Liverpool players didn't fair too well today in their various international World Cup Qualifying matches:
- Steven Gerrard & Jamie Carragher were part of the England team that suffered one of the most humiliating setbacks in their history as a David Healy goal earned Northern Ireland a shock 1-0 win in a World Cup qualifier in Belfast. On-loan LFC keeper Chris Kirkland was an unused sub on the bench, while Stephen Warnock failed to make the squad.
England now trail Poland, who are top and 5 points clear with one more game played than England. The two team will meet in the final group game. England will need to beat Austria and Poland to qualify top, anything less will see England in a play-off spot (which is secure). Liverpool's Jersy Dudek is expected to have recovered from injury in time to play that final game. - John Arne Riise was part of the Norway team that lost to Scotland, which has really blown apart the race for the second spot in Group 5.
Norway are still in second spot, but now they lie a virtually insurmountable 5 points behind leaders Italy and in joint second with Slovenia, their victors today are a mere two points adrift and still in with a shout of making the play-offs. (England v Scotland anyone?) - Xabi Alonso and his Spanish team were held to a 1-1 draw in Spain by Serbia and Montenegro. Jose "Pepe" Reina and Luis Garcia were on the bench, while Morientes pick-up an injury before the game and was unable to play.
Group seven is wide open, where Spain now lie second behind today's adversaries, just two points adrift but also only 1 and 3 points clear of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Belgium (respectively), the later who they play next and must beat, before taking on minnows San Marino in the final group game. - Sami Hyypia's Finland destroyed fellow Group One competitor 5-1, but a win by Old Boy Milan Baros' Czech Republic side have now made the unlikely now impossible as Finland have no chance of qualifying for next years finals.
- Djibril Cisse was a late second-half substitute for France as they beat unused substitute Steve Finnan's Republic of Ireland 1-0 in Dublin.
France are should be all but through from Group four which they jointly lead with Switzerland (their next opponents), before facing Cyprus in their final group game. The Republic must hope that France win their next game while they dispose of Cyprus, to have any chance of qualifying by beating Switzerland in the final game. However, anything less than two wins by the Republic and two points by France will see Israel (who only have Group 4 whipping boys, the Faroe Islands to beat) qualify ahead of them, along with the Swiss.
Most likely outcomes:
Group 1: Sami Hyypia's Finland are already out.
Group 4: Cisse's France should qualify from Group 4, either as automatic qualifiers or in the play-offs. Finnan's Republic of Ireland is a little more unsure, as long as France beat Switzerland, they should have a good chance of beating the Swiss on home soil.
Group 5: Should see Riise's Norway advance (most likely though the playoffs) as they only have two games against bottom teams Belarus and Moldova, Meanwhile Scotland and Slovenia must face each other in the final game, this after Slovenia have played Italy. For Scotland to qualify ahead of Norway, Norway would have to fail to win one of their two remaining games, while Slovenia would have to beat Italy and Scotland by greater goal margins than the Norwegians do in the final two games - both scenarios are extremely unlikely.
Group 6: England are assured at least a play-off spot, but will need to beat both Poland and Austria, to secure top spot and automatic qualification. Both games are at home and England will have a better than fair chance of going top after the final game.
Group 7: As long as they can overcome fellow challengers Belgium in their next game, Spain should qualify with their last game against lowly San Marino. Serbia and Montenegro home game to Bosnia-Herzegovina will determine whether they finish top or in a play-off spot.
Predictions:
Group 1: No "Last Hurrah" World Cup for Sami.
Group 4: Cisse will sing from the top of the group.
Finnan will be spending his summer on the beach.
Group 5: A play-off spot for Riise.
Group 6: Gerrard, Carragher, Kirkland, Crouch and Warnock will top the group.
Jersey will hope for a easy play-off opponent.
Group 7: The class of Xabi, Garcia and Jose, should bring Spain to the top, but Serbian strength will break their hearts and send them to the play-offs.
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