Slovenia knocks out Russia on way to World Cup, joining Portugal

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Perennial power Russia will not be competing in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa after it suffered a shock playoff defeat at the hands of Slovenia today.

The Russians, who had beaten Slovenia, 2-1, in Moscow on Saturday, were in turn beaten, 1-0, in Maribor, Slovenia, on a goal by Zlatko Dedic just moments before halftime. That left the aggregate score tied at 2-2 but Slovenia advanced to the World Cup on the basis of its away goal in Russia.

Russia, coached by Dutch legend Guus Hiddink and featuring one of the world’s top stars in Andrei Arshavin, had two players red-carded in the second half, first losing Alexander Kerzhakov in the 66th minute and then seeing winger Yuri Zhirkov ejected in the final minute.

Portugal also secured its place in South Africa with a 1-0 victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina in Zenica, Bosnia, where Raul Meireles scored the 56th-minute winner. The Portuguese, playing without injured star Cristiano Ronaldo, advanced, 2-0 on aggregate.

Only two places in the June 11-July 11 World Cup remain up for grabs, with France playing Ireland in a match in progress in Paris and Uruguay playing Costa Rica later today. Check back here for results of those games.

-- Grahame L. Jones