Watch FIFA World Cup 2010 Qualifying round the qualification for the World Cup 2010 in South Africa. watch today's match Northern Ireland Vs Slovakia. Don't mess this match look on your PC and watch this match live.
Northern Ireland
vs
Slovakia
Northern Ireland vs Slovakia Live Streaming Match
Match scheduled:
Date : September 9, 2009
Time : 18:45 until 20:45 GMT
World Cup 2010 Qualifying Live
Northern Ireland vs Slovakia live streams and TV channels
Jonny Evans has his eyes firmly fixed on the top of World Cup qualifying Group Three after leaving Poland with a precious point. The South Africa 2010 dream is still alive after a cool finish from Kyle Lafferty and some heroic defending from Nigel Worthington’s side.
Northern Ireland knew they had to beat back wave after wave of Polish attacks but a combination of some wayward finishing and committed tackling from the visiting defence ensured a share of the spoils. It is a result which offers little hope to Poland but puts an extra spring in the step of Evans and co.
The Manchester United centre-back, who replaced the injured George McCartney at left-back, has been playing through the pain barrier with an ankle injury but there was no sign of any major discomfort. “My ankle is fine and there are no complaints about that,” said Evans.
The Newtownabbey man is now ready to foil table-toppers Slovakia on Wednesday night and only three points will keep a smile on his face. “We are still second in the group, just two points behind Slovakia so the aim is to go top with a game left,” he said.
“At least we still have a chance of qualifying whether it is through top spot or a play-off. “We defended well but obviously we are disappointed not to hold on for the win. “You know you are going to come under pressure in these games, particularly away from home, but we were well organised at the back and I think the team performed well. “Poland are a good side and it was a game they desperately wanted to win but a point keeps us in the mix.
“There were a few last gasp challenges that had to go in but we maybe expected that. “They had to go on the front foot and attack us. A cross came in very quickly for the goal, I turned around and the ball was in the back of the net which was disappointing but overall we defended well and they had quite a lot of chances to score.” More than 40,000 packed into the Slaski Stadium and Evans relished playing in the cauldron of noise.
The Slovak press and the fans were woebegone. It didn’t matter that the country is still on course for World Cup qualification. It mattered that the pesky Czechs had not been beaten. Slovakia had beaten the Czechs 2:1 in Prague in April and doing it again in Slovakia was expected. Slovak coach Vladimir Weiss (whose son played well in the game) told us in the post-game press conference that it’s one-game-at-a-time, and that he’s not worried.
I know this because I met Janka and she ushered me into the press conference – I had no official pass to it - and then arranged a translator. The translator, she told me with triumph, had been to Canada. That person was Alexandra, a young woman who had indeed spent a year at York University. Alexandra was very surprised to find herself translating, as her job at the stadium was to show VIP guests to their seats. But she gave me the gist. Then I helped Alexandra give the gist to a Japanese reporter, based in Prague, who covers European soccer for an online Japanese outfit. His English was good, but he how he manages in Europe, in English and Japanese, mystified me, Alexandra and Janka.
Talk turned to Slovakia’s next game, on Wednesday in Belfast against Northern Ireland, a place even smaller than Slovakia. My mention of Northern Ireland having only 1.5 million people seemed to cheer everybody up. Slovkia could at least gain a draw and another point for qualification. Never mind the Czechs, I suggested.
In the taxi back to the hotel, the driver unleashed a loud laugh when he determined I was from Canada. Then he tried to charge me 20 Euro for an 8 Euro ride. No matter. It was the end of an excellent day.
A total 45 World Cup Qualifying games were scheduled for Saturday and Wednesday this week in Europe. There were some glamour, headline-inducing games. Portugal desperate for a point against Denmark. France, struggling behind Serbia for points in Group 7 and playing a strong Romania. But I’d chosen the best one to attend. International soccer game, I’ve seen a few, and rarely had this much adventure and enjoyment.
