italy at Croke Park on guess when, Oct. 10th. If Ireland should win They would secure a play-off spot and leave a small ray of hope for the automatic qualification. I expect it to be an absolutely cracking match.

And finally we've come to our final group, number 9. We've finished this group since they have one less team. the Dutch move onto the World Cup while Norway go to the play-offs. My personal belief is that George Burley will get the Euro 2012 qualifers and then get the boot.

Well, look at that we've come to the end of our look starch-infested view of the UEFA qualifying region. Join me next time for a look at South America.