With 27 World Cup qualifying matches in one day, we’ll do our best to keep track of the most important results and the repercussions here. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty)
Mexico Beats Honduras 1-0, Improves World Cup Standing
While Mexico’s 1-0 win over Honduras at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca helps their World Cup chances tremendously, it does not clinch their spot completely.
The win does however greatly hurt Costa Rica’s chances, as they now slip into fourth place, and will likely have to face Argentina in the playoff for the one World Cup berth battled for by both the fourth place CONCACAF country (North America) and the fifth place CONMEBOL squad (South America).
Read Article >Things Go From Bad to Worse: Argentina Loses to Paraguay
Argentina is soccer royalty. Two-time winners of the World Cup; 14 appearances; names like Batistuta, Maradona and most recently, Lionel Messi. Which is what makes it all the more shocking that they are dangerously close to missing the 2010 World Cup.
In a qualifying match Wednesday night, Paraguay defeated Argentina, 1-0, thanks to a goal in the 27th minute off the foot of Nélson Haedo Váldez. The win means Paraguay is going to South Africa. The loss means Argentina is probably not. Albicelestes is now fifth in the South American group standings which would send them into a two-leg playoff against the CONCACAF’s fourth-placed team. With just two matches left (against Peru and Uruguay), things are not looking for Maradona’s squad.
Read Article >US Sneaks by Trinidad & Tobago, 1-0
It wasn’t exactly a dominant performance, and it certainly wasn’t pretty, but it was a win, and a full 3 points for the Americans Wednesday night as they downed Trinidad & Tobago in Port of Spain. Ricardo Clark’s goal in the 61st minute proved to be the difference, and all the United State needed. From Sports Illustrated’s Grant Wahl, a man who knows much more about soccer than me:
The U.S. played a brutal first half, losing possession easily (often without much pressure at all) and letting T&T have the three best chances of the first 45. Not much improved in the second half, either, but Landon Donovan’s penetrating run down the left side created space for him to lay off to Ricardo Clark, who has shown in the past that he can shoot from distance.The U.S. is now leading their qualifying group with 16 points, and is great position to qualify for South Africa.
Read Article >France Earns Tie in Belgrade, Delays Serbia’s Qualification
A goal by France’s Thierry Henry in the 31st minute tied the game at 1-1, where it stayed.
Serbia, still on the edge of making their first World Cup since emerging from Yugoslavia, remains in first place in Group 7. They still hold a four-point lead on second-place France.
Read Article >England Qualifies With 5-1 Drubbing of Croatia
England became the second European team (after the Netherlands) to qualify for the 2010 World Cup by beating Croatia 5-1 in London on Wednesday.
England improved to 8-0 in World Cup qualifying with the win, clinching first place in UEFA Group Six by crushing second place Croatia 5-1 in Wembley Stadium.
Read Article >Previewing Wednesday’s Huge Day of World Cup Qualifying
England, Serbia, Slovakia, and Denmark could all successfully make it out of Europe to qualify for the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa with wins Wednesday.
While most of the action is in Europe, there’s big matches to be played west of the Atlantic as well, with both the USA and Paraguay looking to lock down spots vs. Trinidad & Tobago and Argentina, respectively.
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