Group 1
Today, I have another reason to like the Dutch even more - we've qualified for the World Cup because they defeated the Czechs 2-0!
Congrats to Holland also, as they qualify with that result.
Now Wednesday night's match will be a much more relaxed affair. Maybe (just maybe) this will spark a great performance from England.
1. Holland. 31.
2. Romania. 25.
3. Czech Rep. 24.
Holland and the Czechs have one match remaining. The Czechs are away to Finland and need only a draw to finish 2nd.
Group 2
Denmark 1-0 Greece
Georgia 0-0 Kazakhstan
Ukraine 2-2 Albania
1. Ukraine. 25.
2. Turkey. 20.
3. Denmark. 19.
4. Greece. 18.
Ukraine are through! 2nd place is hotley contested atm, with all 3 teams playing on Wednesday. Denmark are away to Kazakhstan, Turkey travel to Albania and Greece meet Georgia at home. Those fixtures definitely sway the chances in favour of Denmark IMO.
Group 3
Portugal 2-1 Liechtenstein
Portugal are through!
Group 4
Cyprus 0-1 Ireland
Israel 2-1 Faroe Islands
Switzerland 1-1 France
1. Israel. 18.
2. Switzerland. 17.
3. France. 17.
4. Ireland. 16.
Ireland - Switzerland will be the match to decide which of these two teams finishes in the top 2. Whatever happens, Israel need France to lose in order to finish in the top 2, as any result between Ireland and Switzerland will knock them down.
Group 5
Italy 1-0 Slovenia
Norway 1-0 Moldova
Italy are through! Norway are 2nd, 3 points ahead of Slovenia. Norway travel to Belarus on Wednesday, whil Slovenia entertain Scotland.
Group 7
Belgium 0-2 Spain
Bosnia H 3-0 San Marino
Lithuania 0-2 Serbia & M
1. Serbia & M. 19.
2. Spain. 17.
3. Bosnia H. 16.
Serbia will entertain Bosnia on Wednesday, while Spain pick up 3 points at the expense of San Marino. Therefore, it's a matter of whether Spain or Serbia will finish 1st.
Group 8
Croatia 1-0 Sweden
Croatia go top, 2 points ahead of Sweden, but both will qualify anyway.
Teams through to the World Cup Finals!
Germany (obviously
)
Ukraine
Holland
Poland
England
Croatia
Italy
Portugal
USA
Mexico
Costa Rica
Angola
Ivory Coast
Togo
Ghana
Tunisia
Japan
Iran
South Korea
Saudi Arabia
Argentina
Brazil
Equador
Paraguay
24 down - 8 to go. 6 of those will come from Europe, with Sweden very likely to be one of the 6. The other two teams come from a combination of other zones. One team from Asia will play a team from North and Central America. One team from South America will play Australia (well, who else can actually play football in Oceania!? :P)