There's very little that surprises us here at Inside Left Towers these days. When we first heard SFA Chief Executive Gordon Smith blithely announce only days after he sacked his national team manager that those pariahs of the Scottish game, Alan McGregor, Barry Ferguson and Kris Boyd would be eligible for selection by any [. Click to continue reading...

Almost is nothing in sport. Costa Rica played much better over 90 minutes in Montevideo than they ever did in San José, and they had Uruguay reeling toward the end, suffering as they always do, but at the final whistle it was the South Americans progressing on to South Africa and the Central Americans returning home without an official match for another 16 months. Click to continue reading...

The Football Association of Ireland or FAI has officially submitted a request to replay the 2nd leg of the UEFA 2010 World Cup Qualifying Playoffs against France on Wednesday, November 18, 2009. The match ended in controversy as France scored in extra time on a goal from William Gallas. Thierry Henry clearly had a handball before passing to Gallas for the goal but it wasn't called by the referee.

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Heartbreaking. That's all I can say about this match. Gut-wrenching, soul-wrenching, the very best kind of completely awful.

The pivot point of the match – and for the rest of time nothing else will be discussed – was Henry's unjustly-allowed goal. (Technically it was Gallas', but Henry had more than a hand in it.

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Ireland was robbed. Pure and simple. My 8-year-old daughters watched the Henry hand ball with gaping eyes. One proffered: "Just like I do in basketball!" Her sister then deadpanned: "And he was offside on the pass." Children have an amazing way of stating the truth, don't they?
In his Hall of Shame acceptance speech, Thierry Henry said: "I will be honest, it was a hand ball.

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Bad Thierry Henry. You cheated and you are the hero of all of France for it. Somewhere Michel Platini is dancing because you did it. Somewhere Sepp Blatter and the rest of FIFA are doing an Arsene Wegner impression. In Ireland your face will end up on dart boards and was the reason that children cried themselves to sleep last night. Click to continue reading...

On 19 November 1989 -- twenty years ago today -- Trinidad & Tobago and the USA met each other in Port-of-Spain for their final World Cup qualifier match for the 1990 World Cup in Italy. The circumstances and consequences of that match have made it the most important match in US soccer history, and marked the start of the modern era in American soccer. Click to continue reading...

The final 2010 World Cup spot was determined on Wednesday as Costa Rica and Uruguay played in the second leg of the CONCACAF/CONMEBOL Playoff. Uruguay had a 1-0 lead after the first leg with the second leg taking place on Wednesday, November 18, 2009. Here's a recap of that match along with video highlights.

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by TRAVIS CLARK

After three years of World Cup qualifying, the 32-team tournament field is set for next summer. Attention now turns to the December 4 draw in Cape Town, when the 32 nation field will learn their fate.

It was a hectic day across several continents as the final six spots were sewn up.

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by TRAVIS CLARK

After three years of World Cup qualifying, the 32-team tournament field is set for next summer. Attention now turns to the December 4 draw in Cape Town, when the 32 nation field will learn their fate.

It was a hectic day across several continents as the final six spots were sewn up.

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Thierry Henry helped France into the World Cup with a handball that won't soon be forgotten in Ireland (or anywhere for that matter).

Here's Henry's Diego Maradona impression:

We'll take part of the blame for jinxing Henry by running the above photo with the Wednesday Commentary post, but in the end, the French star cheated and won't live it down any time soon.

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Thierry Henry helped France into the World Cup with a handball that won't soon be forgotten in Ireland (or anywhere for that matter).

Here's Henry's Diego Maradona impression:

We'll take part of the blame for jinxing Henry by running the above photo with the Wednesday Commentary post, but in the end, the French star cheated and won't live it down any time soon.

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The UEFA 2010 World Cup Qualifying Playoffs had their second legs on Wednesday, November 18, 2009. One of the match-ups was the Republic of Ireland v France that was 0-1 after the first leg. The Irish were the clear underdog with a 0-1 deficit after the first leg and having to travel to France for the second leg.

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... But Ireland got absolutely robbed in that game against France today. Thierry Henry with the "main d'un dieu" to set up William Gallas's winning goal. Oh, and both players were offside to start the play, too.In all honest, not pull pull a Sir Alex Ferguson, but that was arguably the worst non-call I've ever seen. Click to continue reading...

In South America there are two major matches on Wednesday, November 18, 2009 with the CONCACAF/CONMEBOL 2010 World Cup Playoff and the second leg of one of the Copa Sudamericana semifinals. Our other site, Free Live Sports TV, will be providing live coverage of both of these matches at the links below.

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The UEFA 2010 World Cup Qualifying Playoffs had their second legs on Wednesday, November 18, 2009. One of the match-ups was Portugal v Bosnia-Herzegovina, where Portugal led 1-0 after the first leg. Who was able to win and advance to South Africa next summer? Here's a recap of the match along with video highlights.

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There was one spot left in the African region (CAF) for next summer's 2010 World Cup Finals heading into Wednesday, November 18, 2009. Algeria played Egypt with the winner to punch a ticket to South Africa. Here's a recap of the match along with video highlights.

Algeria defeats Egypt 1-0 Video Highlights

Algeria clinched a spot in South Africa next summer with a 1-0 win over Egypt.

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It is the last international matchday of the year and we will be treated both to some decisive World Cup qualifiers as well as some quality international friendlies.

You already know about today's qualifiers, but there are also some great friendlies, including Germany-Ivory Coast, Italy-Sweden and Netherlands-Paraguay.

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It is the last international match day of the year and we will be treated both to some decisive World Cup qualifiers as well as some quality international friendlies.

You already know about today's qualifiers, but there are also some great friendlies, including Germany-Ivory Coast, Italy-Sweden and Netherlands-Paraguay.

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There are six places left in the 2010 World Cup, and 12 teams will spend today fighting to be one of those lucky six.

Today marks the last day of World Cup qualifying and matches on three continents will determine who rounds out the field of 32. European powers France, Portugal and Russia will look to secure places in South Africa, while bitter rivals Egypt and Algeria will kick off today's proceedings in a winner-take-all playoff.

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There are six places left in the 2010 World Cup, and 12 teams will spend today fighting to be one of those lucky six.

Today marks the last day of World Cup qualifying and matches on three continents will determine who rounds out the field of 32. European powers France, Portugal and Russia will look to secure places in South Africa, while bitter rivals Egypt and Algeria will kick off today's proceedings in a winner-take-all playoff.

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The UEFA 2010 World Cup Qualifying Playoff wraps up on Wednesday, November 18, 2009 with the second legs. Russia currently leads 2-1 on aggregate with Slovenia hosting the second leg. Who will advance to South Africa? Find out on our other site, Free Live Sports TV, which will be providing live coverage of the link below.

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The UEFA 2010 World Cup Qualifying Playoff wraps up on Wednesday, November 18, 2009 with the second legs. Portugal travels to Bosnia-Herzegovina for the second leg on Wednesday with a 1-0 aggregate lead. Who will advance to South Africa? Find out on our other site, Free Live Sports TV, which will be providing live coverage of the link below.

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The UEFA 2010 World Cup Qualifying Playoff wraps up on Wednesday, November 18, 2009 with the second legs. Ukraine and Greece played a scoreless draw in the first leg so it will come down to the second leg. Who will advance to South Africa? Find out on our other site, Free Live Sports TV, which will be providing live coverage of the link below.

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The UEFA 2010 World Cup Qualifying Playoffs wrap up on Wednesday, November 18, 2009 with the second legs. One of the matches included France v Republic of Ireland. France has a 1-0 lead after the first leg and will be the favorites with the second leg at home. Can the Irish get an upset and make it to South Africa or will France advance?

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With less than 20 hours before kickoff in Montevideo, Costa Rica and Uruguay are just about out of time to make modifications ahead of the decisive second leg. René Simões will be back on the touchline after his suspension in the first leg on Saturday and is looking for "fresh legs" for tomorrow's match. Click to continue reading...

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Nigeria, Cameroon and New Zealand all qualified for the 201 World Cup last weekend with key victories, leaving just six spots remaining as we head into the last day of qualifying for next summer's World Cup.

Here are the 26 teams that have already qualified for the 2010 World Cup:

Brazil, Spain, England, Argentina, Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Cote d'Ivoire, USA, Mexico, Denmark, Paraguay, Japan, Australia, South Korea, Ghana, Chile, Serbia, Switzerland, Honduras, Slovakia and North Korea, South Africa, Nigeria, Cameroon and New Zealand

There are 12 teams vying for the remaining six spots.

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Nigeria, Cameroon and New Zealand all qualified for the 201 World Cup last weekend with key victories, leaving just six spots remaining as we head into the last day of qualifying for next summer's World Cup.

Here are the 26 teams that have already qualified for the 2010 World Cup:

Brazil, Spain, England, Argentina, Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Cote d'Ivoire, USA, Mexico, Denmark, Paraguay, Japan, Australia, South Korea, Ghana, Chile, Serbia, Switzerland, Honduras, Slovakia and North Korea, South Africa, Nigeria, Cameroon and New Zealand

There are 12 teams vying for the remaining six spots.

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The FIFA 2010 World Cup will determine its final spots in Wednesday, November 18, 2009 with the second legs of the UEFA Playoffs and the CONCACAF/CONMEBOL Playoff. Who will advance to South Africa next summer? Here's a list of previews, predictions, and USA/UK Television listings for the matches on Wednesday, November 18, 2009.

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The days of the great broad expressway to South Africa 2010 are decisively past: the struggle now has moved onto a narrow mountain pass. Every victory won today was as thin as it may be decisive. And it wasn't merely Europe – many held their breath across the world today. Few have cause to exhale yet.

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France, Russia and Portugal posted crucial first-leg victories in their UEFA World Cup qualifying playoff matches, but all three still have plenty of work to do in the second legs to ensure qualifying for South Africa.

Nicolas Anelka scored in France's 1-0 win vs. Ireland in Dublin, giving the French the lead and an away goal in its match-up.

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France, Russia and Portugal posted crucial first-leg victories in their UEFA World Cup qualifying playoff matches, but all three still have plenty of work to do in the second legs to ensure qualifying for South Africa.

Nicolas Anelka scored in France's 1-0 win vs. Ireland in Dublin, giving the French the lead and an away goal in its match-up.

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It was an important day in all the regions as the final spots for the 2010 World Cup Finals in South Africa are being deteremined. In UEFA there are eight teams competing for four spots in two legged ties. The first leg was on Saturday with the second coming on Wednesday, November 18, 2009. There are two playoff matches between regions including the AFC/OFC Playoff and CONCACAF/CONMEBOL Playoff.

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We will move several steps closer to seeing the 32-team field for the 2010 World Cup filled out today as qualifying matches in Europe, Africa and the Americas highlight today's action.

The European qualifying playoffs top today's action, but there is also MLS playoff action tonight, as well as several top-notch friendlies to choose from.

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We will move several steps closer to seeing the 32-team field for the 2010 World Cup filled out today as qualifying matches in Europe, Africa and the Americas highlight today's action.

The European qualifying playoffs top today's action, but there is also MLS playoff action tonight, as well as several top-notch friendlies to choose from.

Click to continue reading...