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Italy, England, Portugal, Dutch advance in World Cup
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-10-09 09:00
ITALY THROUGH
Italy eased though on top of Group Five with a 1-0 home win over Slovenia
courtesy of a 77th-minute Cristian Zaccardo goal - a result that also secured a
playoff slot for second-placed Norway after they beat Moldova by the same score
in Oslo.
Injured Swedish soccer star Zlatan
Ibrahimovic (R) and Croatia's substitute goalkeeper Joie Didulica laugh
before their soccer match in a group eight World Cup 2006 soccer
qualifying match between Croatia and Sweden in Zagreb October 8, 2005.
[Reuters] | Croatia reclaimed control of Group
Eight with Darijo Srna's second-half penalty securing a 1-0 home win over Sweden
and left the Croats needing a point from Wednesday's trip to Hungary to top the
group.
Sweden will also go through as at least the other best runners-up if they
beat Iceland.
Serbia & Montenegro are on the verge of qualifying after their 2-0 win
over Lithuania left them needing to beat Bosnia at home to definitely qualify,
though Spain kept up the pressure by winning 2-0 in Belgium to stay second and
Bosnia are still hopeful after beating San Marino 3-0.
Already-qualified Ukraine drew 2-2 at home with Albania but the battle for
second in Group Two will go to the final round with Turkey, European champions
Greece and Denmark still in the hunt.
Turkey (20 points), who beat Germany 2-1 in a friendly in Istanbul, remain
favourites as they will finish second if they win their final game in Albania.
Denmark beat Greece 1-0 to move to 19 points, with the Greeks on 18 and both
needing a Turkish slip to have a chance.
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