England, Featured, Global, World Cup 2010

EUROPE – The usual talk just before qualifying for the Euros or World Cup begins in earnest surrounds whether the smaller nations should participate in a pre-qualifying tournament in order to rid of the likes of the Faroe Islands, Andorra or Luxembourg.

Yet the minnows have provided their own story over the opening two rounds of World Cup qualification, suggesting that Uefa were right to refute the pleas that would have seen them thrown out. The gap between the small and great may not be getting much closer, but the little nations certainly still enjoy playing against the big fry, with pride and honour to be fought for if not a place at the tournament in two years time.

Perhaps the biggest result was that of Luxembourg, who secured their first World Cup victory since 1972 with an unexpected 2-1 triumph away at Switzerland, who of course reached the last 16 four years ago in Germany. Such a result dominated the BBC World Service news bulletins with the head of the Luxembourg FA claiming, in an exclusive interview, that the nation were indeed going places. Perhaps a real measure of their progress will be seen in the matches against Moldova and Latvia, and also in the return match with the Swiss, where they will want to prove last night’s win was no fluke.

Elsewhere in Group Two, Greece continued their (recent) habit of impressing in qualifying with routine away victories over Luxembourg and Latvia, with Gekas scoring three times over the two games and Otto Rehhagel’s side have yet to concede. Israel lie second on four points but can consider themselves fortunate - they equalised in stoppage time against the Swiss before edging past ten-man Moldova 2-1 on Wednesday. Switzerland are struggling, and the current top two look favourites to finish qualifying in those positions.

High drama in Group One as Portugal lost at home to Denmark, the 1992 European champions but a nation that has struggled in recent times. There were four goals in the last seven minutes and Portugal went 2-1 ahead with four remaining only to concede twice in added time. The pressure is already on Carlos Quieroz - who also failed at Real Madrid in his only major role as head coach - especially with Sweden also in the group. But perhaps they should be most afraid of the current group leaders. Actually, maybe not - for they are Albania. An impressive home draw with Sweden was followed up with a 3-0 victory against Malta and another small nation can dare to dream.

The home nations are all finding life tough; Northern Ireland are second bottom in a group containing old foes Poland and Czech Republic while Slovenia and Slovakia have both started well; Wales missed a penalty in Russia and conceded the winning goal in the final ten minutes to cap a miserably frustrating night. Germany are also in Group Four, although they were unable to get past Finland in a thrilling 3-3 draw in Helsinki, Miroslav Klose netting a hat-trick as Joachim Loew’s side thrice came from behind. Scotland beat Iceland 2-1 to somewhat make-up for the weekend loss in Macedonia, although the Netherlands (three points from one game) and Norway (one from one) are both strong.

European champions Spain threaten to bulldoze through their group having secured maximum points from matches against Bosnia-Herzegovina and Armenia. The former recovered from a narrow 1-0 defeat in Murcia by thrashing Estonia 7-0 in the performance of the night. Turkey and Belgium are set to scrap it out for second. Both are on four points after a 1-1 draw between the nations in Istanbul.

At last, it’s a joy to scribe about England again - a stunning victory against Croatia put them top of Group Six, level on points with Ukraine. Croatia, Belarus and Kazakhstan all have three points, meaning there is still plenty of work for Fabio Capello to do if England are to secure the automatic qualifying spot. Ukraine were fortunate to beat Belarus on Saturday - Andriy Shevchenko scoring from the penalty spot in the 93rd minute - but were improved in a 3-1 win in Kazakhstan.

Austria stunned France at the weekend with a fabulous 3-1 win, but it might to be another false dawn after they went down to a lame defeat in Lithuania. Raymond Domenech just about hung onto his job - until October at least - after France secured a nervous 2-1 win at home to Serbia. Romania look in dreadful shape and will be fortunate to make the World Cup at this rate. A shocking 0-3 home reverse against Lithuania was followed up with a shaky and unconvincing 1-0 win at minnows (you see, another one doing well) Faroe Islands. They even had Ghionea sent off for a professional foul, which means he will be missing from their critical home tie against France in Constanta next month. Some good news for Domenech at least. It means Lithuania are the shock leaders, three points clear of Austria, France, Serbia and Romania. Group Seven promises to be one of the more interesting.

Finally to Group Eight, where Italy were marginally improved in their 2-0 triumph over Georgia, Roma’s Daniele De Rossi scoring both goals. On Saturday, Antonio Di Natale netted a brace, one in added time, to edge Marcello Lippi’s side to a 2-1 victory in Larnaca, Cyprus. The Republic of Ireland are well-set to take second place (at least) after picking up four points from matches with Georgia and Montenegro (both away from home), with the Italian media taking a keen interest in Trapattoni’s progress with the Irish and the two sides scheduled to meet in April 2009.

Tags: Albania, Andorra, Antonio Di Natale, Austria, Belgium, Carlos Quieroz, Croatia, Daniele De Rossi, Denmark, England, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Germany, Giovanni Trapattoni, Greece, Israel, Italy, Joachim Loew, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Marcello Lippi, Northern Ireland, Otto Rehhagel, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Romania, Scotland, Serbia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, Wales, World Cup 2010

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