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“Theo Walcott: Unexpected Star”

Midweek World Cup 2010 Round-Up

The vast majority of European nations in the qualifying rounds for the 2010 World Cup have now played two games but there is only a handful with 6 points so far.

The amount of dropped points so far may indicate that this year’s qualifying campaign is going to be a tight one as some of the major nations have already dropped points you would think they shouldn't.

Well Done Luxembourg
However, before we start to praise the teams who have started well, it’s probably right to cast a little light on a team who hasn’t done so well.

In fact, until September 10th 2008, they hadn’t won a World Cup qualifying match since 1972, over 35 years. Switzerland were not very impressive at Euro 2008 in the summer but even the most ardent of football fans would have been hard pushed to predict a 2-1 victory for Luxembourg.

It’s unlikely to set them on the road to South Africa but you can guarantee the football fans of Luxembourg will be celebrating for a good while. You also have to wonder just how many accumulator coupons were bust by this result too. Many people would have been tempted to add this on at the end of their bet to increase their odds slightly and those that did must be feeling rather annoyed now.

Well done to Luxembourg and it can only be hoped they don’t have to wait over 35 years for their next World Cup victory.

Back to the action at the top of the table, Greece sit top of Group 2 after their 2-0 victory away to Lativa following on from their 3-0 triumph at the weekend. 5 goals scored with none lost in two games is an impressive start for a Greek side who were largely disappointing at Euro 2008 but with a group full of average teams, you would have to say that Greece already look to be in a strong position to qualify for South Africa.

Spain Still Top on Form
Group 5 sees European Championship winners sitting with 6 points after two home victories under Vincente Del Bosque. Saturdays 1-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina may not have gained the plaudits but a 4-0 thrashing of Armenia with David Villa scoring twice will have done a lot to raise Spanish confidence. With Turkey and Belgium taking points off each other in a 1-1 draw, it looks as though Spain will progress from the top of the group if they can keep their current form.

Group 6 sees two teams on full points so far but England lead Ukraine on goal difference and this is fully deserved after an amazing result away in Croatia. Obviously Croatia were the thorn in England’s side in the Euro 2008 qualifying campaign but Fabio Capello and his boys have blown all that away with this convincing and thoroughly deserved victory.

England Raise Eyebrows
Eyebrows were raised at Theo Walcott’s inclusion at the expense of David Beckham but after his hat-trick, perhaps people will realise that Mr Capello maybe knows one or two things about football.

The first half may have been a nervous occasion for England until they scored but from that moment on they were in full control. A red card which reduced Croatia to 10 men only helped England further and the late goals poured in as Wayne Rooney helped himself onto the score sheet too. Much like Sven Goran Erikkson gained praise in the England job after masterminding a 5-1 away victory over Germany, so might Capello have done himself a world of good with this 4-1 triumph over Englands recent nemesis.

Shevchenko Does It Again
Also with maximum points from two games in this group are the Ukraine and if it wasn’t for England’s stunning show in Croatia they would be earning a lot more plaudits at this moment in time. A 3-1 win in Kazakhstan with Shevchenko scoring the second goal for the away team ensures that England will be hotly pursued and the contest in Group 6 is shaping up to be a highly interesting one.

France and Romania may be in Group 7 but it is Lithuania who sit on 6 points from their two games. Saturdays stunning 3-0 triumph over Romania was followed up with a 2-0 victory over Austria, themselves coming off the back of a landmark victory over France. France and Romania returned to winning ways in their second match of the campaign but this routine victory keeps Lithuania at the top of the heap and growing in confidence before the challenges that will await them later.

Italy - 6 Points Too
Group 8 sees Italy with six points although neither of their triumphs have been marked with any greatness. It took an injury time goal to overcome Cyprus at the weekend and their second match of the campaign saw them record a drab 2-0 victory over Georgia. De Rossi got both goals of the game, the clinching coming in the last minute of regulation time with many Italian hearts starting to flutter no doubt at the thought of losing a late equalizer.

Holland and Russia also sit with maximum points but both of these teams have only played one game so far. Russia overcame Wales 2-1 with Gareth Bales missing a penalty for Wales when the score was 0-0. Holland overcame Macedonia 2-1 to ensure the Macedonians didn’t follow up their victory over Scotland by taking a more famous scalp.

Scots Bounce Back but Portugal Stumble
Scotland returned to winning ways with a 2-1 away victory in Iceland and Germany crashed back to earth after being goal happy at the weekend. Three times Finland took the lead against them but each time Klose got a goal back and the match finished 3-3 with Klose notching a hat-trick. Portugal were another team who won big at the weekend and failed to follow it up with a midweek victory. In fact, a sensational end to the game saw Portugal lose 3-2 to Denmark.

With 81 minutes on the clock, Portugal were 1-0 up but then things started going goal crazy. Denmark equalized only for a Deco penalty to put Portugal back in front with 5 minutes to go. Yet again Denmark got themselves level with a Pouslen goal on 89 minutes but anyone thinking that was the end of the scoring would have been shocked when Jensen struck a 90th minute winner for the away side.

With more international qualifiers to come in October, there is not long to wait for the next thrilling instalment of the road to South Africa 2010.

for The Silver Circle at www.footballtip.co.uk

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