NORTHERN IRELAND LOSE GROUND AS RIVALS THRIVE
Nick Szczepanik

Times Online, UK
June 7 2007

Northern Ireland began the evening as leaders of group F but dropped
into third place after victories for Sweden, who beat Iceland 5-0 in
Solna, and Spain, who won 2-0 away to Liechtenstein.

Thomas Hitzlsperger, the former Aston Villa midfield player, scored
the winner two minutes before half-time as Germany extended their
lead in group D to five points with a 2-1 victory over Slovakia. They
are six points ahead of Ireland, who are third, and 12 ahead of
fifth-placed Wales.

Greece, the champions and leaders of group C, needed a goal five
minutes into injury time to beat Moldova 2-1, but the shock result
of the night came in group A where Poland, the leaders, were beaten
1-0 away to Armenia.

Gevorg Kasparov, the Armenia goalkeeper, made a series of saves,
and Hamlet Mkhitaryan scored the only goal after 66 minutes when he
curled a 22-yard free kick past Artur Boruc, the Celtic goalkeeper.

Poland, winners of their previous six matches, remain five points clear
as they attempt to qualify for the European Championship finals for
the first time, but they have played two games more than Portugal and
Serbia, their closest pursuers. Jonatan Johansson, the former Charlton
Athletic forward, scored the opening goal as Finland beat Belgium 2-0.