No games in Group 1 of course. France are top there with 15 points, Slovenia 2nd with 10, Israel third with 8, Cyprus 4th with 7 and propping up the table, unsurprisingly, Malta with a big 0. A win at home against Cyprus would almost definitely guaruntee France top place in September. The game between Slovenia and Israel is crucial for both. Defeat for Israel would leave them 5 behind Slovenia with 6 to play for, but a win would only leave them 1 ahead of Slovenia.
Group 2
Luxembourg 0-2 Denmark
Norway 1-1 Romania
Table: Denmark 6(13), Norway 6(11), Romania 6(10), Bosnia-Herzegovina 5(6), Luxembourg 5(0).
The only game remaining between the top three is Denmark .v. Romania on September 10th. Defeat for Romania would almost certanily mean no chance of third place for them as Norway still have a home game against Luxembourg. I'm going to predict Norway as winners of this group with Denmark second as I think Romania could get a draw in Denmark.
Group 3
Austria 5-0 Belarus
Czech Rep 5-0 Moldova
Table: Czech Rep. 5(13), Holland 5(13), Austria 6(9), Belarus 6(3), Moldova 6(3).
A brilliant win for the Czechs puts them firmly back on top of this group, but Austria's win looks pretty meaningless unless one of the top two were to slip up badly. A shame for Austria as they had such a good start to this group. The crunch match here will surely be on September 10th when the Czechs play Holland at home. Both also still have to play Austria. I'm unsure who win
Group 4
San Marino 0-5 Hungary
Sweden 3-0 Poland
Table: Sweden 5(11), Hungary 6(11), Latvia 5(10), Poland 5(7), San Marino 7(0).
Latvia still have a strong position, but if they hope to claim either first or second then they'll have to at least win two of their remaining matches against the other three big teams in this group. IMO they can forget the tie away at Sweden, so it's down to the two home games. Sweden still have to play San Marino .... three easy points. I believe Sweden will win the group comfortably in the end. Second place is up for grabs.
Group 5
Faroe Islands 0-2 Germany
Lithuania 0-3 Iceland
Table: Germany 5(11), Iceland 5(9), Scotland 5(8), Lithuania 6(7), Faroe Islands 5(1).
Germany have by no means wrapped up this group. Their remaining three fixtures see them take on Iceland twice and Scotland once, two of those are home games, but it's possible for Germany to slip up and only draw. Scotland have the easier run-in with home games against Lithuania and Faroe Islands to add to that important match in Germany. This one could be very close.
Group 6
Greece 1-0 Ukraine
Northern Ireland 0-0 Spain
Table: Greece 6(12), Spain 6(11), Ukraine 6(9), Armenia 5(4), Northern ireland 5(1).
What a story we have here!! Greece have this group firmly in their hands. They have an away game against Armenia and a home game against Northern Ireland remaining, while Spain must play Ukraine and then Armenia. They have a brilliant chance of winning the group ..... Go Greece!!
and to think, they lost their first two games as well! Northern Ireland are yet to score a goal, while Greece now haven't conceded a goal in four games. I think Greece will win this group now.
Group 7
England 2-1 Slovakia
Turkey 3-2 Macedonia
Table: Turkey 6(15), England 5(13), Slovakia 6(6), Macedonia 6(5), Liechtenstein 5(1).
England 2-1 Slovakia
The expression 'Football is a game of two halves' is absolutely perfect to describe this match! The first half was flat for thirty minutes. England had one very good early opening, which the Slovakian keeper managed to save. That chance was for Owen, but apart from that there was hardly anything for England in terms of chances. The same applied for Slovakia, but they were playing better. Then disaster struck. A free-kick from Janocko on the near side floated over everyone in the box and bounced of the pitch to beat James at the far post ..... a fluke as far as I'm concerned, but James is partly to blame for the goal as he could have done better, he could have come to catch the ball.
After that the game opened up ..... both sides carved open the other's defense, the difference was that England's chances were only half-chances .... if that! and Slovakia's chances were clear cut chances that should have been finished!! England could have easily been 4-0 down at half time. #3 headed straight at James from a corner, another player (can't remember who) missed a sitter from 18 yards out (he was unmarked and had loads of time to set up a shot). Then Nemeth missed another brilliant chance. He was one on one with Jmaes, but blasted his shot just wide of the far post. England's chances during that 15 minute period fell mostly to Owen, who's first touch let him down on each occassion. England's first half performance can be summed up in one word: Diabolic.
The second half produced a totally different game. England started promisingly and grew in confidence as their play improved. A few early chances were created, but none really troubled the keeper. In the 57th minute Eriksson brought on Vassell for Rooney .... a brilliant substitution. Vassell instantly had a good effect (like he has done in previous games). He played far better than Rooney and created openings with his pace and skill ...... but it was Owen who made the breakthrough. His determination to take on three Slovakian defenders in the 61st minute earned England a penalty, which was taken by Owen himslef to make it 1-1! The decision to give the penalty itself was a bit dodgy. From certain angles it looked like Owen pretty much dived, but there was some contact from the Slovakian defender, just maybe not that much.
After this goal England went up a few gears. They dictated the game and put Slovakia under immense pressure. A few minutes after the first penalty Southgate was blatantly brought down by a defender in the penalty box. The defender clearly grabbed Southgate's shirt and pulled him to the ground ...... how the referee and linesman missed this is a mystery.
Southgate surely would have had a brilliant chance at making it 2-1 to England if he had not been pulled down, as the ball from the free-kick was right in his path, at a perfect height for a short range headed finish. Anyway, some would say this makes up for the dodgy earlier decision. Then another few minutes later the linesman pulled one of the stupidest decisions I have ever seen!!!!
The ball came in from a corner and landed to Gerrard (?) who poked the ball goalwards. Lampard was there two yards out to steer the ball into the net to make it 2-1 for England .......... BUT, the blind dumbass of a linesman called it offside!! You can CLEARLY see on the replay that THREE ..... yes 3!! players are playing him onside when the ball is played .... one of them was standing on the goal-line so I can't see how a player can be offside when that happens!!!!
If I was an official in FIFA he'd be in for some punishment for such a blantantly stupid decision.
Anyway, in the end that decision didn't cost England anything in the way of points as Owen connected with a Gerrard cross in the 73rd minute to head home the second. Owen should have had a hat-trick but for a save by the keeper and then a header which hit the underside of the bar and came out. The last 15 minutes saw England in full control to see them to a win. Owen and Gerrard were the stars of the second half. A valuable three points for an England team weakened by having up to 10 players, who Sven would normally consider for his team, out .... the three most important of those most obviosuly being Campbell, Ferdinand and Beckham.
I believe this group will go down to the very last game in Turkey this October, unless Turkey were to slip up against Liechtenstein, which is very unlikely. Slovakia can kiss second place goodbye as England have a home game against Liechtenstein still to come.
Group 8
Belgium 3-0 Andorra
Estonia 0-1 Croatia
Table: Bulgaria 5(11), Croatia 5(10), Belgium 6(10), Estonia 6(8), Andorra 6(0).
Estonia's chances of finishing second are severly dented now with that small home dfeat to Croatia, who are now in a good position. Belgium still have a good chance with two home games remaining, against Croatia and Estonia. However, Bulgaria and Croatia still have to play Andorra, who are easy to beat. I think this one will be close.
Group 9
Azerbaijan 2-1 Serbia & Montenegro
Finland 0-2 Italy
Table: Wales 4(12), Italy 5(10), Finland 6(6), Serbia & Montenegro 5(5), Azerbaijan 6(4).
This group will now boil down to an exciting head to head battle between Wales and Italy. It's still Mathematically possible for all other three teams to gain second place, but highly unlikey as that would mean Italy losing against Serbia & Montenegro and Azerbaijan. If Wales can draw or win in Italy then they will be firm favourites for this group.
Group 10
Ireland 2-0 Georgia
Switzerland 3-2 Albania
Table: Switzerland 6(12), Ireland 6(10), Russia 5(7), Albania 6(5), Georgia 5(4).
Albania and Georgia can count themselves realistically out of the race for the top 2 places, but they can still be a thorn in the sides of the other three teams. The top three still have to play each other: Ireland .v. Russia, Russia .v. Switzerland and Switzerland .v. Ireland. Those three games will be crucial. Russia's game in hand at home to Georgia is a must win for them. This group is too close to call.
June 7th Round-up 
