Basel, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - Switzerland moved to the top of its qualifying group for the 2010 Fifa World Cup with a 2-0 win over Greece in their match. The Swiss scored two goals in the final 10 minutes after playing much of the game with an extra man as Vyntra was sent off for receiving two yellow cards.
The win gives the team a three-point advantage with three games still to play, away against Lithuania and Luxembourg and then at home to Israel. Fifty-three teams are competing in nine groups for the 13 European places with the winner of each group going through, plus four from a play-off between the second place finishers. The Netherlands is the only Euopean team already qualified. England beat Slovenia 2-1 in a friendly and if they beat Croatia on Wednesday they will qualify. Portugal are only fourth in their group so Cristiano Ronaldo might miss the World Cup. France only managed a 1-1 draw against Romania and are likely to be in the play-offs. Italy moved to top of their group thanks to two own-goals by Georgian captain Kaladse.
In the South American group Brazil beat old rivals Argentina 3-1 to book their place in the final but Diego Maradona’s team are not yet sure of qualifying.
In the African group Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire have won all their games.
Details: Fifa World Cup
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News story, GenevaLunch, 6 September 2009.
Filed under: Sports
Tags: African group, Argentina, Brazil, Cote d'Ivoire, Cristiano Ronaldo, Croatia, Diego Maradona, FIFA, Fifa World Cup, France, Georgia, Ghana, Greece, Israel, Kaladse, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, South American group, Switzerland, Vyntra, yellow cards