February 17, 2011
By Staff Reporter
Victory today over a nation they last beat in 1992 will guarantee Ireland, who stayed fourth in Group 4 (4-1-4, 16) despite the Stephen Elliott scripted win over Cyprus, at least a playoff spot as the group runners-up.
Full points will secure automatic qualification in the unlikely event of Cyprus upsetting France (4-0-5, 17) in Paris, while any other result will mean the Republic missing out on next year’s finals and, probably, the end of coach Kerr’s tenure.
Undefeated in 12 matches now, Switzerland (4-0-5, 17) were bullish ahead of their first visit to Lansdowne Road in three years after a late equalizer in Berne left them one point short of the playoffs.
“We won there [three] years ago. There is no reason that we can’t do it again,” said defender Ludovic Magnin, credited with pegging back Djibril Cisse’s opener for Les Bleus.
FAROE FINALE
Israel edged the Faroe Islands 2-1 in Tel Aviv to end their qualifying schedule undefeated and finish temporarily on top of Group 4, with 18 points from four wins and six draws.
Yossi Benayoun (1st) and Michael Zandberg (45th) struck against the Faroe Islands, whose Simun Samuelssen (46th) hit back.
PLAYOFF PICTURE
If Ireland pull it off their opponents in next month’s home-and-away playoffs, on Nov. 12 and 16, will be known on Friday after the FIFA draw in Zurich. The world governing body will divide the six survivors in two pots, based on its September rankings.
Other nations in the playoff picture are the Czech Republic and Romania from Group 1; Turkey/Denmark (Group 2); Slovakia/Russia (Group 3); Norway/Slovenia from Scotland’s Group 5; Serbia & Montenegro (formerly Yugoslavia) and Spain (Group 7), and Sweden/Croatia (Group 8).
GERMAN-BOUND
England and Poland qualified for the finals last weekend on the back of Holland’s 2-0 win over the Czech Republic in Prague where Raphael Van Der Vaart (32nd) and Barry Opdam (38th) scored to clinch Group 1 and passage to Germany for the Dutch.
England, who’ll dispute the Group 6 leadership with the Poles at Old Trafford today, scraped past Austria 1-0 on Frank Lampard’s first half penalty.
The following countries will also be in Germany come June next year: Ukraine, Italy, Portugal, Croatia, Angola, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Tunisia, Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Paraguay, Japan, Iran, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Costa Rica and the United States. Thirty-two nations will contest the finals.
BATTLE OF BELFAST
Welsh wizard Ryan Giggs brought Northern Ireland crashing back to earth with the winning goal in a 3-2 thriller at Windsor Park in the two side’s penultimate qualifier in Group 6.
Giggs’ superb 61st minute free kick ended a gallant fight-back by the North, who’d fallen behind to first half goals by Everton’s Simon Davies (27th) and Carl Robinson (37th).
Maik Taylor’s penalty save from John Hartson before the interval kept the Welsh within distance, allowing Dave Healy — with his 20th international strike – and Steve Davis to draw Northern Ireland level shortly after resumption.
However, they’d be no more heroics for Lawrie Sanchez’ crew, who were on a two-match winning streak, including that 1-0 shocker over England last month.
Wales secured their first victory in the qualifiers with what was their first win in Belfast since 1975. The Dragons wind up against Azerbaijan in a bottom-of-the-table clash in Cardiff today, while Northern Ireland end their campaign in Austria.
SCOTS PIPPED
Scotland’s late run for a playoff berth in Group 5 ended abruptly at Hampden Park with a 1-0 loss to lowly Belarus. Vitaly Kutuzov scored.
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