2010 FIFA WORLD CUP (FROM THE GROUND UP)

[OliDegu2008]

2010 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 3 Draw



Estonia
Israel
Italy
Latvia
Moldova
Switzerland

[OliDegu2008]

2010 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 3 Results

Italia takes care of business as usual - welcome to the 2010 World Cup

Italy had its hardships in qualifying, but survived.
Italy secures automatic World Cup qualifying berth,
Switzerland moves into the 2nd round play-off table.

Italy was not perfect by any means, but locking up that automatic birth in the World Cup is all that mattered at the end of the day

2010 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 3
TEAM	GP	W	D	L	PTS
Italy	10	7	2	1	23
Switzerland	10	6	2	2	20
Israel	10	4	3	3	15
Estonia	10	2	4	4	10
Latvia	10	2	3	5	9
Moldova	10	1	2	7	5

MATCHES
Match 1 --- Israel vs. Italy September 6, 2008 6PM (Dusk)
Ramat Gan Stadium, Ramat Gan; Attendance: 29,600; Referee: Martin Hansson (Sweden)
11' T. Cohen (Israel) Yellow Card
35' G. Chiellini (Italy) Yellow Card
36' Y. Benayoun (Israel 1-0)
44' E. Barda (Israel ) Yellow Card
46' V. Iaquinta (Italy) Yellow Card
55' T. Cohen (Israel 2-0)
61' G. Chiellini (Italy) Yellow Card (2) = Red Card
61' Y. Benayoun (pen) (Israel 3-0)
63' A. Pirlo (Italy 3-1)
68' A. Gilardino (Italy 3-2)
Result - Israel W 3-2

Match 2 --- Moldova vs. Switzerland September 6, 2008 7PM (Dusk)
Sheriff Stadium, Tiraspol; Attendance: 4,300; Referee: Mark Courtney (Northern Ireland)
38' G. Fernandes (Switzerland) Yellow Card
55' G. Inler (Switzerland 1-0)
Result - Switzerland W 1-0

Match 3 --- Latvia vs. Estonia September 6, 2008 7PM (Dusk)
Skonto Stadions, Riga; Attendance: 8,600; Referee: Tony Chapron (France)
29' E. Jaager (Estonia) Yellow Card
29' M. Verpakovskis (pen) (Latvia 1-0)
39' R. Klavan (Estonia) Yellow Card
39' M. Verpakovskis (pen) (Latvia 2-0)
57' G. Karlsons (Latvia 3-0)
90' V. Voskoboinikov (Estonia 3-1)
Result - Latvia W 3-1

Match 4 --- Switzerland vs. Israel September 10, 2008 3PM (Rainy/Overcast)
Letzigrund, Zürich; Attendance: 20,500; Referee: Dejan Filipovic (Serbia)
33' E. Barda (Israel) Yellow Card
43' T. Ben Haim (Israel) Yellow Card
51' A. Frei (Switzerland 1-0)
64' D. Ben Dayan (Israel) Yellow Card
80' P. Senderos (Switzerland) Yellow Card
Result - Switzerland W 1-0

Match 5 --- Italy vs. Estonia September 10, 2008 4PM (Rainy/Overcast)
Stadio Friuli, Udine; Attendance: 27,164; Referee: Thomas Einwaller (Austria)
33' G. Zambrotta (Italy) Yellow Card
45' R. Piiroja (Estonia) Yellow Card
46' V. Iaquinta (Italy) Yellow Card
51' V. Iaquinta (Italy 1-0)
Result - Italy W 1-0

Match 6 --- Moldova vs. Latvia September 10, 2008 5PM (Rainy/Overast)
Zimbru Stadium, Chişinău; Attendance: 10,500; Referee: César Muñiz Fernández (Spain)
13' I. Armas (Moldova) Yellow Card
17' A. Epureanu (Moldova) Yellow Card
17' I. Bugaiov (Moldova) Yellow Card
25' A. Epureanu (Moldova 1-0)
32' G. Karlsons (Latvia 1-1)
Result - Draw 1-1

Match 7 --- Israel vs. Estonia October 11, 2008 7PM (Dusk)
Ramat Gan Stadium, Ramat Gan; Attendance: 38,000; Referee: Roberto Rosetti (Italy)
11' J. Lindpere (Estonia) Yellow Card
40' O. Galon (Israel 1-0)
47' A. Oper (Estonia) Yellow Card
75' Y. Benayoun (Israel) Yellow Card
80' R. Piiroja (Estonia) Yellow Card
90' A. Oper (Estonia 1-1)
Result - Draw 1-1

Match 8 --- Switzerland vs. Latvia October 11, 2008 7:05PM (Overcast)
AFG Arena, St. Gallen; Attendance: 18,026; Referee: Lucilio Cardoso Cortez Batista (Portugal)
28' G. Fernandes (Switzerland 1-0)
Result - Switzerland W 1-0

Match 9 --- Italy vs. Moldova October 11, 2008 7:10PM (Overcast)
Via del Mare, Lecce; Attendance: 20,162; Referee: Pedro Proença (Portugal)
4' V. Iaquinta (Italy 1-0)
29' A. Pirlo (Italy) Yellow Card
43' A. Gilardino (Italy 2-0)
85' V. Frunza (Moldova) Yellow Card
Result - Italy W 2-0

Match 10 --- Estonia vs. Moldova October 15, 2008 2PM (Overcast)
A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn; Attendance: 9,200; Referee: Jonas Eriksson (Sweden)
31' V. Golovatenko (Moldova) (own goal) (Estonia 1-0)
34' R. Piiroja (Estonia) Yellow Card
65' A. Epureanu (Moldova) Yellow Card
Result - Estonia W 1-0

Match 11 --- Latvia vs. Israel October 15, 2008 7PM (Dusk)
Skonto Stadions, Riga; Attendance: 7,100; Referee: Vladimír Hriňák (Slovakia)
Result - Draw 0-0

Match 12 --- Switzerland vs. Italy October 15, 2008 7PM (Rainy/Overcast)
Stade de Genève, Geneva; Attendance: 20,100; Referee: Marcos Frunzaelor (Croatia)
15' A. Frei (Switzerland) Yellow Card
28' V. Iaquinta (Italy) Yellow Card
49' D. De Rossi (Italy) Yellow Card
50' V. Iaquinta (Italy 1-0)
68' C. Marchisio (Italy) Yellow Card
72' G. Chiellini (Italy) Yellow Card
75' G. Chiellini (Italy) Yellow Card (2) = Red Card
90' E. Derdiyok (Switzerland 1-1)
90' G. Zambrotta (Italy) Yellow Card
Result - Draw 1-1

Match 13 --- Israel vs. Moldova March 28, 2009 6PM (Dusk)
Ramat Gan Stadium, Ramat Gan; Attendance: 20,000; Referee: Knut Kircher (Germany)
5' I. Armas (Moldova) Yellow Card
44' T. Cohen (Israel) Yellow Card
50' O. Golan (Israel 1-0)
Result - Israel W 1-0

Match 14 --- Latvia vs. Italy March 28, 2009 6:30PM (Dusk)
Skonto Stadions, Riga; Attendance: 8,456; Referee: Fırat Aydınus (Turkey)
8' V. Iaquinta (Italy 1-0)
12' A. Gamberini (Italy) Yellow Card
25' D. De Rossi (Italy) Yellow Card
71' M. Camoranesi (Italy 2-0)
77' J. Laizans (Latvia) Yellow Card
90' C. Marchisio (Italy) Yellow Card
Result - Italy W 2-0

Match 15 --- Estonia vs. Switzerland March 28, 2009 7PM (Dusk)
A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn; Attendance: 6,500; Referee: Robert Małek (Poland)
8' P. Senderos (Switzerland) Yellow Card
54'[ G. Fernandes (Swtizerland) Yellow Card
63' L. Magnin (Switzerland) Yellow Card
67' M. Padalino (Switzerland) Yellow Card
Result - Draw 0-0

Match 16 --- Estonia vs. Latvia April 1, 2009 6:45PM (Dusk)
A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn; AttendYellow Cardance: 7,809; Referee: Cyril Zimmermann (Switzerland)
8' V. Kolesnicenko (Latvia) Yellow Card
16' M. Verpakovskis (Latvia 1-0)
54' T. Kink (Estonia) Yellow Card
70' J. Lindpere (Estonia)
75' V. Voskoboinikov (Estonia 1-1)
Result - Draw 1-1

Match 17 --- Italy vs. Israel April April 1, 2009 7PM (Dusk)
Stadio San Nicola, Bari; Attendance: 48,000; Referee: Wolfgang Stark (Germany)
5' V. Iaquinta (Italy 1-0)
10' G. Alberman (Israel) Yellow Card
15' G. Buffon (Italy) Yellow Card
17' D. Ben Dayan (Israel) Yellow Card
21' A. Gilardino (Italy 2-0)
21' A. Gilardino (Italy 3-0)
77' G. Rossi (Italy 4-0)
Result - Italy W 4-0

Match 18 --- Switzerland vs. Moldova April 4, 2009 2PM (Rainy/Overcast)
St. Jakob-Park, Basel; Attendance: 38,500; Referee: Frank De Bleeckere (Belgium)
20' A. Frei (Switzerland 1-0)
36' L. Magnin (Switzerland 2-0)
67' G. Fernandes (Switzerland) Yellow Card
77' B. Nkufo (Switzerland 3-0)
83' E. Derdiyok (Switzerland 4-0)
90' A. Frei (Switzerland 5-0)
Result - Switzerland W 5-0

Match 19 --- Estonia vs. Italy June 6, 2009 7PM (Dusk)
A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn; Attendance: 6,450; Referee: Mario Ciapoore (Iceland)
14' A. Pirlo (Italy) Yellow Card
24' G. Rossi (Italy 1-0)
57' V. Voskoboinikov (Estonia 1-1)
59' A. Oper (Estonia 2-1)
63' R. Piiroja (Estonia) Yellow Card
87' A. Gilardino (Italy 2-2)
Result - Draw 2-2

Match 20 --- Latvia vs. Moldova June 8, 2009 8PM (Dusk)
Skonto Stadions, Riga; Attendance: 8,600; Referee: Pavel Kralovec (Czech Republic)
72' K. Gorkss (Latvia) Yellow Card
78' M. Verpakovskis (Latvia 1-0)
Result - Latvia W 1-0

Match 21 --- Israel vs. Switzerland June 9, 2009 7PM (Dusk)
Ramat Gan Stadium, Ramat Gan; Attendance: 7,038; Referee: Michael Svendsen (Denmark)
6' T. Barnetta (Switzerland) Yellow Card
70' S. Lichtsteiner (Switzerland) Yellow Card
78' R. Colautti (Israel 1-0)
Result - Israel W 1-0

Match 22 --- Latvia vs. Switzerland September 9, 2009 7PM (Dusk)
Skonto Stadions, Riga; Attendance: 3,800; Referee: Jouni Hyytiä (Finland)
3' A. Frei (Switzerland 1-0)
27' B. Nkufo (Switzerland 2-0)
45' G. Karlsons (Latvia 2-1)
50' S. Lichtsteiner (Switzerland 3-0)
Result - Switzerland W 3-1

Match 23 --- Estonia vs. Israel September 9, 2009 7:05PM (Dusk)
A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn; Attendance: 4,680; Referee: Nicolai Vollquartz (Denmark)
2' T. Kink (Estonia 1-0)
19' Y. Benayoun (Israel) Yellow Card
26' T. Kink (Estonia 2-0)
79' A. Oper (Estonia 3-0)
Result - Estonia W 3-0

Match 24 --- Moldova vs. Italy September 9, 2009 8PM (Dusk)
Zimbru Stadium, Chişinău; Attendance: 10,500; Referee: Dougie McDonald (Scotland)
2' F. Grosso (Italy 1-0)
35' I. Armas (Moldova) Yellow Card
39' I. Armas (Moldova) Yellow Card (2) = Red Card
48' V. Iaquinta (Italy 2-0)
65' A. Savinov (Moldova) Yellow Card
Result - Italy W 2-0

Match 25 --- Israel vs. Latvia October 10, 2009 6PM (Dusk)
Ramat Gan Stadium, Ramat Gan; Attendance: 8,700; Referee: Kevin Blom (Netherlands)
70' D. Ivanovs (Latvia) Yellow Card
89' B. Keyal (Israel 1-0)
Result - Israel W 1-0

Match 26 --- Moldova vs. Estonia October 10, 2009 7PM (Dusk)
Zimbru Stadium, Chişinău; Attendance: 7,820; Referee: Gediminas Mazeika (Lithuania)
50' A. Savinov (Moldova) Yellow Card
80' V. Andronic (Moldova 1-0)
Result - Moldova W 1-0

Match 27 --- Italy vs. Switzerland October 10, 2009 7:30PM (Dusk)
Stadio Olimpico, Turin; Attendance: 26,124; Referee: Florian Meyer (Germany)
31' G. Chiellini (Italy) Yellow Card
34' A. Pirlo (pen) (Italy 1-0)
37' A. Gilardino (Italy 2-0)
45' C. Marchisio (Italy 3-0)
50' A. Gilardino (Italy 4-0)
Result - Italy W 4-0

Match 28 --- Moldova vs. Israel October 14, 2009 6:30PM (Dusk)
Zimbru Stadium, Chişinău; Attendance: 9,870; Referee: Daniel Stålhammar (Sweden)
35' E. Barda (Israel 1-0)
75' V. Sofroni (Moldova 1-1)
79' R. Saban (Israel) Yellow Card
Result - Draw 1-1

Match 29 --- Switzerland vs. Estonia October 15, 2009 2PM (Overcast)
St. Jakob-Park, Basel; Attendance: 38,500; Referee: Alexandru Tudor (Romania)
28' P. Senderos (Switzerland) Yellow Card
45' A. Frei (Switzerland 1-0)
45' A. Frei (Switzerland) Yellow Card
66' G. Inler (Switzerland 2-0)
Result - Switzerland W 2-0

Match 30 --- Italy vs. Latvia October 15, 2009 3PM (Overcast)
Stadio Ennio Tardini, Parma; Attendance: 15,009; Referee: Alon Yefet (Israel)
7' F. Grosso (Italy 1-0)
39' G. Chiellini (Italy) Red Card
74' C. Marchisio (Italy) Yellow Card
Result - Italy W 1-0

************************************
UEFA Second Round Rankings

Format
The eight best runners-up from the UEFA First Round groups will qualify for the 2nd round play-offs. With one group (UEFA Group 9) having one team fewer than the others, matches against the sixth-placed team in the groups will not be included in this ranking. The nation ranked 9/9 (or last) in the 2nd round play-off rankings table will not qualify for 2nd round play-offs.

Ranking of second-placed teams
TEAM	GP	W	D	L	PTS
GROUP 1 - Sweden	8	5	0	3	15
GROUP 2 - Czech Republic	8	4	2	2	14 (+3)
GROUP 3 - Switzerland	8	4	2	2	14 (+1)

() = Goal Difference

[bhurst99]

No surprises in Europe so far.

[pfeifere1]

So many close, great games in Europe so far! Can't wait to see the next group!!!

[OliDegu2008]

Quote: Originally Posted by pfeifere1

So many close, great games in Europe so far! Can't wait to see the next group!!!

Thanks. I am as excited as you are!

[OliDegu2008]

2010 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 4 Draw



Georgia
Ireland
Lithuania
Netherlands
Romania
San Marino

[OliDegu2008]

2010 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 4 Results

The Netherlands escape group 4, but it was not pretty

The Netherlands did what it had to - welcome to the 2010 World Cup
The Netherlands secures automatic World Cup qualifying berth,
Ireland moves into the 2nd round play-off table.

Robben and Kuyt led an under-achieving Netherlands squad in group 4 play.

2010 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 4
TEAM	GP	W	D	L	PTS
Netherlands	10	6	2	2	20
Ireland	10	5	2	3	17
Romania	10	4	3	3	15
Lithuania	10	3	5	2	14
Georgia	10	3	3	4	12
San Marino	10	1	1	8	4

MATCHES
Match 1 --- Ireland vs. Netherlands September 6, 2008 1PM (Overcast)
Croke Park, Dublin; Attendance: 55,833; Referee: Alexandru Tudor (Romania)
4' R. Keane (pen) (Ireland 1-0)
36' K. Doyle (Ireland 2-0)
57' G. Whelan (Ireland 3-0)
Result - Ireland W 3-0

Match 2 --- Georgia vs. Lithuania September 6, 2008 2PM (Overcast)
Stadion am Bruchweg, Mainz (Germany); Attendance: 4,500; Referee: Sandor Szabo (Hungary)
23' M. Kalonas (Lithuania 1-0)
90' L. Kobiashvili (Georgia 1-1)
Result - Draw 1-1

Match 3 --- Romania vs. San Marino September 6, 2008 4PM (Overcast)
Dr. C. Rădulescu Stadium, Cluj-Napoca; Attendance: 14,000
Referee: Alan Kelly (Republic of Ireland)
21' I. Mara (Romania 1-0)
Result - Romania W 1-0

Match 4 --- Lithuania vs. Ireland September 10, 2008 3PM (Overcast)
Sūduva Stadium, Marijampole; Attendance: 4,500; Referee: Paolo Tagliavento (Italy)
25' R. Dunne (Ireland) Yellow Card
45' T. Danilevicius (Lithuania 1-0)
45' A. Skerla (Lithuania) Yellow Card
Result - Lithuania W 1-0

Match 5 --- Georgia vs. Romania September 10, 2008 5PM (Overcast)
Boris Paichadze Stadium, Tbilisi; Attendance: 40,000
Referee: Radek Matejek (Czech Republic)
29' L. Kenia (Georgia) Yellow Card
43' L. Kenia (Georgia 1-0)
45' I. Mara (Romania) Yellow Card
45' L. Kobiashvili (pen) (Georgia 2-0)
54' L. Kobiashvili (pen) (Georgia 3-0)
58' B. Gotsiridze (Georgia 4-0)
66' B. Gotsiridze (Georgia 5-0)
82' Z. Khizanishvili (Georgia) Yellow Card
89' U. Lobjanidze (Georgia) Yellow Card
90' A. Mutu (Romania 5-1)
Result - Georgia W 5-1

Match 6 --- Netherlands vs. San Marino September 11, 2008 3PM (Sunny)
Feijenoord Stadion, Rotterdam; Attendance: 37,500; Referee: Matteo Simone Trefoloni (Italy)
3' D. Kuyt (Netherlands 1-0)
38' A. Selva (pen) (San Marino 1-1)
45' R. van der Vaart (Netherlands 2-1)
62' J. Heitinga (Netherlands) Yellow Card
76' D. Kuyt (Netherlands 3-1)
87' D. Simoncini (San Marino) Yellow Card
Result - Netherlands W 3-1

Match 7 --- Lithuania vs. Romania October 11, 2008 3PM (Overcast)
Sūduva Stadium, Marijampole; Attendance: 5,850; Referee: Jonas Eriksson (Sweden)
23' I. Dedura (Lithuania) Yellow Card
57' A. Klimavicius (Lithuania) Yellow Card
Result - Draw 0-0

Match 8 --- Netherlands vs. Georgia October 11, 2008 4PM (Overcast)
Amsterdam Arena, Amsterdam; Attendance: 50,000; Referee: Laurent Duhamel (France)
29' M. van Bommel (Netherlands 1-0)
44' R. Van Persie (Netherlands 2-0)
54' J. Mathijsen (Netherlands) Yellow Card
72' L. Mchedlidze (Georgia) Yellow Card
90' K. Kaladze (Georgia) Yellow Card
Result - Netherlands W 2-0

Match 9 --- Ireland vs. San Marino October 11, 2008 5PM (Sunny)
Croke Park, Dublin; Attendance: 45,000; Referee: Jouni Hyytia (Finland)
1' R. Keane (Ireland 1-0)
15' P. McShane (Ireland) Yellow Card
34' A. Della Valle (San Marino) Yellow Card
62' K. Doyle (Ireland 2-0)
90' D. Gibson (Ireland 3-0)
Result - Ireland W 3-0

Match 10 --- Romania vs. Ireland October 15, 2008 2PM (Overcast)
Stadionul Farul, Constanţa; Attendance: 12,800; Referee: Frank De Bleeckere (Belgium)
Result - Draw 0-0

Match 11 --- San Marino vs. Georgia October 15, 2008 3PM (Sunny)
Stadio Olimpico, Serravalle; Attendance: 2,374; Referee: Christoforos Zografos (Greece)
55' G. Shashiashvili (Georgia) Yellow Card
77' Z. Khizanishvili (Georgia) Red Card
90' A. Selva (San Marino 1-0)
Result - San Marino W 1-0

Match 12 --- Lithuania vs. Netherlands October 15, 2008 4PM (Rainy/Overcast)
S. Darius and S. Girėnas Stadium, Kaunas; Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Costas Kapitanis (Cyprus)
16' T. Danilevicius (Lithuania 1-0)
22' D. Kuyt (Netherlands 1-1)
28' M. Kalonas (Lithuania 2-1)
30' A. Robben (Netherlands 2-2)
64' J. Heitinga (Netherlands) Yellow Card
67' K. Huntelaar (Netherlands 3-2)
88' A. Klimavicius (Lithuania) Yellow Card
Result - Netherlands W 3-2

Match 13 --- Ireland vs. Georgia March 28, 2009 1PM (Rainy/Overcast)
Croke Park, Dublin; Attendance: 60,002; Referee: Ivan Bebek (Croatia)
9' A. Iashvili (Georgia 1-0)
21' P. McShane (Ireland) Yellow Card
44' K. Kaladze (Georgia) Red Card
45' R. Keane (pen) (Ireland 1-1)
45' D. Kvirkivelia (Georgia) Yellow Card
85' G. Whelan (Ireland 2-1)
90' K. Doyle (Ireland 3-1)
Result - Ireland W 3-1

Match 14 --- San Marino vs. Lithuania March 28, 2009 3PM (Sunny)
Stadio Olimpico, Serravalle; Attendance: 1,037; Referee: Sascha Kever (Switzerland)
53' C. Valentini (San Marino) Yellow Card
71' C. Valentini (San Marino) Yellow Card (2) = Red Card
75' T. Danilevicius (Lithuania 1-0)
76' D. Semberas (Lithuania) Yellow Card
90' M. Vitaioli (San Marino 1-1)
90' T. Danilevicius (Lithuania 2-1)
Result - Lithuania W 2-1

Match 15 --- Romania vs. Netherlands March 28, 2009 7PM (Dusk)
Stadionul Farul, Constanţa; Attendance: 15,040; Referee: Matteo Trefoloni (Italy)
21' C. Marica (Romania 1-0)
25' C. Chivu (Romania 2-0)
53' C. Marica (Romania 3-0)
72' C. Tanese (Romania 4-0)
Result - Romania W 4-0

Match 16 --- Lithuania vs. Georgia April 1, 2009 4PM (Overcast)
S. Darius and S. Girėnas Stadium, Kaunas; Attendance: 8,700
Referee: Eric Braamhaar (Netherlands)
43' I. Dedura (Lithuania) Yellow Card
75' A. Iashvili (Georgia 1-0)
90' T. Danilevicius (Lithuania 1-1)
Result - Draw 1-1

Match 17 --- San Marino vs. Romania April 1, 2009 4:25PM (Sunny)
Stadio Olimpico, Serravalle; Attendance: 1,318; Referee: Hannes Kaasik (Estonia)
8' A. Selva (San Marino 1-0)
27' C. Marica (Romania 1-1)
39' M. Bugli (San Marino) Yellow Card
54' T. Ghioane (Romania 2-1)
76' A. Mutu (Romania 3-1)
81' G. Bonini (San Marino) Yellow Card
85' R. Cocis (Romania 4-1)
Result - Romania W 4-1

Match 18 --- Netherlands vs. Ireland April 1, 2009 6PM (Sunny)
Amsterdam Arena, Amsterdam; Attendance: 47,750; Referee: Peter Rasmussen (Denmark)
14' D. Kuyt (Netherlands 1-0)
23' R. van der Vaart (Netherlands 2-0)
52' R. Keane (Ireland 2-1)
56' P. McShane (Ireland) Yellow Card
61' R. van Persie (Netherlands) Yellow Card
82' J. Mathijsen (Netherlands) Yellow Card
90' R. van der Vaart (pen) (Netherlands 3-1)
Result - Netherlands W 3-1

Match 19 --- San Marino vs. Netherlands June 7, 2009 5PM (Sunny)
Stadio Olimpico, Serravalle; Attendance: 1,942; Referee: Dragomir Stankovic (Serbia)
17' A. Ooijer (Netherlands) Yellow Card
21' D. Kuyt (Netherlands 1-0)
22' R. van Persie (Netherlands 2-0)
39' R. van Persie (Netherlands 3-0)
62' D. Kuyt (Netherlands 4-0)
71' G. Bonini (San Marino) Yellow Card
75' A. Ooijer (Netherlands) Yellow Card (2) = Red Card
90' A. Selva (San Marino 4-1)
Result - Netherlands W 4-1

Match 20 --- Ireland vs. Lithuania June 9, 2009 4PM (Sunny)
Croke Park, Dublin; Attendance: 70,670; Referee: Terje Hauge (Norway)
2' K. Andrews (Ireland) Yellow Card
6' I. Dedura (Lithuania) Yellow Card
17' R. Dunne (Ireland) Yellow Card
44' K. Doyle (Ireland 1-0)
45' G. Whelan (Ireland) Yellow Card
60' D. Duff (Ireland 2-0)
71' R. Keane (Ireland 3-0)
73' K. Doyle (Ireland 4-0)
80' P. McShane (Ireland) Yellow Card
Result - Ireland W 4-0

Match 21 --- Romania vs. Georgia August 1, 2009 3:30PM (Overcast)
Stadionul Steaua, Bucharest; Attendance: 7,505; Referee: Martin Atkinson (England)
43' M. Radoi (Romania) Yellow Card
66' U. Lobjanidze (Georgia) Yellow Card
73' C. Marica (Romania 1-0)
79' L. Kenia (Georgia) Yellow Card
Result - Romania W 1-0

Match 22 --- Georgia vs. Netherlands September 9, 2009 4PM (Overcast)
Boris Paichadze Stadium, Tbilisi; Attendance: 35,250; Referee: Bjorn Kuipers (Netherlands)
23' Z. Khizanishvili (Georgia) Yellow Card
33' L. Razmadze (Georgia 1-0)
45' D. Kuyt (Netherlands 1-1)
Result - Draw 1-1

Match 23 --- Romania vs. Lithuania September 9, 2009 6PM (Dusk)
Stadionul Ceahlăul, Piatra Neamţ; Attendance: 13,000; Referee: Alexander Gvardis (Russia)
55' I. Apostol (Romania) Yellow Card
Result - Draw 0-0

Match 24 --- San Marino vs. Ireland September 10, 2009 12PM (Sunny)
Stadio Olimpico, Serravalle; Attendance: 1,745; Referee: Zsolt Szabó (Hungary)
22' P. McShane (Ireland) Yellow Card
40' K. Andrews (Ireland) Yellow Card
Result - Draw 0-0

Match 25 --- Netherlands vs. Lithuania October 10, 2009 3:45PM (Sunny)
Feijenoord Stadion, Rotterdam; Attendance: 45,600; Referee: Yuri Baskakov (Russia)
28' R. van der Vaart (Netherlands 1-0)
49' T. Danilevicius (Lithuania 1-1)
55' A. Ooijer (Netherlands) Yellow Card
Result - Draw 1-1

Match 26 --- Ireland vs. Romania October 10, 2009 4PM (Sunny)
Croke Park, Dublin; Attendance: 36,442; Referee: Vladimír Hriňák (Slovakia)
2' K. Doyle (Ireland 1-0)
13' C. Marica (Romania 1-1)
24' G. Whelan (Ireland 2-1)
50' K. Doyle (Ireland 3-1)
51' D. Duff (Ireland) Yellow Card
66' I. Sapunaru (Romania) Yellow Card
73' L. Lawrence (Ireland) Yellow Card
Result - Ireland W 3-1

Match 27 --- Georgia vs. San Marino October 10, 2009 4:30PM (Rainy/Overcast)
Boris Paichadze Stadium, Tbilisi; Attendance: 16,000
Referee: David Malcolm (Northern Ireland)
14' A. Iashvili (Georgia 1-0)
61' L. Kobiashvili (Goergia 2-0)
Result - Georgia W 2-0

Match 28 --- Netherlands vs. Romania October 14, 2009 1PM (Sunny)
Amsterdam Arena, Amsterdam; Attendance: 42,577; Referee: Kenny McClean (Scotland)
7' D. Kuyt (Netherlands 1-0)
36' D. Kuyt (Netherlands 2-0)
47' D. Kuyt (Netherlands 3-0)
68' N. de Jong (Netherlands) Yellow Card
Result - Netherlands W 3-0

Match 29 --- Lithuania vs. San Marino October 14, 2009 2PM (Sunny)
Sūduva Stadium, Marijampolė; Attendance: 2,000; Referee: Anton Guenov (Bulgaria)
29' T. Danilevicius (Lithuania 1-0)
38' A. Selva (San Marino) Yellow Card
54' T. Danilevicius (Lithuania 2-0)
75' D. Simoncini (San Marino) Yellow Card
Result - Lithuania W 2-0

Match 30 --- Georgia vs. Ireland October 14, 2009 4PM (Sunny)
Boris Paichadze Stadium, Tbilisi; Attendance: 32,000; Referee: Marcin Borski (Poland)
77' V. Dvalishvili (Georgia 1-0)
78' L. Lawrence (Ireland) Yellow Card
Result - Georgia W 1-0

************************************
UEFA Second Round Rankings

Format
The eight best runners-up from the UEFA First Round groups will qualify for the 2nd round play-offs. With one group (UEFA Group 9) having one team fewer than the others, matches against the sixth-placed team in the groups will not be included in this ranking. The nation ranked 9/9 (or last) in the 2nd round play-off rankings table will not qualify for 2nd round play-offs.

Ranking of second-placed teams
TEAM	GP	W	D	L	PTS
GROUP 1 - Sweden	8	5	0	3	15
GROUP 2 - Czech Republic	8	4	2	2	14 (+3)
GROUP 3 - Switzerland	8	4	2	2	14 (+1)
GROUP 4 - Ireland	8	4	1	3	13 (+7)

() = Goal Difference

[bhurst99]

Poor Ireland. It was there for them in Match 30. Of course the scoreless draw against San Marino didn't help.

The second place playoffs are going to be fascinating.