SWEDEN, TURKEY AND CROATIA OUT; FRANCE, PORTUGAL FACE WORLD CUP PLAYOFF
Andrew Lawn – AHN Sports Correspondent
HN
October 14, 2009 5:41 p.m. EST
Lars Lagerback’s long reign as Sweden manager came to a disappointing
end on Wednesday when his side became one of a number of high profile
World Cup casualties.
Sweden, beat Albania 4-1, however Portugal’s 4-0 win over Malta
condemned them to elimination.
Portugal celebrated, despite finishing runners-up to group 1 winners
Denmark, forcing them into the playoffs will be deemed, by many,
a failure.
Group 2 saw Switzerland confirm its place in South Africa with a 0-0
home draw with Israel.
That result coupled with Greece’s 2-1 win over Luxembourg, saw Israel
and Latvia knocked out, with the Greeks going into the play-offs.
Slovakia delighted their fans by topping Group 3 and sailing into
the World Cup.
Neighbours Slovenia will join them if they can continue their
impressive form of beating sides with bigger reputations.
Its second place finish sees the Czech Republic and Poland’s World
Cup hopes extinguished.
Group 4 had been wrapped up on Saturday when Germany went to Russia
and won 1-0, seeing the visitors off to South Africa, while the hosts
enter the playoffs.
Spain wrapped up group 5 along time before Wednesday, winning all 10
of its matches.
Bosnia go into the playoffs despite being trounced 5-2 by Spain,
and Turkey beating Armenia in a game which meant more than qualifying
points to the respective nations.
England were another side who had long sealed their place in next
summer;s tournament, and wrapped up group 6 with a 3-0 home win
over Belarus.
Ukraine pipped Croatia to the playoff spot, seeing England’s former
victors becoming the victims.
Group 7 saw another shock as Serbia travel to South Africa as group
winners while former world champions France will go into the playoffs.
Current world champions Italy will defend their crown next summer
after topping group 8.
The Republic of Ireland finished second to claim their playoff place.
The Neth alify having won group 9 with matches to spare.
Norway finished second, but are unlucky in that they are the worst
second place side out of all 9 groups and are thus eliminated.
The draw for the World Cup Finals groups take place in Cape Town
in December.