Post by Salem6 on Mar 27, 2005 10:01:26 GMT
The battle to qualify for the 2006 World Cup intensified on Saturday as several of Europe's biggest footballing nations asserted their authority.
England, Sweden, Croatia, Denmark, Poland, Holland and Italy all recorded comfortable victories to enhance their prospects for reaching the finals in Germany.
The Republic of Ireland conceded a late equaliser in Israel to drop two points but France could not take advantage, being held 0-0 at home to Switzerland.
And it was a miserable day for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland as they all slipped to defeats that gives them a mountain to climb to secure qualification.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GROUP ONE
Holland stayed top of Group One with a comfortable 2-0 win away at Romania, goals from veteran Phillip Cocu and sub Ryan Babel earning the three points.
The Czech Republic kept up the pressure with a thrilling 4-3 win over Finland.
Aki Riihilahti and Jonatan Johansson hauled the Finns back to 3-3 late on only for Vratislav Lokvenc to win it.
The battle of the bottom two nations ended in a first group victory for Armenia, who beat Andorra 2-1 thanks to a late winner from Romik Khachatryan.
GROUP TWO
Denmark, Greece and Turkey all kept up the pressure on Group Two leaders Ukraine with important victories.
Denmark eased past Kazakhstan 3-0, striker Peter Moller bagging a brace and Christian Poulsen notching another.
Greece came from a goal behind to win 3-1 in Georgia, Michalis Kapsis, Zisis Vryzas and Stelios Giannakopoulos scoring in the space of 10 minutes.
Turkey scored twice in the first five minutes to beat Albania with a Necati Aces penalty and Elvin Beqiri own goal.
GROUP THREE
Slovakia moved level on points with Portugal at the top of Group Three after winning away at Estonia.
Estonia took the lead thanks to Andreas Oper, but the Slovaks bagged the three points with goals from Marek Mintal and Lubos Reiter in Tallinn.
Russia limped to an unconvincing win over Liechtenstein in Vaduz to stay in touch with the Group leaders.
Alexander Kerzhakov and Andrei Karayka out the Russians ahead before Thomas Beck pulled one back for the hosts.
GROUP FOUR
France failed to overhaul the Republic of Ireland at the top of Group Four as they were held to a disappointing 0-0 draw at home by Switzerland.
Patrick Vieira and Sylvain Wiltord missed chances for the hosts while Ricardo Cabanas tested Fabien Barthez.
The Republic of Ireland went one-nil up after four minutes in Tel Aviv, Clinton Morrison firing a superb left-foot shot into the roof of the net.
But Israel levelled in stoppage time with Abas Suan's stunning low drive.
GROUP FIVE
Italy moved further away from the rest of Group Two with a hard-fought victory over Scotland in the rain in Milan.
The Italian struggled to break down a dogged Scots defence, playing for the first time under new boss Walter Smith.
But two sensational 25-yard free-kicks from AC Milan midfielder Andrea Pirlo on his home ground proved enough to seal the three points for the Italians.
Moldova entertain Norway and Belarus travel to Slovenia on Wednesday in the group's next round of matches.
GROUP SIX
England hammered Northern Ireland 4-0 to stay top of Group Six with goals from Joe Cole, Frank Lampard and Chris Baird and Colin Mudrock own goals.
Poland kept up the pressure on Sven-Goran Eriksson's side with a thumping 8-0 win over Azerbaijan.
A Tomasz Frankowski hat-trick, a Marek Saganowski brace plus goals from Kamil Kosowski, Jacek Krzynowek and Aftandil Hajiyev's own goal proved enough.
Wales lost 2-0 to Austria, Martin Stranzl and Ivica Vastic scoring.
GROUP SEVEN
Belgium earned their first win of the World Cup qualifying campaign as they came from behind to thrash Bosnia-Herzegovina 4-1 in their Group Seven tie in Brussels.
The visitors had taken a shock early lead, Zlatan Bajramovic putting them ahead with just a minute on the clock.
But Emile Mpenza bagged a brace and Koen Daerden and Thomas Buffel also got on the scoresheet for the Belgians.
On Wednesday, Belgium travel to San Marino, Serbia & Montenegro host Spain and Bosnia-Herzegovina play Lithuania.
GROUP EIGHT
Sweden kept up their stranglehold on Group Eight with a convincing 3-0 win away at close rivals Bulgaria.
A Freddie Ljungberg brace and an Erik Edman strike did the damage, with the hosts having Georgi Markov sent off.
Croatia crusied to a 4-0 victory over Iceland in Zagreb to stay in touch with the Swedes at the top of the group.
Two goals from Niko Kovac and one apiece by Josip Simunic and the impressive Dado Prso sealed the victory and took them into second place.
news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/4384801.stm
World Cup qualifying tables
FIFA World Cup European Qualifying : Group One Table
P W D L F A GD PTS
1 Holland 5 4 1 0 12 3 9 13
2 Czech Republic 5 4 0 1 10 5 5 12
3 Romania 6 3 1 2 10 7 3 10
4 Finland 6 3 0 3 13 10 3 9
5 FYR Macedonia 6 1 2 3 6 7 -1 5
6 Armenia 6 1 1 4 4 13 -9 4
7 Andorra 6 1 1 4 3 13 -10 4
FIFA World Cup European Qualifying : Group Two Table
P W D L F A GD PTS
1 Ukraine 6 4 2 0 11 3 8 14
2 Greece 6 3 2 1 10 6 4 11
3 Denmark 6 2 3 1 10 6 4 9
4 Turkey 6 2 3 1 8 5 3 9
5 Albania 6 2 0 4 3 9 -6 6
6 Georgia 5 1 2 2 6 8 -2 5
7 Kazakhstan 5 0 0 5 2 13 -11 0
FIFA World Cup European Qualifying : Group Three Table
P W D L F A GD PTS
1 Portugal 5 4 1 0 20 3 17 13
2 Slovakia 5 4 1 0 17 4 13 13
3 Russia 5 3 1 1 12 9 3 10
4 Latvia 5 2 1 2 10 12 -2 7
5 Estonia 6 2 1 3 9 13 -4 7
6 Liechtenstein 6 1 1 4 9 16 -7 4
7 Luxembourg 6 0 0 6 4 24 -20 0
FIFA World Cup European Qualifying : Group Four Table
P W D L F A GD PTS
1 Rep of Ireland 5 2 3 0 7 2 5 9
2 France 5 2 3 0 4 0 4 9
3 Israel 5 2 3 0 7 5 2 9
4 Switzerland 4 1 3 0 9 3 6 6
5 Cyprus 5 0 1 4 4 11 -7 1
6 Faroe Islands 4 0 1 3 2 12 -10 1
FIFA World Cup European Qualifying : Group Five Table
P W D L F A GD PTS
1 Italy 5 4 0 1 9 5 4 12
2 Norway 4 2 1 1 6 3 3 7
3 Slovenia 4 2 1 1 4 3 1 7
4 Belarus 3 1 1 1 8 5 3 4
5 Scotland 4 0 2 2 1 4 -3 2
6 Moldova 4 0 1 3 1 9 -8 1
FIFA World Cup European Qualifying : Group Six Table
P W D L F A GD PTS
1 England 5 4 1 0 11 3 8 13
2 Poland 5 4 0 1 18 5 13 12
3 Austria 5 2 2 1 10 8 2 8
4 Northern Ireland 5 0 3 2 5 12 -7 3
5 Wales 5 0 2 3 5 10 -5 2
6 Azerbaijan 5 0 2 3 1 12 -11 2
FIFA World Cup European Qualifying : Group Seven Table
P W D L F A GD PTS
1 Serbia & Montenegro 4 3 1 0 10 0 10 10
2 Spain 4 2 2 0 8 1 7 8
3 Lithuania 4 2 2 0 6 1 5 8
4 Belgium 4 1 1 2 5 6 -1 4
5 Bosnia-Herzegovina 3 0 2 1 2 5 -3 2
6 San Marino 5 0 0 5 0 18 -18 0
FIFA World Cup European Qualifying : Group Eight Table
P W D L F A GD PTS
1 Sweden 5 4 0 1 17 2 15 12
2 Croatia 4 3 1 0 10 2 8 10
3 Bulgaria 4 2 1 1 9 7 2 7
4 Hungary 4 2 0 2 5 8 -3 6
5 Iceland 5 0 1 4 4 14 -10 1
6 Malta 4 0 1 3 1 13 -12 1
news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/tables/default.stm