The pivotal time has arrived in European Qualifying for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. August and September will break hearts as hopes are dashed and teams fall from contention. Huge matches lie ahead.
Will Portugal be able to pull out a miraculous comeback in Group 1? They'll have to do it on the road with games at Denmark and Hungary. Lose either one and they are probably out of South Africa. Denmark can almost secure a place with a home win over Portugal and a road win at Albania.
Group 2 co-leaders Switzerland and Greece will meet in Switzerland in a match that could produce the group winners. Group 3 shows Slovakia in control. They'll face struggling Czech Republic at home where a win would eliminate the Czechs from the World Cup.
Group 4 is a dogfight between Russia and Germany where it is looking like an October clash between the two in Moscow could decide the group winner. Group 5 is all Spain who is perfect in six matches thus far. Boznia controls the playoff position and could pretty much wrap that up by beating Turkey at home on September 9th.
Group 6 belongs to England who are miles ahead of the pack. The race for the playoff spot is wide open though between Croatia, Ukraine and Belarus. Ukraine travels to Belarus August 12th for an important match.
Group 7 shows France trying to catch Serbia who they trail by 8 points but have two games in hand on. France will find out their fate in September as they travel to Serbia on the 9th. The playoff spot is well within reach even if France falls.
Group 8 has Italy on top with Ireland just behind them. The big match comes in October when Italy must visit Ireland. Holland alrady has clinched Group 9 where Scotland looks the favorite for the playoff spot.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Mexico crush Haiti 4-0 in Gold Cup quarters
It was a monster crowd of over 82,000 and Mexico had no trouble at all with CONCACAF minnows Haiti Sunday evening at the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas as they ran out 4-0 winners. A handball in the box on Haiti led to the games opening goal. Haiti goalkeeper Jean Dominique Zephirin stopped Israel Castro's penalty kick, but Miguel Sabah swooped in and scored off the rebound in the 23rd minute.
Sabah opened the scoring, but it was young Giovani Dos Santos who was the star on the night. He notched the 2nd goal in the 41st minute and then assisted on both 2nd half goals. Miguel Sabbah scored again in the 62nd minute and Mexico was on cruise control. The final goal came late on from Pablo Barrera.
Mexico will now face Costa Rica in the Gold Cup semifinals in what promises to be a wonderful match. Costa Rica cruised past Guadeloupe 5-1 in the early quarterfinal.
Sabah opened the scoring, but it was young Giovani Dos Santos who was the star on the night. He notched the 2nd goal in the 41st minute and then assisted on both 2nd half goals. Miguel Sabbah scored again in the 62nd minute and Mexico was on cruise control. The final goal came late on from Pablo Barrera.
Mexico will now face Costa Rica in the Gold Cup semifinals in what promises to be a wonderful match. Costa Rica cruised past Guadeloupe 5-1 in the early quarterfinal.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Mexico and Panama play to wild draw
The 4th of July was last weekend, but that didnt stop the fireworks from flying in Houston last night in a Gold Cup match between Panama and Mexico. Mexico looked to have jumped comfortably ahead in the 9th minute when Giovani Dos Santos set up Miguel Sabah for an easy finish, but Panama would have none of it. They responded just a few minutes later as Blas Perez scored from close range to even the game. Then the fireworks really started as the first of several scuffles and stoppages took place.
A touchup between Dos Santos and Panama's Armando Gun led to Gun and Mexico's Luis Noriega being sent off. The match played out 1-1 with both sides on 10 men until later in the second half. Panama's Ricardo Phillips was on the move with the ball along the sideline when he was bumped out of bounds. As he ran past Mexico coach Javier Aguirre, the coach kicked Phillips who responded by shoving Aguirre. Chaos ensued and both Phillips and Aguirre were shown red cards.
The Mexican fans erupted behind the benches throwing bottles and such and the benches were cleared as the players moved safely into the middle of the field. The match was halted for 15 minutes as the crowd was calmed and the players gathered themselves. Upon renewal of play, Panama's Blas Perez went down injured and had to be stretchered from the field. The Mexican fans took exception to his time wasting and began once again throwing projectiles one of which struck Perez in the head forcing another stoppage in play.
Finally, the match was played out and ended 1-1, but it was not over in the stands as there were several fights between supporters of both squads. The tie left Mexico 2nd in the group behind leaders Guadaloupe who have won both their Group C matches.
A touchup between Dos Santos and Panama's Armando Gun led to Gun and Mexico's Luis Noriega being sent off. The match played out 1-1 with both sides on 10 men until later in the second half. Panama's Ricardo Phillips was on the move with the ball along the sideline when he was bumped out of bounds. As he ran past Mexico coach Javier Aguirre, the coach kicked Phillips who responded by shoving Aguirre. Chaos ensued and both Phillips and Aguirre were shown red cards.
The Mexican fans erupted behind the benches throwing bottles and such and the benches were cleared as the players moved safely into the middle of the field. The match was halted for 15 minutes as the crowd was calmed and the players gathered themselves. Upon renewal of play, Panama's Blas Perez went down injured and had to be stretchered from the field. The Mexican fans took exception to his time wasting and began once again throwing projectiles one of which struck Perez in the head forcing another stoppage in play.
Finally, the match was played out and ended 1-1, but it was not over in the stands as there were several fights between supporters of both squads. The tie left Mexico 2nd in the group behind leaders Guadaloupe who have won both their Group C matches.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Egypt erupts in 2nd half to beat Rwanda
It took almost an hour for African champions Egypt to get going on Sunday against Rwanda in an African World Cup qualifier. A loss or draw would have left Egypt in a bad way in thier bid for a spot in South Africa as they trail Algeria in group play.
After a tense opening hour finally Mohamed Aboutrika broke through giving Egypt the much needed goal. After the goal Egypt relaxed and Rwanda seemed to give up as Egypt struck twice more in the last 15 minutes as Mohamed Aboutrika scored again and Hosni Abd Rabou converted a penalty kick.
Egypt moved to within three points of Algeria in Group C play tied on 4 points with Zambia. Next up is a trip to Rwanda in September.
After a tense opening hour finally Mohamed Aboutrika broke through giving Egypt the much needed goal. After the goal Egypt relaxed and Rwanda seemed to give up as Egypt struck twice more in the last 15 minutes as Mohamed Aboutrika scored again and Hosni Abd Rabou converted a penalty kick.
Egypt moved to within three points of Algeria in Group C play tied on 4 points with Zambia. Next up is a trip to Rwanda in September.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Canada edges Jamaica to open Gold Cup
Canada weathered several quality attacks from Jamaica and grabbed the winner in the 75th minute Friday evening at the Home Depot Center in California. Jamaica had good opportunities to go in front but keeper Greg Sutton came up big stoning Ricardo Fuller from close range in the 69th.
Then in the 75th a long cross off the foot of Mike Klukowski from the left wing found Ali Gerba running on the backpost where he volleyed past a rooted Donovan Ricketts.
In the other match on the night, El Salvador won a 2-1 victory over Costa Rica in an entertaining match. Osael Romero notched both goals for El Salvador, including the winner in the 85th minute of play.
Today's Gold Cup matches feature the United States playing Grenada and Honduras facing Haiti.
Then in the 75th a long cross off the foot of Mike Klukowski from the left wing found Ali Gerba running on the backpost where he volleyed past a rooted Donovan Ricketts.
In the other match on the night, El Salvador won a 2-1 victory over Costa Rica in an entertaining match. Osael Romero notched both goals for El Salvador, including the winner in the 85th minute of play.
Today's Gold Cup matches feature the United States playing Grenada and Honduras facing Haiti.
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