Rate it!

8 votes

Slovakia qualified for their first ever World Cup finals and Slovenia went through to the play-offs as Northern Ireland and Czech Republic were both eliminated after playing out a dour 0-0 stalemate in their Group 3 clash in Prague.

Slovakia ground out a nervous 1-0 victory in Poland in Chorzow.

The Slovakians produced a lacklustre performance in poor conditions but an own goal by Polish defender Seweryn Gancarczyk in the third minute sent them through to next year's tournament in South Africa.

"We played well in these qualifiers, we were lucky today but we've also put a lot of heart into the game," Slovak coach Vladimir Weiss said. "People deserved this and I'm glad that we made Slovaks happy."

Slovakia finished with 22 points in Group Three, two ahead of Slovenia.

Poland played an attacking game but were defied by a series of saves from Slovak keeper Jan Mucha.

The match was played in a near-empty stadium following heavy snowfall and the players struggled to keep their feet.

Poland finished the qualifiers in fifth spot with 11 points.

Slovenia went through to the play-offs after winning 3-0 in San Marino.

Milivoje Novakovic put Slovenia ahead midway through the first half and Dalibor Stevanovic doubled their advantage in the second period before Marko Suler added the gloss nine minutes from time.

Chances were few and far between in Prague in what was an evenly matched encounter that had the feel of glorified friendly. The result means Czech Republic finish third, one point ahead of Nigel Worthington's Northern Ireland in fourth.

With neither side having a realistic chance of qualifying for the play-offs, it was perhaps understandable the game lacked the spice of a competitive World Cup qualifier.

The Czechs were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty in the first half while Niall McGinn miscued the best chance of the match five minutes before the break.

The second half was equally uneventful with Jaroslav Plasil going close for the Czechs and Milan Baros fluffing a late chance to hand the hosts a win.

The match began at snail's pace with Northern Ireland content to pack their defence and get bodies behind the ball and the Czechs in no hurry to take the game to their opponents.

With the exception of Arsenal midfielder Tomas Rosicky, who was probing and prodding in midfield, there was little creative spark coming from either side.

Worthington left David Healy to plough a lone furrow up front and the forward obliged as a willing runner. But on the few occasions that Northern Ireland managed to get the ball forward quickly to the striker he was isolated and all too often gave up possession without a struggle.

There were few chances in the first half, with the first glimpse of an opening for either side arriving in the 25th minute.

Northern Ireland keeper Maik Taylor got the faintest of touches to a corner from the left that did just enough to take the ball away from Tomas Necid who looked certain to score.

Northern Ireland did not have a sniff of goal until five minutes before the break. Steven Davis found McGinn in space in the area, but he miscued his effort from close range and Petr Cech managed to tip his shot wide after initially stumbling.

The Czechs were perhaps a little unfortunate not to be awarded a penalty just before the break when David Jarolim was clattered to the ground by Gareth McAuley. And their misfortune was doubled seconds later when Tomas Sivok had an effort at the near post cleared off the line.

The second half was hardly any better in terms of entertainment and equally short on goalmouth action.

McGinn took the fight to the hosts with a series of penetrative runs down the left but few others on the Northern Ireland side looked capable of turning the game in their favour.

The Celtic wideman created the visitors' best chance of the second half when he skipped past Tomas Sivok before skidding the ball across the face of the six-yard box, but that was as close as they came. The Czechs looked the stronger throughout the second half and had several half chances to break the deadlock.

Plasil was left unmarked at the far post on 51 minutes, and his effort back across goal was headed behind by Stephen Craigan.

And with ten minutes remaining, Baros should have given the hosts the lead, but shot wide from eight yards after being teed up by substitute Jiri Stajner.

Toby DAVIS / Reuters