Five more Euro teams on brink of 2010 World Cup
Wednesday, 9 September 2009
LONDON, Sept 8 (AP): Spain and England are among five European teams that can secure spot in the 2010 World Cup on Wednesday.
France could be left with just the playoffs and Portugal may be all but out.
Serbia, Denmark and Slovakia can also advance, although the Danes and Slovakians need a win coupled with other results going their way.
European champion Spain hosts Estonia in Merida and will be confident of winning for the eighth time in eight Group 5 games. The Spaniards will qualify if second-place Bosnia-Herzegovina fails to beat Turkey at home.
Favorites with the British bookmakers to win the World Cup for the first time, the Spaniards are six points ahead of the Bosnians, who have a four-point advantage over the Turks.
Vicente del Bosque's star-studded Spain is an overwhelming favorite to beat Estonia, which is next-to-last in the group, while the Bosnians go into their game knowing Turkey will be only a point behind with a victory in Zenica.
England can also make it eight out of eight in Group 6 with a home victory over Croatia, and that would mean a place in South Africa next year. It would also finally heal the pain of failing to reach Euro 2008 by losing 3-2 at home to Croatia under Steve McClaren.
Now under the guidance of Fabio Capello, England is much stronger and beat the Croats 4-1 in Zagreb a year ago.
"He has brought belief back to the fans and to the players," Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder David Beckham said on Monday. "That's what we needed to get back and to be playing the football that we know we can play."
France could be left with just the playoffs and Portugal may be all but out.
Serbia, Denmark and Slovakia can also advance, although the Danes and Slovakians need a win coupled with other results going their way.
European champion Spain hosts Estonia in Merida and will be confident of winning for the eighth time in eight Group 5 games. The Spaniards will qualify if second-place Bosnia-Herzegovina fails to beat Turkey at home.
Favorites with the British bookmakers to win the World Cup for the first time, the Spaniards are six points ahead of the Bosnians, who have a four-point advantage over the Turks.
Vicente del Bosque's star-studded Spain is an overwhelming favorite to beat Estonia, which is next-to-last in the group, while the Bosnians go into their game knowing Turkey will be only a point behind with a victory in Zenica.
England can also make it eight out of eight in Group 6 with a home victory over Croatia, and that would mean a place in South Africa next year. It would also finally heal the pain of failing to reach Euro 2008 by losing 3-2 at home to Croatia under Steve McClaren.
Now under the guidance of Fabio Capello, England is much stronger and beat the Croats 4-1 in Zagreb a year ago.
"He has brought belief back to the fans and to the players," Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder David Beckham said on Monday. "That's what we needed to get back and to be playing the football that we know we can play."