Spain and Portugal in trouble after draws
Source: Agencies |
March 24, 2013, Sunday
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SPAIN and Portugal left themselves in dangerous territory in qualifying for the 2014 World Cup by slumping to disappointing draws on an otherwise comfortable night for Europe's top sides on Friday.
Spain, the reigning world and European champion, was held 1-1 by Finland in Group I after conceding a 79th-minute goal and is now two points behind France, which beat Georgia 3-1 in Paris. Spain and France meet on Tuesday.
Portugal has even more work to do after needing an equalizer in the final seconds to draw 3-3 in Israel. The result leaves Cristiano Ronaldo's team third in Group F and four points behind leader Russia, which had its game against Northern Ireland postponed.
Germany and the Netherlands both won 3-0, against Kazakhstan and Estonia respectively, to pull five points clear in their groups while a largely second-string England routed San Marino 8-0 away for its biggest win in 26 years.
Like Spain and Portugal, though, the English are up against it at the halfway mark in qualifying as they lie second in Group H - two points behind Montenegro ahead of their match in Podgorica on Tuesday.
Also, Croatia beat Serbia 2-0 in the first game between the fierce Balkan rivals since their war in the 1990s in a hostile atmosphere in Zagreb, while Bosnia took control of Group G by beating Greece 3-1 in a top-of-the-table match.
Spain coach Vicente del Bosque took charge of a record-setting 69th game for his country but had little to celebrate after a second straight 1-1 home draw, having previously won 24 games straight in qualifying for major tournaments dating back to 2007.
The Spanish dominated against Finland - going ahead in the 49th minute through Sergio Ramos on his 100th international appearance - but were pegged back by Teemu Pukki's 79th-minute volley on a rare foray forward.
"It's too bad that we let a game that we had controlled get away in the final minutes," Ramos said.
The French claimed their third win from four games thanks to goals by Olivier Giroud, the effervescent Mathieu Valbuena and Franck Ribery.
"We shouldn't get carried away and start thinking we've qualified," France coach Didier Deschamps said. "We're in the best position at the moment but now we have to play Spain - they are the best team in the world."
Germany is five points ahead of Sweden in Group C after goals by Bastian Schweinsteiger, Mario Goetze and Thomas Mueller saw off Kazakhstan for a fourth win in five matches. Sweden only drew 0-0 at home to Ireland.
Along with Russia, the Netherlands remained the only other team with a perfect record after goals by Rafael van der Vaart, Robin van Persie and Ruben Schaken helped maintain the country's record of not losing a World Cup qualifier since 2001.
Bulgaria thrashed Malta 6-0 to move a point behind inactive Italy in Group B, and Austria hammered the Faeroe Islands 6-0.
Spain, the reigning world and European champion, was held 1-1 by Finland in Group I after conceding a 79th-minute goal and is now two points behind France, which beat Georgia 3-1 in Paris. Spain and France meet on Tuesday.
Portugal has even more work to do after needing an equalizer in the final seconds to draw 3-3 in Israel. The result leaves Cristiano Ronaldo's team third in Group F and four points behind leader Russia, which had its game against Northern Ireland postponed.
Germany and the Netherlands both won 3-0, against Kazakhstan and Estonia respectively, to pull five points clear in their groups while a largely second-string England routed San Marino 8-0 away for its biggest win in 26 years.
Like Spain and Portugal, though, the English are up against it at the halfway mark in qualifying as they lie second in Group H - two points behind Montenegro ahead of their match in Podgorica on Tuesday.
Also, Croatia beat Serbia 2-0 in the first game between the fierce Balkan rivals since their war in the 1990s in a hostile atmosphere in Zagreb, while Bosnia took control of Group G by beating Greece 3-1 in a top-of-the-table match.
Spain coach Vicente del Bosque took charge of a record-setting 69th game for his country but had little to celebrate after a second straight 1-1 home draw, having previously won 24 games straight in qualifying for major tournaments dating back to 2007.
The Spanish dominated against Finland - going ahead in the 49th minute through Sergio Ramos on his 100th international appearance - but were pegged back by Teemu Pukki's 79th-minute volley on a rare foray forward.
"It's too bad that we let a game that we had controlled get away in the final minutes," Ramos said.
The French claimed their third win from four games thanks to goals by Olivier Giroud, the effervescent Mathieu Valbuena and Franck Ribery.
"We shouldn't get carried away and start thinking we've qualified," France coach Didier Deschamps said. "We're in the best position at the moment but now we have to play Spain - they are the best team in the world."
Germany is five points ahead of Sweden in Group C after goals by Bastian Schweinsteiger, Mario Goetze and Thomas Mueller saw off Kazakhstan for a fourth win in five matches. Sweden only drew 0-0 at home to Ireland.
Along with Russia, the Netherlands remained the only other team with a perfect record after goals by Rafael van der Vaart, Robin van Persie and Ruben Schaken helped maintain the country's record of not losing a World Cup qualifier since 2001.
Bulgaria thrashed Malta 6-0 to move a point behind inactive Italy in Group B, and Austria hammered the Faeroe Islands 6-0.
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