February 17, 2011
By Staff Reporter
Victory in Tel Aviv will see the former world champions take a three-point lead in the group, ahead of Ireland and the Israelis, albeit the Republic will have a game in hand.
“It’s always disappointing not to win, particularly when you have numerous chances to score, but the battle continues. [There’s] still all to play for in the group,” France coach Raymond Domenech said after the Swiss became the latest side to leave Paris unscathed — a feat also accomplished by Israel and Ireland.
Missing only forward Thierry Henry from their complement of stars, France had gone into last weekend’s qualifier with a chance to claim first place after Abbas Suan’s stoppage time equalizer had broken Irish hearts in Israel.
But Swiss goalie Pascal Zuberbuehler was in inspired form and kept out everything hurled at him by the French.
Domenech, who’s yet to win a game at home since his appointment last summer, was undaunted by the result.
“The away matches will make the difference and we have three awaiting us,” he said.
Les Bleus will have to reproduce the form that saw them win 2-0 in the Faroe Islands and Cyprus in Tel Aviv today or else risk losing more than the home ground advantage they’ve effectively ceded in Group 4.
SWISS MIX
Ireland, whose next qualifier is at home to Israel on June 4, could drop to third by the end of the day should Switzerland beat Cyprus in Vienna.
Switzerland kick off three points behind the leading three, but with the best goal differential (plus-6) in the group.
NORTHERN IRELAND MAULED
Licking their wounds after a 4-0 mauling by Group 6 leaders England in Manchester, Northern Ireland have admitted that their World Cup campaign will be over if they lose to Poland in Warsaw today.
They held out for 46 minutes at Old Trafford before Joe Cole (47th), Michael Owen (52nd), a Chris Baird own goal (54th) and Frank Lampard (62nd) decided the first meeting between the two former Home Nation rivals since 1987.
The result left the North (0-3-2, 3) third from bottom, 10 points behind England and nine adrift of second-place Poland.
“If we lose on Wednesday the group is over for everybody but England and Poland,” predicted Irish coach Lawrie Sanchez.
To his ire, Sanchez, who signed a contract extension a day before the England match, will be without Birmingham midfielder Damien Johnson, who was booked for kicking the ball away and is suspended.
“We can’t afford to lose a player for kicking the ball away,” Sanchez said, fuming. “We are a small nation with a small group of players and we can ill-afford to lose players through suspension.”
POLISH ROUT
The Poles warmed up for Northern Ireland’s visit by thrashing bottom side Azerbaijan (0-2-2, 2) in Warsaw.
Tomasz Frankowski netted the requisite hat trick (12th, 63rd, 66th), while Aftandil Hajiyev (16th own goal), Kamil Kosowski (40th), Jacek Krzynowek (71st), and Marek Saganowski (84th, 89th) accounted for the other goals.
It could get worse for the former Soviet Republic as they face the wrath of Wayne Rooney and Co. in Newcastle today.
In Cardiff, Austria spoiled John Toshack’s debut on his second stint as Welsh manager by slaying the Red Dragons 2-0. Ivica Vastic (82nd) and Martin Stranzl (86th) struck late.
The two sides meet again in Austria today.
SCOTTISH LOSS
Andrea Pirlo curled in two free kicks (35th, 85th) to give Group 5 pacesetters Italy a 2-0 win over Scotland at Milan’s San Siro stadium.
The Azzurri (4-1, 12) moved five points clear of idle Norway, who return to action against Moldova today. Scotland (0-2-2, 2) remain second to last.
Scottish boss Walter Smith, also making his debut after Berti Vogts’s departure, wasn’t too discouraged by the loss.
“Overall I felt we were a bit unfortunate,” he said while disputing the free kick from which Pirlo netted Italy’s opener.
Slovenia vs. Belarus is the other Group 5 fixture today.
DUTCH MASTERS
Phillip Cocu (1st) and Ryan Babel (84th) gave Marco van Basten’s rejuvenated Dutch side a 2-0 victory over Romania in a top-of-the-table Group 1 clash in Bucharest.
Holland improved to 4-1-0 (13), while the Czech Republic (4-0-1, 12) slipped into second position ahead of Romania (10) after a thrilling 4-3 win over Finland in Teplice.
Vratislav Lokvenc (87th) bagged the Czech winner after veteran Jari Litmanen (46th), Aki Riihilahti (73rd) and Jonatan Johansson (79th) had hauled the Finns back from a 3-1 deficit created by Milan Baros (7th), Tomas Rosicky (34th) and Jan Polak (58th).
At the foot of the table, Armenia edged Andorra 2-1 in Yerevan with Ara Haboyan (32nd) and Romik Khachatryan (83rd) starring for the home side. Fernando Silva (57th) was on target for the visitors.
Today’s action pits the Dutch against Armenia, Andorra away to the Czech Republic and Macedonia at home to Romania.
Sign up to The Irish Echo Newsletter
GREEK WIN
In Group 2, Greece continue to show the form that took them to the Euro ’04 title last summer. They cut Ukraine’s lead (14) to three points with a 3-1 result over Georgia in Tbilisi, ahead of today’s midweek program.
Michalis Kapsis (44th), Zisis Vryzas (45th) and Stelios Giannakopoulos (54th) connected after Malkhaz Asatiani (23rd) had shot Georgia ahead.
The Greeks (3-2-1, 11) return home to face an Albania team blanked 2-0 by Turkey in Istanbul where Necati Ates (3rd pen.) and Elvin Beqiri (5th own goal) made the difference.
Denmark, led to a 3-0 romp over Kazakhstan in Copenhagen by Peter Moller (10th, 48th) and Christian Poulsen (33rd), are away to Ukraine, while Georgia host Turkey.
RESULTS
Other results from last Saturday’s qualifiers are (home teams listed first): Group 3 — Liechtenstein 1 (Thomas Beck 40th), Russia 2 (Alexander Kerzhakov 23rd, Andrei Karayka 37th); Estonia 1 (Andres Oper 57th), Slovakia 2 (Marek Mintal 58th, Lubos Reiter 66th).
Group 7 — Belgium 4 (Emile Mpenza 15th, 54th, Koen Daerden 44th, Thomas Buffel 76th), Bosnia 1 (Zlatan Bajramovic 1st); Group 8 — Bulgaria 0, Sweden 3 (Fredrik Ljungberg 17th, 90th pen., Erik Edman 75th); Croatia 4 (Niko Kovac 39th, 75th, Josip Simunic 71st, Dado Prso 90th), Iceland 0.
Today’s remaining fixtures are: Slovakia vs. Portugal, Estonia vs. Russia, Latvia vs. Luxembourg (Group 3); Serbia & Montenegro vs. Spain, Bosnia vs. Lithuania, San Marino vs. Belgium (Group 7); and Croatia vs. Malta and Hungary vs. Bulgaria (Group 8).