Serbia, Denmark and Slovakia can also advance, although the Danes and Slovakians need a win coupled with other results going their way. Spain hosts Estonia in Merida and will be confident of winning for the eighth time in eight Group 5 games. The Spaniards will qualify if second-place Bosnia-Herzegovina fails to beat Turkey at home.
Favourites with the British bookmakers to win the World Cup for the first time, the Spaniards are six points ahead of the Bosnians, who have a four-point advantage over the Turks. Vicente del Bosque's star-studded Spain is an overwhelming favourite to beat Estonia, which is next-to-last in the group, while the Bosnians go into their game knowing Turkey will be only a point behind with a victory in Zenica.
England can also make it eight out of eight in Group 6 with a home victory over Croatia, and that would mean a place in South Africa next year. It would also finally heal the pain of failing to reach Euro 2008 by losing 3-2 at home to Croatia under Steve McClaren. Now under the guidance of Fabio Capello, England is much stronger and beat the Croats 4-1 in Zagreb a year ago.
"He has brought belief back to the fans and to the players," Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder David Beckham said on Monday. "That's what we needed to get back and to be playing the football that we know we can play." The Serbs have a home game against second place France and a four-point lead. A victory in Belgrade will put them through with the French then sweating on whether they make the runners up playoffs.
"If we have to go through the playoffs, we will," said France striker Thierry Henry. "If we don't finish first we'll have to make sure we finish second, even though it's sad to say. Since I've been in the French team we've often got in through the back door. Whatever happens, we have to get to South Africa."
Slovakia is close to reaching its first World Cup and, despite being held 2-2 at home by neighbour Czech Republic on Saturday, still leads Group 3 by two points from Northern Ireland. The two teams meet in Belfast on Wednesday and a Slovakia victory, coupled with a draw between Slovenia and Poland when they meet in Maribor, would spark celebrations back home.
The Czechs are still not out of contention for a playoff spot despite a poor qualifying campaign. They should beat San Marino at home and, depending on the other results, can still finish second. Denmark can advance from Group 1 with a victory away to Albania, providing Portugal wins against Hungary in Budapest and Sweden fails to beat Malta.
Portugal remains in deep trouble, however, even after capturing a point away to Denmark on Saturday, and there is a strong chance that Cristiano Ronaldo - the most expensive player in the game's history and FIFA's player of the year - will not play in the World Cup.
The draw left the Portuguese seven points behind the Danes and back in fourth place with three games to go, and the team needs to beat second-place Hungary in Budapest on Wednesday to realistically stay in contention.
Denmark, which visits Albania, has 17 points, Hungary 13 and Sweden, which should win comfortably in Malta, is third with 12 points. World Cup holder Italy will move four points clear at the top of Group 8 by beating Bulgaria at home, a result which would mean the Bulgarians can no longer win the group.
Marcello Lippi's Italians have been in poor form but a victory would put them well clear of second place Ireland with Bulgaria then nine points behind and only two rounds of games to go. The role played by the lesser nations in World Cup finals down the years has been one of the factors which has helped the competition reach such a status in the minds of players and fans alike. Think about the likes of North Korea in 1966, Bulgaria in 1994 and Senegal in 2002, all three, along with many others, have left a mark on the finals which remains in the national and international consciousness to this day.
In the build-up to the critical juncture for sides still harbouring ambitions of following in their footsteps by qualifying for South Africa in 2010, this article takes a look at some of the other sides in international football looking to make the finals. Some will be more familiar than others, some have already left their mark on the finals in years gone by, while others are looking to secure their place for the very first time. But irrespective of the history, the ambition remains the same amongst these sides as it does in the major nations: represent your country at the World Cup.
VIENNA — Injuries will force Austria defender Juergen Patocka and midfielder Christopher Drazan to miss Wednesday's World Cup qualifying match against Romania. Patocka damaged his left Achilles tendon Saturday during the team's 3-1 win over the Faeroe Islands and is expected to be out for two weeks, the Austrian football federation said Sunday. Drazan, who missed the Faeroe Islands game because of an ankle injury, won't be ready either, the federation said. Marc Janko scored twice on Saturday but was shown a second yellow card and will be suspended.
Austria needs to beat Romania in Bucharest to retain its slim chance of reaching next year's tournament in South Africa from Group 7, which also includes Serbia, France and Lithuania.
Mutu was already ruled out of Romania's World Cup qualifiers against France and Austria in Group 7 this week. He'll now miss Fiorentina's game against Cagliari on Sunday and the Viola's Champions League opener at Lyon next week.
On July 31, sport's highest court of appeal ordered Mutu to pay his former club Chelsea euro17.2 million (US$24.5 million) compensation after the Blues fired him for using cocaine. The fine could bankrupt Mutu, and he could be suspended if he doesn't pay.
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.
