World Cup 2010: Qualifying Round Underway

Thursday, September 11, 2008 at 12:44 pm

LONDON: South Africa will host the Football World Cup in 2010 while qualifying round is underway to be part of this world’s mega-sporting event.

Teenager Theo Walcott scored a hat-trick as England beat Croatia 4-1 in Zagreb on Wednesday. Miroslav Klose also hit a hat-trick for Germany but his goals only salvaged a 3-3 draw for a side who were just seven minutes from losing to Finland for the first time in 85 years.

In an other match, France beat Serbia by 2-1 in Paris. Most of the other teams expected to reach the 2010 World Cup in South Africa came through the second round of qualifiers in five days unscathed.

World champions Italy beat Georgia 2-0 in Udine and World Cup runners-up France beat Serbia 2-1 in Paris. European champions Spain maintained their perfect start in Group Five with a 4-0 win over Armenia in Albacete.

There was an amazing finale in Lisbon where Denmark beat Portugal 3-2 with four of the five goals in the match scored between the 83rd minute and the second minute of stoppage time.

Nani put Portugal ahead after 42 minutes, Nicklas Bendtner made it 1-1 after 83 minutes before Deco put Portugal ahead with an 86th minute penalty. Christian Poulsen equalised after 89 minutes before Daniel Jensen won it for the Danes in the second minute of stoppage time.

Italy, who beat Cyprus 2-1 away on Saturday, scored a second successive win in Group Eight by beating Georgia 2-0 in Udine, Daniele De Rossi scoring twice. France got their first points in Group Seven following Saturday’s shock 3-1 defeat by Austria, beating Serbia 2-1 in Paris with goals from Thierry Henry and Nicolas Anelka. Despite their draw in Finland, Germany still top Group Four, a point ahead of Russia and Wales.

Saudi Arabia beat UAE while Qatar and Behrain matched ended in draw. Similarly, Australia started its campaign with a win over Uzbekistan.