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Draw places Brazil, Portugal into Group of Death: The draw for the final tournament of the 2010 Men’s World Cup was kind to the defending finalists, but not the losing semifinalists. 2006 champions Italy face Paraguay, New Zealand, and first time qualifiers Slovakia in Group F, whilst France, who fell to the Azzurri in the 2006 final, were drawn against hosts South Africa, Mexico, and Uruguay in Group A. The Group of Death is widely considered to be Group G, which contains Brazil, Korea DPR, Côte d’Ivoire, and Portugal. The tournament’s opening match will be South Africa-Mexico at Johannesburg’s new Soccer City stadium on FRI 11 JUN 2010.
» Group A: South Africa, Mexico, Uruguay, France
» Group B: Argentina, Nigeria, Korea Rep, Greece
» Group C: England, United States, Algeria, Slovenia
» Group D: Germany, Australia, Serbia, Ghana
» Group E: Netherlands, Denmark, Japan, Cameroon
» Group F: Italy, Paraguay, New Zealand, Slovakia
» Group G: Brazil, Korea DPR, Côte d’Ivoire, Portugal
» Group H: Spain, Switzerland, Honduras, Chile
[posted SAT 05 DEC 2009 – 00:58:11 UTC]

Pots decided for South Africa 2010 draw: FIFA have settled on the pots, seedings, and draw procedure for the 2010 Men’s World Cup final tournament. The top seeds include hosts South Africa and the top seven teams in the FIFA world rankings of OCT 2009, who occupy Pot 1. Pot 2 contains the teams from the AFC, CONCACAF, and the OFC. Pot 3 holds the remaining teams from CAF and CONMEBOL, whilst Pot 4 contains the remaining UEFA teams. Each group will receive one team from each pot, and no group may contain more than two UEFA teams or more than one team from any other confederation. The draw begins at 17:00 UTC on FRI 04 DEC 2009 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.
» Pot 1: South Africa, Brazil, Spain, Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Argentina, England
» Pot 2: Australia, Honduras, Japan, Korea DPR, Korea Rep, Mexico, New Zealand, United States
» Pot 3: Algeria, Cameroon, Chile, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Paraguay, Uruguay
» Pot 4: Denmark, France, Greece, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland
[posted THU 03 DEC 2009 – 02:54:28 UTC]

UEFA matchday 16 recap: A quick summary of action around the UEFA group phase on WED 14 OCT 2009.
» Poland 00-01 Slovakia: Heavy snow in Chorzów may have contributed to the disastrous start; just four minutes in, Seweryn GANCARCZYK bundled a cross into his own goal. Slovak goalkeeper Ján MUCHA spent the rest of the match keeping the inspired home side out of his goal, giving Slovakia the points they needed to win Group 3. Slovenia took second place by defeating San Marino.
» Switzerland 00-00 Israel: A second yellow for Avihai YADIN ended Israel’s slight hopes of advancing out of Group 2. The draw meant a second consecutive Men’s World Cup appearance for the Swiss and a playoff place for Greece, who won against Luxembourg.
» Andorra 00-06 Ukraine: Ukraine had little trouble with the wooden spoon recipients of Group 6 and earned a place in the playoffs.
» Portugal 04-00 Malta: Portugal completed their Group 1 comeback and earned a playoff place with an easy win over Malta, their fourth win in the last five matches.
¤ Qualified: Denmark, England, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland
» Advanced to playoffs: Bosnia-Herzegovina, France, Greece, Ireland Rep, Portugal, Russia, Slovenia, Ukraine
[posted FRI 16 OCT 2009 – 04:54:42 UTC]

UEFA matchday 15 recap: A quick summary of action around the UEFA group phase on SAT 10 OCT 2009.
» Russia 00-01 Germany: Miroslav KLOSE was the hero as Germany secured qualification from Group 4. Russia will have another chance in the playoffs.
» Estonia 00-02 Bosnia-Herzegovina: Bosnia-Herz also wrapped up a playoff place as the number two team in Group 5. Vedad IBIŠEVIĆ sealed the win with Bosnia-Herz’s second goal midway through the second half.
» Ukraine 01-00 England: Ukraine now have a leg up on Croatia for the Group 6 playoff place after their win over previously undefeated England. Three Lions goalkeeper Robert GREEN was sent off for a professional foul just fifteen minutes in.
» Denmark 01-00 Sweden: A thunderous strike from Jakob POULSEN twelve minutes from time proved decisive as Denmark won Group 1. Sweden must now hope for Portugal to slip up against Malta on WED 14 OCT 2009.
» Greece 05-02 Latvia: Fanis GEKAS took his tally to nine total goals in the qualifiers with four tonight, helping Greece keep second place in Group 2. A win against Luxembourg on the last matchday means at least a playoff place.
» Slovakia 00-02 Slovenia: The Slovaks blew a chance to secure their first trip to a Men’s World Cup as Valter BIRSA and Nejc PEČNIK scored for Slovenia. Slovakia will have another opportunity to take the Group 1 crown against Poland on Wednesday.
» Ireland Rep 02-02 Italy: Sean ST LEDGER sent the fans at Croke Park into a frenzy as he scored his first goal for Ireland Rep to take the lead in the 87th minute. But just two minutes later, Alberto GILARDINO equalised, and Italy earned qualification from Group 8. Ireland Rep are assured of a playoff position.
¤ Qualified this matchday: Denmark, Germany, Italy, Serbia
» Advanced this matchday: Bosnia-Herzegovina, France, Ireland Rep, Switzerland
× Eliminated this matchday: Austria, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Turkey
[posted SUN 11 OCT 2009 – 00:25:19 UTC]

UEFA matchday 14 recap: A quick summary of action around the UEFA group phase on WED 09 SEP 2009.
» Latvia 02-02 Switzerland: The Swiss held on to their Group 2 lead as substitute Eren DERDIYOK scored a late equaliser.
» Norway 02-01 Macedonia FYR: Norway secured second place in Group 9, but they may find themselves shut out of the playoffs as the worst runner up.
» Hungary 00-01 Portugal: PEPE’s early goal off a DECO free kick improved Portugal’s chances in Group 1, as Denmark were held in Albania.
» Northern Ireland 00-02 Slovakia: Goals from Stanislav ŠESTÁK and Filip HOLOSKO kept Slovakia five points clear in Group 3. N Ireland are tied with Slovenia for second but have played one match more.
» Wales 01-03 Russia: Russia kept up with Group 4 leaders Germany by winning in Cardiff. Germany and Russia are each assured of at least a playoff place.
» Belarus 00-00 Ukraine: Ukraine’s second consecutive Men’s World Cup qualification slipped further away as they could only manage a draw in Minsk...
» England 05-01 Croatia: ...leaving the door open for England to take the Group 6 crown in decisive fashion.
» Spain 03-00 Estonia: Bosnia-Herzegovina’s Group 5 draw with Turkey earlier in the day, coupled with Spain’s decisive performance, sent la Furia Roja through to South Africa 2010 as Iker CASILLAS broke Andoni ZUBIZARRETA’s national record of 56 clean sheets.
¤ Qualified this matchday: England, Spain
» Advanced this matchday: Germany, Italy, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia
× Eliminated this matchday: Belarus, Belgium, Finland, Luxembourg, Macedonia FYR, Scotland, Wales
[posted THU 10 SEP 2009 – 05:36:34 UTC]

UEFA matchday 12 recap: A quick summary of action around the UEFA group phase on WED 12 AUG 2009.
» Azerbaijan 00-02 Germany: Bastian SCHWEINSTEIGER and Miroslav KLOSE scored in either half, and Germany earned three points that increase the pressure on closest Group 4 rivals Russia.
» Norway 04-00 Scotland: A second yellow to Gary CALDWELL in the first half proved costly, as John Arne RIISE opened the scoring for Norway on the resulting free kick. His side cruised to the win and may yet reach the playoffs from Group 9.
» Belarus 01-03 Croatia: Ivica OLIĆ’s two goals led Croatia to a vital win in Group 6, adding further importance to the England-Croatia match on WED 09 SEP 2009.
× Eliminated this matchday: Azerbaijan
[posted THU 13 AUG 2009 – 07:37:55 UTC]

UEFA matchday 3 recap: A quick summary of action around the UEFA group phase on WED 10 SEP 2008.
» Lithuania 02-00 Austria: Lithuania took over the Group 7 lead through two goals from Tomas DANILEVICIUS.
» Finland 03-03 Germany: Three times Finland took the lead, but each time Miroslav KLOSE was there to score an equaliser. Germany maintain their slim lead atop Group 4.
» Turkey 01-01 Belgium: EMRE Belözoğlu scored on a second half penalty, salvaging a draw after Wesley SONCK’s goal for Belgium. The teams are tied in Group 5, two points behind Spain.
» Switzerland 01-02 Luxembourg: The Swiss believed they had escaped ignominy when Blaise N’KUFO scored to draw level. But in the 86th minute, Alphonse LEWECK found net, and Luxembourg moved into an unlikely tie for third place in Group 2.
» Slovenia 02-01 Slovakia: Milivoje NOVAKOVIČ scored two goals, leading Slovenia to a tie with Poland for first in Group 3.
» Croatia 01-04 England: Since becoming independent, Croatia had never lost a Men’s World Cup qualifier at home. But Theo WALCOTT, who is only slightly older than Croatia itself, ended that record in decisive fashion with three goals. England, along with Ukraine, now lead Group 6.
» France 02-01 Serbia: After losing to Austria in their opener, France got back on track by defeating Serbia on goals by Thierry HENRY and Nicolas ANELKA.
» Portugal 02-03 Denmark: This wild encounter was 1-0 in Portugal’s favour with seven minutes remaining. But a late flurry culminated in a winning goal in stoppage time from Daniel JENSEN, putting Denmark in the thick of a three way tie for first in Group 1.
[posted THU 11 SEP 2008 – 05:08:06 UTC]

Qualifying draw raises excitement: The draw for the 2010 Men’s World Cup qualifiers took place in Durban, South Africa on SUN 25 NOV 2007. Here are some of the highlights:
» UEFA group phase: Croatia must face England again, as well as the Ukraine, in Group 6. Other groups that look to be contentious include Group 2 [Greece, Israel, and Switzerland] and Group 5 [Spain, Turkey, and Belgium].
» CAF second round: Even though South Africa are only competing for a place at the 2010 African Nations Cup, they can still dent Nigeria’s chances in Group 4. Egypt, Congo DR, and Malawi square off in Group 12.
» CONCACAF first round: El Salvador could crash Panama’s party in Group 3C, but otherwise the seeded teams expect little trouble.
» AFC third round: Without a doubt, the AFC’s Group of Death is Group 1, in which Australia face China PR and defending Asian champions Iraq. Also intriguing is Group 3, which sees Korea Rep face Korea DPR.
[posted MON 26 NOV 2007 – 03:11:21 UTC]

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