On Saturday night, Russia defeated Slovenia 2-1 in the first leg of their World Cup Playoff, in
Russia. Russia had gone 2-0 up, thanks to a double from Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, however Slovenia
scored in the 88th minute with a goal from Nejc Pecnik, that has kept the Slovenians alive in the
tie, especially with a crucial away goal.
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The UEFA 2011 U-21 European Championships are less than a few years away as the qualification
process is underway. On Tuesday, November 17, 2009 there are several matches including France,
England, Northern Ireland, and Italy all in action. Some of the matches will be covered live on our
other site, Free Live Sports TV, at the links below.
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Monday 16th November
19:45 Coleraine v Glenavon, IFA Premiership, Sky Sports 1 & HD1
Not much to talk about this week. The last knockings of World Cup qualifying is underway with
precious little local interest. So instead, Sky have wheeled out this rare gem from Northern
Ireland.
Tuesday 17th November
19:45 Northern Ireland v Czech Republic, U21 International , Sky Sports 1& HD1
This is a European Championship Qualifier.
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There are two international friendlies on Sunday, November 15, 2009 which included Iraq v
Azerbaijan and United Arab Emirates v Czech Republic. None of these teams have qualified for the
2010 World Cup. The matches will be covered live at our other sites, Free Live Sports TV, at the
links below.
Iraq v Azerbaijan LIVE International Friendly Sunday, November 15, 2009 12:45 GMT, 07:45 EST
United Arab Emirates v Czech Republic LIVE International Friendly Sunday, November 15, 2009
15:30 GMT, 10:30 EST
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The superb website Mirko Bolesan, named after an Italian midfielder who enjoyed a single appearance
for Cardiff City a few years ago, is a great port of call for an assessment of some of football's
oddities. Amongst the varied topics discussed can be counted a masterly account of 2009-10 kit
sponsors, club badges (didn't we call them "crests" in the seventies?
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Saturday 14 November
07.00 New Zealand v Bahrain, World Cup Qualifying Play-off 2nd Leg (0-0), British Eurosport
A treat for early risers to decide the 24th qualifier for next summer's World Cup. A goalless first
leg sees the All Whites as narrow favourites to progress. Bahrain haven't relied on Brazialian
ringers for their success (unlike their neighbours) and fully deserve their shot at getting to the
finals.
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The old state of Czechoslovakia was prominent in world football and had contested two world cup
finals, in 1934 and 1962. The Czech breakup spawned two new countries – Czech Republic and
Slovakia. Czech Republic maintained a degree of success but South Africa 2010 will be Slovakia's
first major finals .
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WVHooligan 23 October @ 01:59 PM EST
The US national team is already headed to Denmark in November and could possibly play another
World Cup qualified side a few days later. While the US hasn't announced it's second friendly for
November, reports out of Europe suggest that the Americans will take on Slovakia on Nov. 14.
Slovakia qualified for the World Cup after topping a qualifying group that included Slovenia,
the Czech Republic and Poland.
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The U.S. national team has yet to announce a second November friendly to go along with its match
against Denmark, but reports out of Europe, including this one out of Slovakia, suggest that the
Americans will take on Slovakia on Nov. 14.
Slovakian national team head coach Vladimir Weiss is quoted confirming the USA friendly in
Slovakia, but U.
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The U.S. national team has yet to announce a second November friendly to go along with its match
against Denmark, but reports out of Europe, including this one out of Slovakia, suggest that the
Americans will take on Slovakia on Nov. 14.
Slovakian national team head coach Vladimir Weiss is quoted confirming the USA friendly in
Slovakia, but U.
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Briefly, I thought I would highlight a few of the best squads in the European bracket that will
not play in next years World Cup in South Africa. It is never fun to be a team with a reservation
in Heartbreak Hotel, but at least these teams will get a brief vacation this summer. Plus it
beats making it there with great expectations and then losing in the finals.
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The FIFA World Rankings were released today with little change in the top ten. The one exception
is Russia dropping several spots, and Portugal moving into the top 10. The top 2 remain unchanged
with Brazil on top and Spain close behind. The rest of the top ten is the Netherlands, Italy,
Germany, Argentina, England, Croatia, France, and Portugal.
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See The Cup 16 October @ 02:39 PM EST
There still 9 spots left for the World Cup. But one thing is for sure: 32 is not enough for the
number of cool nations around. We are still months away from the World Cup, but here are nations
that we already miss. And the reason we miss them? Some of them,at some point in some edition of
the tournament, played nice football.
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The Czech Republic's fate rested in the hands of San Marino who were unable to prevent Slovenia
from winning and rendered this game meaningless.
Don't forget to check out Online Football Manager!
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Unless if Gabon or Bahrain qualify, it looks we'll only have one debutante at the World Cup next
summer.
Slovakia is in for the first time since they split from the Czech Republic. An own goal by Poland's
Seweryn Gancarczyk early in the first half was enough for the Slovaks to break through in snowy
Warsaw.
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Off the Post 14 October @ 05:44 AM EST
Tabloid offers pretty low reward for pretty impossible task The Czech Republic recognises that its
chances of qualifying for the World Cup are pretty bleak. They need to beat Northern Ireland
tonight and hope that minnows San Marino can beat Slovenia to allow them to sneak into a play-off
spot. Czech newspaper Blesk is offering San [.
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It doesn't look as though Peter Crouch's lack of games for Tottenham is affecting his World Cup
chances an awful lot. Capello is starting the big man against Belarus tonight alongside Gabriel
Agbonlahor in the absence of Wayne Rooney.
I've always expected Crouch to be in Capello's World Cup squad because he gives the Italian
options.
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Thanks to 101 Great Goals for unearthing this. Yet more evidence that the Czech
Republic midfielder is getting back to full fitness.
Don't forget to check out Online Football Manager!
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goalpost.tv 12 October @ 03:24 PM EST
.The Czech Republic got a 2-0 victory over Poland on Oct 10 in a home match at Sparta Stadium. The
first half of the match was uneventful. In the first half goalkeeper, Peter Cech saved a closed one
to one shot by Irenuesz Jelen in the 33 rd minute. After a few minutes, a goal [...]
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Man United central defender
Jonny Evans has pulled out of the Northern Ireland squad
to play the Czech Republic due to injury.
Evans was due to play for N.I in Prague this Wednesday night but he has been forced to go back to
Manchester.
*Update* Evans has pulled out because of an ankle injury.
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Setanta has first airs of the following World Cup Qualifiers: Ireland - Italy at 3:30pm, Czech
Republic - Poland at 5:15pm, and Serbia - Romania at 7pm. MFL on Univisions: San Luis - Atlante at
5pm. Argentine League on Fox Sports en Espanol: River - Independiente at 7pm.
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By the end of the weekend, we'll probably have a much better idea of who will joining the
countries who have already qualified for South Africa, who will be in the play offs and which (if
any) of the major footballing powers will be watching England on TV. Here's a quick guide to the
various scenarios that will be played out around the world today:
EUROPE
Group 1: wide open.
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Avenell Road 10 October @ 03:43 AM EST
On a weekend of International football, I am glad that around nine months ago Robin had his oats
and will be at home with his wife while she hopefully gives birth to another little Gooner. At
least we know one player shouldn't be injured for the up and coming game against Birmingham.
Only seven more days to get through now!
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Europe's top teams are at war on the pitch this weekend in the penultimate round of qualifiers
for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa, with three top-of-the-table showdowns as well as with
another three potentially decisive encounters.
All together, thirteen teams will represent Europe in South Africa next year, but so far, only the
Netherlands, Spain, and England have sealed their places for the World Cup finals.
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Quick look at the most meaningful World Cup qualifiers Saturday. Home teams first, all times
Eastern, all predictions wrong.
ASIA/OCEANIABahrain-New Zealand (11:30 a.m., FSC). First leg of a playoff to send a team to the World Cup that
will excite no one.
EUROPE (second-to-last group games unless noted -- group winners advance, eight
runners-up advance to playoff)
Group 1: Portugal-Hungary (3:40 p.
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It's hard to be excited about the game against the Czech Republic. Virtually, we've got no
chances of qualifying to the World Cup, the new coach Stefan Majewski isn't the person people want
to see leading the national team and the fans are more preoccupied with boycotting the game against
Slovakia than watching the one against the Czechs.
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John Terry (C): Yawning during meaningless match in Ukraine
Just in case you find yourself in a "which is better" debate with a Serie A or La Liga fan
during the international break, here are a few Premier League players who will captain their
countries on the weekend.
John Terry: Ukraine v.
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Thierry Henry is a footballer who is not used to failure but France's place at the World Cup in
South Africa next summer is in no way guaranteed. Les Bleus trail group seven leaders Serbia by
four points with just two games remaining and it is starting to look increasingly likely they will
have to get through a play-off to secure their spot at the World Cup.
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In Europe, three teams have already won their World Cup qualifying groups, earning passage to South
Africa. After Saturday's action we will have a good idea who will win five of the other groups,
with only Group 2 likely to remain in the balance. By the time Wednesday's final round of
qualifying kicks off, Denmark, Italy, Serbia and Slovakia could be booking plane tickets to South
Africa, along with the winner of Russia and Germany.
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FIFA doesn't easily forgive or forget when it comes to World Cup seedings.
If the U.S. goes to South Africa next year, hanging over its head will be losses to Germany, Iran
and Yugoslavia (1998) and to the Czech Republic and Ghana (2006). And, even should the U.S. remain
high in the FIFA rankings and win the CONCACAF qualifying group, it has almost no chance of being
selected as a seeded team.
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No new contract on the table yet.
Tomas Rosicky has revealed that he has not held talks with Arsenal over extending his
contract beyond the end of the season.
The Czech Republic international has only recently returned following a 20-month absence after
suffering a series of complications with a hamstring injury.
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Sebastian Przyrowski, Lukasz Piszczek, Tomasz Jodlowiec, Rafal Murawski and Ebi Smolarek didn't
make the squad's final cut for the games against the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The first three
were eliminated due to injuries while the latter two because they don't play regularly. Murawski at
least doesn't play at a decent club (Russian champions); as for Ebi.
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See The Cup 05 October @ 01:18 PM EST
It was a good day for the young generation of Italian players at FIFA's U20 World Cup. The
Azzurri beat Spain 3:1 and sent the opponents home. La Furia had 10 men on the pitch and could not
hold Italy's strength. With Italy desperately needing renovation in its current squad this is
surely looking good.
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The US was eliminated today from the U-20 World Cup being held in Egypt. With only three points
and a minus three goal differential after a win against Cameroon and losses to Germany and Korea
Republic, the U.S. needed certain results in Group E today to go their way.
With Brazil defeating Australia, U.
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