European powerhouses face easy opponents in World Cup qualifying
AP Worldstream
Jun 07, 2005
CHRIS LEHOURITES
Perennial European powerhouses Spain, the Netherlands, Portugal and
the Czech Republic can significantly boost their chances of qualifying
for the 2006 World Cup finals with wins against relatively easy
opponents Wednesday.
The most competitive of the 13 scheduled matches is likely to be
European champion Greece against visiting Ukraine, however.
The former Soviet Republic can just about guarantee itself a spot in
the final tournament with a win, while the Greeks will be looking to
extend their seven-match unbeaten run and keep themselves ahead of
Turkey in the standings.
The two teams drew 1-1 in their first meeting in Kiev in October.
Ukraine leads Group 2 with 20 points, and Greece is second with
15. Turkey, which visits Kazakhstan, is third with 13 points.
The eight European group winners and the best two second-place teams
qualify directly for the World Cup finals in Germany. The other six
runners-up play off for three more spots.
The Netherlands, which visits Finland in Group 1, made some changes to
its squad Monday, dropping PSV Eindhoven midfielder Mark van Bommel
and replacing him with club teammate Phillip Cocu.
Netherlands coach Marco van Basten also dropped Jan Venegoor of
Hesselink, Andre Ooijer and Wilfred Bouma.
The Dutch team leads the Group 1 with 19 points, one more than the
Czech Republic, which hosts Macedonia.
Spain, which trails Group 7 leader Serbia-Montenegro on goal
difference with 12 points, hosts Bosnia-Herzegovina. The Spanish team
struggled in its 1-0 win over Lithuania on Saturday, however.
Portugal, which was boosted by the return of Luis Figo on Saturday in
a win over Slovakia, visits Estonia in Group 3. The first time the
Portuguese met Estonia, it took 75 minutes to break through the
defense in a 4-0 win.
“We’ll have to stay calm and patient. We need to score a goal to make
them open up a bit,” Portugal midfielder Cristiano Ronaldo said. “The
Slovakia win really lifted us. We’re motivated and feeling good.”
Also scheduled for Wednesday are Romania vs. Armenia; Denmark
vs. Albania; Latvia vs. Liechtenstein; Luxembourg vs. Slovakia; Faeroe
Islands vs. Ireland; Belarus vs. Scotland; and Iceland vs. Malta.
Ireland, which gave up two second-half goals in a 2-2 draw with Israel
on Saturday, could take over first place in Group 4 with a win.
Switzerland currently leads the group with 12 points, followed by
Israel with 11, and Ireland and France with 10 each.
Germany, which automatically qualifies as host, faces Russia in its
final warmup before the Confederations Cup.
Other group leaders, including Italy, Poland and Croatia, are
idle. The next round of European qualifying is Sept. 3.