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