FIVE OUT OF FIVE - JUST!

 

 

Well the last time England went up against Ukraine was a friendly at St James' Park back in '04. Sven was the man in charge, can't remember where I watched it but the bottom line is, we won 3-0 which is an impressive result. We'd never faced the Ukraine in a competitive setting before now though but prior to striking out on their own, they had contributed players to the shortlived CIS side and before that, were part of the Soviet Union. The last time we faced them in a competitive match was when they beat us 3-1 in a Euro 88 Group B match at the Waldstadion. The last time we beat them in a competitive match was in a Euro 68 third placed playoff which we won 2-0 at the Stadio Olimpico.

Well, I was now back home in Exeter and that meant going down the Walkabout to watch this 2010 World Cup UEFA qualifying group 6 match at Wembley. We'd certainly showed promise in the Slovakia game but when the draw was made, Ukraine were certainly one of the teams that made the group look tough and even given our unbeaten qualifying record under Capello, it was certain to be a tough match. Still, three points were expected. England went 4-4-1-1. Terry and Rio were in central defence, Rooney as support striker and Crouch making his first appearance of the Capello era up front due to most of our other strikers getting crocked.

Ukraine may have had the first serious chance of the match but it wasn't long before England were attacking themselves but neither side could get an early goal. England gradually emerged at the better side though and were just looking for a breakthrough. That came in the 29th minute when a Lampard corner found Terry who steered the ball into Crouch's path and the Portsmouth assasin was soon doing the robot after hitting home from close range. England certainly didn't look like losing the lead before half time and though there were certainly some nervy moments, the scoreline said that what niggles there were in our play weren't overly damaging.

The second half started out pretty close and the Ukraine managment looked to get the edge by bringing out a high profile sub. Luckilly for us, we had one of our own available. England continued to have some good moment but couldn't hit the net or look like dominating the game and in the end, they looked like they'd pay when the Three Lions defenders didn't know what to do with a 74th minute Ukraine freekick and Andriy Shevchenko slammed the ball in the net like the assasin of old. It looked as though the wheels had come off the express route to South Africa...untill Becks crossed to Terry in the 83rd minute and the team's captain headed in the winner.

Elsewhere, Croatia faced Andorra at the Estadio Communal. Ivan Klasnic opened the scoring for the visitors and Eduardo grabbed a second goal with the Balkan side expecting to destroy their non-professional opponents. Croatian hooligans threw flares on to the ground during the match but Slaven Bilic's biggest problem was his team's lack of bite. His guys ran the show in the second half but weren't able to score any more goals. That leaves England top of the group, five points ahead of second placed Croatia and on course for South Africa. The only question now has to be, 'when' are we going to secure our World Cup spot? It could be earlier than ever.

In UEFA qualifying group 9, Scotland faced Iceland at Hampden Park. Making up for their bad performance on the weekend, the Scots ran the show early on and Ross McCormack hit the net with the visitors only providing a limited threat. That was until Indridi Sigurdsson grabbed an equaliser and after that it would have been a very nervous time to be a Scottish fan. Steven Fletcher hit the winner though and George Burley's crew grabbed three points in their most crucial match so far. That moves Scotland up to second in the group and a spot in the playoff mixer. They lie eight points behind the Netherlands and a spot in South Africa but three points ahead of Iceland and non-qualification.

 

In UEFA qualifying group 4 Wales faced Germany at the Millenium Stadium. Michael Ballack opened the scoring for the Germans but the Welsh were certainly looking to make amends for earlier dissapointments and looked well up for a rumble. However when Ashley Williams put the ball in his own net, things didn't look so good. The Welsh still had their chances to pull a goal back, but at the end of the match the Germans were just cruising, no surprises here to be honest. Wales remain 4th in the group, but there are six points adrift of Russia and a spot in the playoff mixer and it's the Russians with a game in hand. It's still doable for the Welsh but things are not looking good.

In UEFA qualifying group 3, Northern Ireland faced Slovenia at Windsor Park. The first half looked to be a relatively dull affair and if anything, Slovenia had the edge if anything but neither side could score though NI were riding their luck. That changed in the second half whick started out a lot more active and then Warren Feeney hit the net for NI, sending Belfast beserk once again for their team's fourth qualifying win in a row. Amazingly, that still leaves NI top of the group, one point ahead of neaerest competition Slovakia and on course for South Africa. And yet still Slovakia have two games in hand. Still, the team that is theoretically the weakest national team in the British Isles could yet taste glory.

In UEFA qualifying group 8, the Republic of Ireland faced Italy at the San Nicola stadium. Vicenzo Iaquinta opened the scoring for the Azzurri despite the home side having gone down to ten men by that point. The Irish were still doing most of the attacking before half time though, and that trend continued into the second half but it seemed that the Italians would succsessfully shut up shop, untill Robbie Keane grabbed a late equaliser. That result leaves the Irish still second in the group and on course for the playoff mixer, two points behind Italy and a spot in South Africa but five points ahead of Bulgaria and non-qualification. So far, very impressive.

So now we come to the playoff mixer, which currently is made up of the following teams. Hungary, Switzerland, Slovakia, Russia, Bosnia, Croatia, France, Republic of Ireland and Scotland. Well the main team of interest in that batch is Scotland, slight problem, they currently lie 9th in this virtual group, three points behind 8th placed side France and so are not going to qualify sas things stand. The Republic of Ireland though are five points ahead of the Scotland but even so, have slipped down to 6th place in the virtual table. That still means they're on course for the playoffs, though it might mean qualification could yet be relatively tough.

So, two British Isles teams(one of them England) are on course for South Africa with a third team in the playoffs. Very nice.

Now back to a nervy Premiership campaign.

Click here to visit the football archive

Comments get emailed here

Click here to return to sports homepage

Click here to return to Matt G's homepage