2006 World Cup UEFA Qualifying Zone

Sean O'Conor

Group 1

Holland, the biggest football nation to miss out on the 2002 World Cup, look to be on the way to Germany after their away win in Romania kept them top and the Carpathians safely distant but the Czechs' 8-goal haul in two games keeps them only a point behind the Dutch, whom they defeated at Euro 2004.
Group 1 Results & Tables

Group 2

The Ukraine's 1-0 defeat of Denmark seems to have consigned the Danes to the quayside and gives themselves a three-point cushion at the top of the group. The second spot is currently a fight across the Bosphorus between European champions Greece, previously struggling before four successive wins pushed them up to second, and Turkey, who finished third at the last World Cup, and now sit two points behind, following a five-goal haul in Georgia. The two sides meet on the 4th of June.
Group 2 Results & Tables

Group 3

Joint group leaders Portugal and Slovakia drew 1-1 on Wednesday in Bratislava but Russia have some catching–up to do, sitting three points behind following the setback of a 1-1 draw away to Estonia.
Group 3 Results & Tables

Group 4

Reports of France's imminent fall are still ubiquitous following draws at home to Switzerland and away to Israel but they remain unbeaten and on top of their group, albeit on goal difference and having played a game more than Eire and Switzerland. With four countries separated by only one point, this group promises to be the closest fight in the region.
Group 4 Results & Tables

Group 5

Italy's 2-0 win over Scotland in the San Siro probably means another World Cup will take place without the Tartan Army but the azzurri look already there with a four-point cushion at the top. The second spot could see Slovenia make it to a second successive finals but Norway, ahead on goal difference are still in contention despite a disappointing 0-0 draw away to Moldova. Belarus, three points behind with a game in hand, also retain hopes of qualifying.
Group 5 Results & Tables

Group 6

Azerbaijan were the whipping boys for the top two this week, shipping eight goals to Poland and two to England. Eriksson's men lead the Poles by a point but Austria's back-to-back wins over Wales kept their slim hopes just alive, trailing Poland by four points. Wales and Northern Ireland are now almost certainly eliminated after losing all their games over the Easter period.
Group 6 Results & Tables

Group 7

The top two Serbia/Montenegro & Spain drew a blank in Belgrade but Lithuania missed the chance to leapfrog them with a 1-1 draw away to Bosnia. Belgium's wins over San Marino and Bosnia keep them in the hunt, two points behind.
Group 7 Results & Tables

Group 8

The final European group seems a straight scrap between Sweden and Croatia, World Cup semi-finalists in 1994 and 1998 respectively. Croatia's brace of wins keeps them top, a point ahead of Sweden, whose 3-0 win away to Bulgaria keeps the gap between second and third at four points.
Group 8 Results & Tables

Sean O'Conor

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