|
|
|
| September 9, 2005 | Friday | Sha’aban 4, 1426 |
England stunned in Belfast, France win in Ireland
LONDON, Sept 8: England’s World Cup hopes suffered a shock setback at the hands of neighbours Northern Ireland on Wednesday when a late David Healy goal sent the Group Six favourites to their first defeat in Belfast for 78 years.
That result handed the Group Six initiative to Poland, who beat Wales 1-0 in Warsaw. The Poles will definitely qualify with a point against England in their final game, and might not even need that.
France won their Dublin showdown with Thierry Henry’s goal beating Ireland 1-0.
Portugal, Italy and the Netherlands all edged closer to next year’s finals in Germany but Croatia’s smooth progress was brought to a halt when they were held to a shock 1-1 draw in Malta.
Healy’s angled drive in the 73rd minute left England on 19 points, five adrift of Poland, but they can still win the group with home wins over Austria and Poland next month and are guaranteed at least a playoff slot.
Poland beat Wales with a second-half Maciej Zurawski penalty and look likely to qualify at least as one of the two best runners-up if not group winners.
Israel, 2-0 winners in the Faroe Islands with just a home return to come, have 15 points, with Ireland on 13.
The Netherlands are on the verge of qualification after they beat Andorra 4-0, helped by two goals by Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Portugal moved closer with a goalless draw in Russia that left them five points clear in Group Three with two games remaining.
Slovakia failed to take advantage as they were held to a 1-1 draw in Latvia leaving them on 19 points, the same as Russia, to Portugal’s 24.
Ukraine, the only European team to qualify so far, lost 1-0 at home to Turkey as the battle for second place in Group Two hotted up.
Denmark are also still in the hunt on 16 from 10 after they thumped Georgia 6-1.
Italy recovered from their Saturday stutter in Scotland to thump Belarus 4-1 away with a Luca Toni hat trick, but only after recovering from an early goal for the hosts.
Sweden took command of Group Eight with their 1-0 win in Hungary that took them to 21 points, one ahead of Croatia, who will be wondering how they allowed Malta to collect their second point of the campaign.
Sweden took command of Group Eight with their 1-0 win in Hungary that took them to 21 points, one ahead of Croatia, who will be wondering how they allowed Malta to collect their second point of the campaign.
Results
Group One
Czech Republic 4 Armenia 1
Finland 5 Macedonia 1
Netherlands 4 Andorra 0
Group Two
Kazakhstan 1 Greece 2
Ukraine 0 Turkey 1
Denmark 6 Georgia 1
Group Three
Russia 0 Portugal 0
Latvia 1 Slovakia 1
Liechtenstein 3 Luxembourg 0
Group Four
Faroe Islands 0 Israel 2
Cyprus 1 Switzerland 3
Republic of Ireland 0 France 1
Group Five
Norway 1 Scotland 2
Belarus 1 Italy 4
Moldova 1 Slovenia 2
Group Six
Azerbaijan 0 Austria 0
Poland 1 Wales 0
Northern Ireland 1 England 0
Group Seven
Lithuania 0 Bosnia and Herzegovina 1
Belgium 8 San Marino 0
Spain 1 Serbia and Montenegro 1
Group Eight
Bulgaria 3 Iceland 2
Malta 1 Croatia 1
Hungary 0 Sweden 1
—AFP
|
|
|
|
