This Weekend's WC Qualifiers

[RoyalChicagoFC]

something similar happened to England too, Chi

Gather round the laptop!

Oh dear Sweden...Danes score on 78' to win Group One; based on Wednesday's matchups, Swedes pretty much need for the 'Guese and Hungary to draw now

Greeks in front of Lithuania 3-2 on Gekas' hat trick, which'll put the Swiss celebrations on hold and leave them needing to take no more than a point from Israel at home in midweek

[RoyalChicagoFC]

Greeks end up beating Latvia 5-2 and should hold on for second in Group Two as they face Luxembourg at home on Wednesday; would need for Israel to win in Switzerland in order to take the group

Group Three:
Slovenia win 0-2 away to leaders Slovakia and are virtually assured of at least a playoff berth, what with San Marino up next for them in midweek, when Slovakia (who only could be caught by Slovenia) play Poland away

Czechs are virtually out of the running despite beating Poland 2-0; can't catch the leaders, and Slovenia have to like their looming matchup

Serbia win Group Seven after beating Romania 5-0; France 20 minutes away from securing second place

Portugal 1-0 Hungary with halftime approaching; not good for the Swedes

[Rex]

A nice assist from Shunt. ItaLOLy

[Rex]

A serious amount of egg on my face.

[bobbybottler]

A serious amount of egg on my face.

Aye, but a good game though.

[daswonder]

Need to understand Italy are the only nation that when only a draw is needed that's all they will play for.

Got the result they needed, real test is South Africa now

[John Madejski's Wallet]

Amazing play by Cole
Not only does he try his best to set them up for a goal, he then decides he has to head it in for them too. tw*tter

And as for Ferdinand

[bobbybottler]

Messi watch

1 min - done nothing so far

2 min - first Argentinian passing movement of over four passes in half a dozen matches, Messi pivotal.

[Kitson12]

HT report. Argentina not great, Peru worse.

[bobbybottler]

HT report. Argentina not great, Peru worse.

It's been odd. Palermo on at HT, Arg went 442 and looked better for it and then scored, then Maradona changed it all again to go 4321.

Peru are woeful but hit the bar before Argentina scored, and have unpicked the Argentinian defence several times in the match.

If Argentina qualify, they will get slaughtered by a decent team. I am honestly very sorry to say it but Maradona is clueless.

[RG30]

Absolute LOVE for Maradona's injury time celebration, a definete Youtube look up for anyone who hasn't seen it

[Stooper]

Is it me, or is Serbia/Romania a really surprising result?

[Barry the bird boggler]

RESULTS

Group One

Denmark 1-0 Sweden
Portugal 3-0 Hungary

Group Two

Greece 5-2 Latvia
Israel 3-1 Moldova
Luxembourg 0-3 Switzerland

Group Three

Czech Republic 2-0 Poland
Slovakia 0-2 Slovenia

Group Four

Finland 2-1 Wales
Liechtenstein 0-2 Azerbaijan
Russia 0-1 Germany

Group Five

Armenia 1-2 Spain
Belgium 2-0 Turkey
Estonia 0-2 Bosnia-Herzegovina

Group Six

Belarus 4-0 Kazakhstan
Ukraine 1-0 England

Group Seven

Austria 2-1 Lithuania
France 5-0 Faroe Islands
Serbia 5-0 Romania

Group Eight

Cyprus 4-1 Bulgaria
Montenegro 2-1 Georgia
Rep of Ireland 2-2 Italy

So, thanks to Slovenia's 2-0 win in Slovakia, group 3 is still open, think Slovenia need to get a better result in San Marino than Slovakia do in Poland. The Czech Republic and Northern Iteland's hopes are now dashed unless San Marino win!

Have made the assumption that Portugal (v Malta) and Ukraine (v Andorra) will win their games to ensure play off attendance.

Red = Qualified for South Africa
Blue = Play Offs

[papereyes]

Is it me, or is Serbia/Romania a really surprising result?

The size of it, yes, but Serbia are dominating their group at the moment.

[1871 Royal]

Absolute LOVE for Maradona's injury time celebration, a definete Youtube look up for anyone who hasn't seen it

Just seen it on SSN quaLOLity

[FiNeRaIn]

Can't belive the big man palermo scored it, he loved it. The passion!!!!!! Shirt of nearly in tears, defo erases those three penlty misses. One of the best strikers never to have made it in europe.

[No Fixed Abode]

bagged a cool $350 when Italy equalised. I just knew they would.

[papereyes]

Can't belive the big man palermo scored it, he loved it. The passion!!!!!! Shirt of nearly in tears, defo erases those three penlty misses. One of the best strikers never to have made it in europe.

OK - what am I missing. Wasn't it offside?

[RG30]

Some crazy snow in the Poland match, losing 1-0 to Slovakia

[soggy biscuit]

Only 1 newbie to the world cup so far in Slovakia I believe.

Play off draw done next monday.

Seeded teams - Portugal, France, Russia & Greece
Non seeded teams - Bosnia, Ireland, Ukraine & Slovenia