SOCCER : Final 9 World Cup Berths Will Be Determined Today
The national soccer team of the Irish Republic could drive to the game in a hour, but will instead fly into Belfast, Northern Ireland. Authorities figure a plane is more difficult to blow up than a bus. . . .
An English tabloid is offering Poland $210,000 to beat the Netherlands, and will pay $15,000 for each England goal against San Marino. . . .
The President of Argentina has requested that his national team score at least two goals. The mayor-elect of New York City is pulling for Italy over Portugal. . . .
Nearly two years of World Cup qualifying culminates today. Sixteen teams will vie for the final nine places in the 24-team World Cup, to be held in the United States next summer.
The only region still conducting qualifying is Europe’s six groups. The other game today is an interzone game between Argentina and Australia.
Following is a look at the scenario in each group:
Group One: Switzerland must beat Estonia by two goals to be assured a berth. Italy is in with a victory or tie against Portugal, unless Switzerland loses.
Group Two: England needs a miracle to make it. To qualify, England must beat San Marino by at least seven goals and Poland must beat the Netherlands. The Dutch are in with a victory. Norway has already qualified.
Group Three: Ireland must win at Belfast, something it has never done. Ireland advances with a tie, unless Denmark-Spain is a draw. The winner of Denmark-Spain is in.
Group Four: Belgium plays the Czech and Slovak Republic, and Romania plays Wales. Belgium qualifies with a victory or tie. Romania needs only a tie to advance.
Group Five: Greece and Russia have already qualified.
Group Six: Sweden is already in. France needs only a tie against Bulgaria to advance.
Interzone: Argentina and Australia tied, 1-1, in the first game at Sydney. If Argentina wins or ties, 0-0, at Buenos Aires, it’s in. If the game is 1-1 at the end of regulation, it goes into overtime. If there’s no score in the extra period, it goes to a shootout. Australia wins on goal differential if the game ends in a 2-2 tie because away goals count double.
