Plenty of results to round up from today!
Group 1
Cyprus 1-1 Israel .... Cyprus came back from 1-0 down and are now joint second in the table with Israel, but both teams are 5 points behind group leaders France who play at home to Malta later.
Group 2
Romania 2-5 Denmark .... I'm guessing this was one hell of a good game. Romania took the lead in the 5th minute with Denamrk equalising four minutes later. Then the scoring stopped until the second half when Romania took the lead again two minutes after the restart. Denmark equalised six minutes later and finally took the lead in the 71st minute. Two minutes later it wad 4-2. Denmark added the fifth in the final seconds of the game to wrap up an impressive away victory which puts then top of the table on GD above Norway. Both teams have played three games, but Romaina, who are one point behind, have played a game more.
Bosnia are currently leading Luxembourg 1-0.
Group 3
Belarus 2-1 Moldova .... after three straight defeats Belarus got their first points of this qualifying campaign. This game was merely one of the deciders of who gets fourth place seeing as the other teams in this group are Holland, Czech. Rep and Austria.
Half time between Holland and Czech. Republic ..... 1-0 Holland .... Van Nistelrooy the scorer there!
Group 4
No games played in Group 4.
Group 5
Scotland 2-1 Iceland .... a priceless win for Scotland with the winner coming from L.Wilkie in the 70th minute.
Germany 1-1 Lithuania!
.... Great result.
Germany ahd the lead but they let it slip!
Scotland top the table on GD after three games each!
Group 6
Armenia 1-0 N.Ireland .... N.Ireland remain rooted to the bottom of group 6 after four game and are yet to score a goal. It looks like they won't be going to Portugal next year.
Ukraine 2-2 Spain .... a bit of a shock there. Ukraine held the lead from the 12th minute, the Spain scored twice in three minutes - Raul (84), Etxeberria (87). It looked like they had pulled off a good comeback until the last seconds when Ukraine got a deserved equaliser!
Spain top the group with seven points from three games. Ukraine are second with six points from four games.
Group 7
Liechtenstein 0-2 England
.... Watched most of this game on BBC after I got home from work. It wasn't a brilliant England performance as you would expect against a team such as Liechtenstein but the the three points were won. The goals came from Owen (28) and Beckham (53). Owen's goal was a well worked move down the right involving Beckham and Heskey which resulted in a Heskey cross met brilliantly by Owen with his head leaving the keeper no chance. The Beckham goal came from a free kick which curled round the wall and in off the near post. The goalkeeper hardly moved. Liechtenstein had a few chances as well, with one shot rebounding off the post in the final minute of the game! They worked hard but in the end were outclassed by an England team who can play much much better than this, which they had better do on Wednesday night against Turkey!
Macedonia 0-2 Slovakia .... first points of the group for Slovakia.
Turkey remain top, but are now only two points ahead of England with both teams having played three games. Wednesday night's match between the two is crucial.
Group 8
Croatia 4-0 Belgium .... a very good result for Croatia which moves them up to third two points behind Belgium, but with a game in hand. Bulgaira remain unbeaten and three points clear.
Group 9
Wales 4-0 Azerbaijan
.... it took Wales just 15 seconds to get the lead against Azerbaijan with the goal coming from Craig Bellamy! By half time Speed (40) and Hartson (44) had added to the lead. Giggs rounded off the scoring in the second half by taking advantage of a poor defensive error.
Wales are currently seven points clear at the top of group 9, but with Italy currently leading Finland 2-0 it looks like the lead will be cut to just four points.
Group 10
Albania 3-1 Russia
.... shock of the day in group 10!
Georgia 1-2 Reublic of Ireland
.... a valuable win for Ireland in a controversial match in which objects such as knives and bottles were thrown onto the pitch at the Irish players! Switzerland top the group, but Ireland still have a good chance of getting second place from Russia after their slip up in Albania. I believe they can do it.
