England all but through to Germany after wins over Faroes and Ireland
Europe Zone
England have all but secured their place in Germany along with Serbia and Montenegro, who they are second to on goal difference. They firstly beat Faroe Islands 3-1. Rooney and Owen put england 2-0 up at half time, but the Faroes came back and minnows were back in the match after Gary Neville saw red and conceded a penalty which was converted. Rooney however cooled England's with a third to settle their nevres but it was an uncovincing performance. Next up, Ireland at Landsdowne Road and the Irish took a first half lead with Robbie Keane, but Owen finished superbly to draw the away side level and it seemed that was the way it would stay that way, but Rooney scored a late winner to break Irish hearts as it finished 2-1. serbia mean while beat Norway at home 2-0 and Cyprus away 2-1, to also all but secure their place in Germany.
Elsewhere, Switzerland missed out on the chance to secure qualification in Group 1, as they suffered a late first defeat to Portugal with Maniche with the late winner. Despite this, Portugal suffer a shock failure to qualify as Ukraine beat Kazakhstan and Lithuania. It is likely Switzerland and Ukraine, who play each other in October, will qualify as they like England or Serbia and Montenegro, will get the two best second placed side. However, that may depend on Group 2, as it has become a two horsed race between Scotland and Sweden, with Sweden beating Belgium(3-2) and Scandinavian rivals Finland(0-2). Scotland beat Andorra unconvincingly 3-1. Best second place will probably go to England or Serbia, then it will be between 2nd placed in Group 1 or 2.
In a tight Group 3, Poland have taken a two point lead over Austria with a 3-1 win over Albania and a 1-1 draw with Turkey. Northern Ireland have been unlucky in previous matches losing to late winners and their points tally doesn't tell the whole story. However against Latvia they were simply rolled over at Windsor Park, despite taking the lead, they went down a humiliating 5-1. With a great goal difference and a 6 point lead, Denmark are all but assured of a place in Germany after wins over Iceland and Malta. Italy and Greece are level on 14 points and will have to scrap for a play off place, and the two sides drew 2-2 and Itlay then beat Georgia 3-0, while Greece were held 1-1 by Iceland.
Group 6 is an extremely tight group, with 1st down to 5th separated by 2 points. Slovenia are top by a point, however have played a match more, after beating Bulgaria 2-0 and drawing with Israel 1-1. Israel also had the same score at home to Spain, while Spain then went on to draw 2-2 in Belarus. Belarus, Bulgaria, Israel, Spain and Slovenia, are all in with a chance of qualification and it will go down to the wire.
Wales managed a plucky draw in Cardiff, thanks to a late Hartson equalizer to the Van Nistlerooy opener. Wales are in third behind Czech Republic by three points, with Netherlands leading by one point. Wales also won 2-0 in Tallin against Estonia, while Netherlands beat minnows San Marino 5-0, Czech Republic registering a 2-0 win over neighbours Slovakia. Croatia hold a two point lead over France in Group 8 after wins away in Bosnia and Armenia. France also registered two wins, an Henry hatrick rescuing France from 2-0 down at home to Romania to win 3-2. The other win was away in Skopje beating Macedonia FYR 3-1. In another key game Romania drew 2-2 with Bosnia-Herzgovnia, which did little help fo either side.
Pictures
Table
I've beem a bit slow recently as I've had a couple GCSE's recently
.
