World Cup - Winners and losers

Eurosport - Mon, 12 Oct 11:31:00 2009

Diego Maradona's impromptu Klinsmann impression earns him a place as one of our winners following a big weekend of World Cup qualifiers.

diego maradona slide (reuters) - 0

WINNERS

Diego Maradona - The Argentina boss celebrated Martin Palermo's 'miracle' late winner against Peru which keeps his side in the hunt for a finals place with a brilliant belly-flop slide down the touchline.

Germany - Typically, the Germans succeeded where England failed by travelling to Moscow and getting a result on the artificial turf of the Luznikhi Stadium that ensured they reached the finals and Russia made the play-offs.

Nigeria - Once touted by Pele as the country to become Africa's first world champions by the end of the last century, their stuttering campaign was boosted by Obinna Nsofor's late winner against Mozambique.

David James - Robert Green had a good run in the England team while James was injured, but his red card and subsequent suspension allows the Portsmouth keeper to waltz back into the side and impress at a crucial time.

The Internet - Despite complaints over the picture quality, somewhere approaching half a million viewers were reported to have tuned in to England's defeat in Ukraine. Probably just as many accessed the game by unofficial means, however.

LOSERS

Croatia - The rather satisfying upshot of England losing at the Dnipro Arena is that Croatia now have to win in Kazakhstan and hope Ukraine slip up in Andorra if they are to qualify for the play-offs.

Andy Reid - Reid has enjoyed an upturn in form as his weight has gone down, but Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni remained indignant when asked why he hasn't called up the Sunderland midfielder, instead persisting with a midfield pairing of Glenn Whelan and Keith Andrews.

Lars Lagerback - The Sweden coach has announced he will leave his post following the 1-0 defeat in Denmark. Unless they somehow sneak through, in which case he'll stay. Make your mind up, Lars.

David Beckham - A big deal was made about the perceived snub of Becks, who was omitted from the matchday squad altogether, despite the fact that he's a 34-year-old playing in a second-rate league.

Northern Ireland - Nigel Worthington's men saw their slim play-off hopes ended at the weekend without them kicking a ball, unless they beat the Czechs by a hatful and Slovenia lose in San Marino.

Eurosport

Comment 1 - 11 of 11

Sort comments by: Most recent
  1. i totally agree with the david beckham description.

    From hujan.lebat, on Tue 13 Oct 4:08AM
  2. If you forgot Peru beat Uruguay!
    this is to
    "The­ Undertaker (RIP)"

    From Mark, on Mon 12 Oct 6:40PM
  3. Ireland are very unlucky with the unfair dession by­ Fifa to rank the teams at the last minute typical con­ job make it as easy for big teams like France as­ possible
    Europe should get more slots at the world cup­ since most of the best teams in the world are based­ here ! Fifa world rankings are a joke ! Andy Reid­ should be in the team and Stephen Ireland if he had any­ loyality to his country would come back ! Rory Delap­ should also be there ! Hoping we get Greece but it will­ prob be Russia or France ! Ireland only play well­ against big teams so you never know ! Would be a shame­ to miss the world cup Irish party harder than anyone­ else luv our booze and never cause trouble unlike some­ !

    From Alan D, on Mon 12 Oct 5:05PM
  4. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Hi Here's how to get yourself a­ free Slim­ Playstation 3, Wii or Ipod

    Just go to urfreegifts. co.­ uk (copy/paste that into your browser but remove the­ spaces) and­ follow these three simple steps:

    1)Sign­­ Up
    2)Participate In A Sponsor Offer (Try LOVEFiLM,­ HSBC or INTUIT,­ it's free remember, or Coral if­ you want)
    3)Get­ Some Friends To Do The Same

    Once­ you have done this­ you'll be sent your chosen­ gift. It's­ that easy and has been approved by the­ BBC. For­ those of you who do not want a PS3, there are­ many­ other items available, including the new iPhone­ 3G, Nintendo DSi and PSP Go

    Just go to urfreegifts.­ co. uk (copy/paste that into your browser but remove­ the spaces)

    From freegifts17, on Mon 12 Oct 2:33PM
  5. I think you forgot Serbia too! I great 5-0 win over­ Romania and sealed place for Africa in front of France!

    From borenbo, on Mon 12 Oct 2:23PM
  6. Portugal though, look all set to reach the playoffs. No­ way they will lose or draw to Malta at home. Sweden­ must hope for a miracle, but of Messi and Ronaldo, CR9­ looks set to have the last laugh.

    From The Undertaker (RIP), on Mon 12 Oct 1:40PM
  7. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    WATCH ALL TENNIS, MATCHES ON INTERNET: AUSTRALIAN OPEN,­ WIMBLEDON, ROLAND GARROS, US OPEN, DAVIS CUP , FED­ CUP, ATP INTERNATIONAL SERIES, MASTERS SERIES, ATP­ CHALLENGER SERIES, ATP FUTURES SERIES AND MUCH MORE

    From WWW.PREMIERSHIP.ALTERVISTA.ORG, on Mon 12 Oct 1:39PM
  8. Uruguay will prove too good for them, just see. They­ barely stuttered to a win in a match against­ bottom-table Peru that should have ended drawn. Uruguay­ are different class to Peru, and I'm sure they will­ have journalists across the world writing obituaries of­ Maradona's short reign come Thursday morning.

    From The Undertaker (RIP), on Mon 12 Oct 1:38PM
  9. Lagerbäck is a cretin and I'm happy we'll be­ having a change of leadership.

    From The Northerner, on Mon 12 Oct 1:31PM
  10. Maradona then followed this by writhing on the ground­ in mock agony before rising to high five everyone with­ the "hand of god".

    From Graham P, on Mon 12 Oct 12:49PM
  11. WTF...Wer is Portugal in winners list..Now all the­ hopes are renewed for them also...

    From mraki_09, on Mon 12 Oct 12:34PM
Sort comments by: Most recent

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account