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Friday October 16, 2009

Portugal book play-off berth, Switzerland and Slovakia seal Finals spots

PARIS: Star-studded Portugal kept their World Cup hopes alive on Wednesday by booking a back-door play-off place while unheralded Switzerland and Slovakia completed the nine automatic European qualifiers.

Portugal, without injured Cristiano Ronaldo, defeated Malta 4-0 in Guimaraes with Nani, Simao, Miguel and Edinho making sure of second spot behind Group One winners Denmark, but ahead of Sweden, who missed out on qualification despite beating Albania 4-1.

While Portugal, who were 2006 World Cup semi-finalists, can look forward to a two-legged play-off, Sweden and their €69mil Barcelona striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic will watch next summer’s South African showpiece from home.

Swiss-roll: Switzerland players celebrating after holding Israel to a 0-0 draw at the St Jakob-Park Stadium in Basel on Wednesday to seal their place in next year’s World Cup Finals.

Portugal had endured a terrible start to their campaign, winning just two of their first seven games and at one stage registering three back-to-back goalless draws.

But Sweden’s 1-0 defeat to Denmark on Saturday allowed them to move into second place, and Wednesday’s win meant they joined seven other sides in the draw for the two-legged European play-offs, which take place in November.

“For sure some points lost at home made life difficult for us but the important thing is that we made it and now we have to prepare for these two finals,” said Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz.

Slovakia qualified for their first World Cup Finals after a 1-0 win against Poland secured their place as Group Three winners.

An own-goal from Polish defender Seweryn Gancarczyk after just three minutes set Slovakia on the way to their first major Finals since the country’s split with Czechoslovakia in 1993.

Head over heels: Portugal’s Nani goes airborne to celebrate after scoring against Malta during their World Cup qualifying match on Wednesday. Portugal won 4-0 to book a place in the play-offs. — AP

Slovenia saw off San Marino 3-0 to make sure of a play-off spot.

Switzerland made their German coach Ottmar Hitzfeld’s dream come true as a tense 0-0 draw against Israel in Basel made sure of top spot in Group Two.

The Swiss clinched the group with 21 points, with Greece, who beat Luxembourg 2-1, finishing one point behind and securing a play-off spot.

“It’s another success for me and a dream being fulfilled, it’s a present that Switzerland has given me,” former Bayern Munich coach Hitzfeld said.

England, who had already wrapped up Group Six, recovered from Saturday’s 1-0 defeat in Ukraine to beat Belarus 3-0 at Wembley with Peter Crouch (2) and Shaun Wright-Phillips grabbing the goals.

Crouch has now scored 16 times in 17 starts for the national team.

Ukraine booked a play-off place with a 6-0 drubbing of Andorra, a result which meant Croatia were eliminated despite beating Kazakhstan 2-1 in Astana. Alexei Mikhailichenko’s Ukraine finished on 21 points, one ahead of Croatia.

European champions Spain, who will be one of the favourites in South Africa, finished their Group Five campaign with a 100% record after a 5-2 win against Bosnia-Herzegovina, who were already assured of the runners-up spot.

First-half goals from Gerard Pique and David Silva, a second-half brace from Alvaro Negredo, on his first start, and a late strike by Juan Mata ensured home Spain’s 10th win.

Elsewhere, world champions Italy needed a late hat-trick by Alberto Gilardino to secure a 3-2 win over Cyprus who had led 2-0 at one stage. — AFP

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