I’m too poor for such things, and thus settled for frantic refreshing of livescore.com to keep pace most of the time. Heading into Wednesday’s return legs, there’s still plenty of play for, although a lot of the anticipation and excitement for upsets was neutered. Still, underdogs take heart: just look at what Egypt managed and don’t give up just yet!
Russia 2, Slovenia 1 This one nerved me slightly, as I’d been talking up Russian chances as darkhorse next summer. There’s very little about their team I can find fault with; though their 2nd-half undressing by Spanish hands in the Euro ’08 quarter-finals gave cause for concern, I still rate them highly as the soon-to-be trendy outsider pick. If they hadn’t been in a qualifying group with Germany, they’d have booked their tickets with ease, though there’s a saying about Grandma and balls that applies here. Ifs and buts are candied nuts too, one reckons, but they did boss the home leg against the plucky Slovenes, although a late away goal will make the trip to Maribor extremely nervy indeed. And I wonder how important Igor Akinfeev’s brilliant save might be in the final outcome.
Nice goals from Everton winger Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, too, though having digested the replay, Sergei Semak wasn’t nearly as sharp as they need him to be.
Portugal 1, Bosnia and Herzegovina 0 The one I hoped would swing the other way, and it didn’t. A Ronaldo-less Portugal scraped by in the home leg, a neatly-taken header by Bruno Alves proving the difference. It was one of their only chances on goal, and the Bosnians hit the bar and the post late on, but it’s all to do in Zenica. Sadly, the Bosnians will be doing it without three of their key players thanks to suspensions – no Spahic, Rahimic or Muratovic on Wednesday.
Greece 0, Ukraine 0
Could they just eliminate both these teams and give the extra WC slot to Bosnia?
Republic of Ireland 0, France 1
It was to be expected. I did catch most of the 2nd half via some internet feed, and was disheartened to witness a fluid, thoroughly deserving performance by Domenech’s men under difficult conditions at Croke Park. The goal may have taken a thick deflection off St. Ledger’s leg/heel, but it was a deserved result. This one is finished when you consider the Irish aren’t great away from home and tend to play the kind of draw-seeking footy that will not help one bit in Paris.
Costa Rica 0, Uruguay 1
This one’s done. The Ticos won’t win in Montevideo.
Egypt 2, Algeria 0
What. A. Result. Check out the 96th minute goal, and think about how insane the winner-take-all playoff game on Wednesday, in Sudan no less, will be.
Portugal completely outclassed Bosnia and should have scored at least 3 or 4. They controlled the game for long stretches and were constantly threatening. Bosnia looked unable to link an attack together (except for late in the first half, when they looked great). They did get 2 great opportunities due to defensive lapses, but couldn’t make them count. Portugal should have had a comfortable lead going into the 2nd leg if not for sloppy finishing.
Have it here. Just wish it was in HD.
I won a free month of Setanta-i. It’s not too bad, although they don’t have rights to show CL games online, which diminshes the value a little bit.
I’m pretty about halfway through the Egyptian announces says the equivalent of “Havlicek stole the ball.”
Nice to see Egypt’s goalkeeper again, my last memory of him was seeing him get kicked in the face during the Confederations Cup.
I believe the translation of the call is:
“It’s up for grabs now….Moteab! Right at the end!”
But my Arabic is rusty.
Damn the French.
Portugal completely outclassed Bosnia and should have scored at least 3 or 4. They controlled the game for long stretches and were constantly threatening. Bosnia looked unable to link an attack together (except for late in the first half, when they looked great). They did get 2 great opportunities due to defensive lapses, but couldn’t make them count. Portugal should have had a comfortable lead going into the 2nd leg if not for sloppy finishing.
to witness a fluid, thoroughly deserving performance by Domenech’s men under difficult conditions
Who are you, and what have you done with James?
@NYK: I honestly thought you had written this post until I saw your comment.