Last time South Korea and Kazakhstan became the 9th and 10th teams to qualify for the DWC finals. Today we find out team 11, as we have yet another group from Europe. This is how the previous five have gone:
So today's group features the inaugural DWC winners, Germany. The main challengers in this group should be Bulgaria and Slovakia, who both missed out on the DWC last year, but who were both present the year before. Interestingly, both Bulgaria and Ireland will have their lines led by strikers who last year formed the front partnership for India - Dimitar Berbatov and Robbie Keane.
On paper, a trip to Bulgaria represents the toughest fixture for Germany, and so it proved. Despite going ahead from the spot, Germany found themselves 3-1 behind thanks to a goal from Berbatov and a brace from May Mahlangu. Jerome Boateng pulled one back, but it was only a consolation as Bulgaria claimed a brilliant 3-2 win. That was also the score in an exciting match between Slovakia and Belarus, as Nono's 30-yard curler proved to be the winner. Elsewhere, Ireland started miserably, being outplayed by Moldova and losing 1-0 at home.
On paper, a trip to Bulgaria represents the toughest fixture for Germany, and so it proved. Despite going ahead from the spot, Germany found themselves 3-1 behind thanks to a goal from Berbatov and a brace from May Mahlangu. Jerome Boateng pulled one back, but it was only a consolation as Bulgaria claimed a brilliant 3-2 win. That was also the score in an exciting match between Slovakia and Belarus, as Nono's 30-yard curler proved to be the winner. Elsewhere, Ireland started miserably, being outplayed by Moldova and losing 1-0 at home.
Belarus clearly had been taking long shot lessons from Slovakia, as Igor Stasevich scored an outrageous curling shot to put them ahead against Ireland, as Belarus came away with a 2-0 win. Germany bounced back from defeat with a powerful 5-1 defeat of Slovakia, whilst a 10th-minute header from Anicet was enough to earn Bulgaria a 1-0 win over Moldova.
Given previous form, you had to fear for Ireland as they hosted Germany. However, it was only a horrendous error from goalkeeper Alan Mannus that allowed Germany to open the scoring, and the final score was a respectable 2-0. This didn't allow Germany to close the gap, however, as Bulgaria smashed Slovakia 3-0. Elsewhere, Belarus needed added time to snatch a 1-1 draw at home to Moldova.
Ireland got their first goal of the campaign, as Robbie Keane rolled back the years with a run & calm finish against Bulgaria. It looked like it might lead to an unlikely victory, but Robbie's former India teammate Berbatov smashed in a powerful shot to grab a late equaliser. That should have resulted in Germany closing the gap, but their forwards had a terrible day as they drew 0-0 with Belarus. Elsewhere, Slovakia beat Moldova 2-0.
Ireland got their first goal of the campaign, as Robbie Keane rolled back the years with a run & calm finish against Bulgaria. It looked like it might lead to an unlikely victory, but Robbie's former India teammate Berbatov smashed in a powerful shot to grab a late equaliser. That should have resulted in Germany closing the gap, but their forwards had a terrible day as they drew 0-0 with Belarus. Elsewhere, Slovakia beat Moldova 2-0.
Once again, Bulgaria found themselves down to an early goal - this time against Belarus - and once again they could only fight back to draw 1-1. Germany faced Moldova, and a 3rd-minute Robert Lewandowski penalty looked to have settled any nerves. However, their opponents levelled as Alhaji Kamara slipped past Mats Hummels. In the 83rd minute Marco looked to have won it for Germany as he finished from his own rebound, but just five minutes later Jeremy de Nooijer headed home a free kick to earn a remarkable 2-2 draw for Moldova! In the group's other game, there was yet another draw as Ireland claimed a battling 1-1 draw against Slovakia.
It's been a surprisingly chaotic group so far, this is the table:
It's been a surprisingly chaotic group so far, this is the table:
With only two wins in five, Germany are in a spot of bother. With strong teams like Netherlands and Turkey already in the play-offs, it's very important to try and avoid ending up there.
With that in mind, their home match against Bulgaria next could be absolutely crucial. It looked bad as Tiago Rodrigues scored the only goal of the first half, but just after the break Lewandowski fired Germany level. The game was drifting towards a draw until the 87th minute when a scramble in the box led to the ball falling to Emil Forsberg, who smashed the ball home. For the second game in a row, Germany had taken the lead in the final few minutes - and once again there was more action. However, time time it resulted in Germany stretching their lead with a Lewandowski penalty. Rodrigues immediately replied with a shot that went through Manuel Neuer, but Germany hung on for a 3-2 win - exact revenge for their opening defeat. Revenge also looked on the cards as Belarus flew out of the traps to lead Slovakia 2-0. However, Marek Bakos pulled one back, before Boris Godal's penalty made it all-square. We weren't finished, though, and in added time Bakos pulled the ball across goal for his strike partner Andrez Sporar to blast home and earn a second 3-2 win over the same opponents. With all that dramatic action, Moldova and Ireland provided a contrast with a dull 0-0.
With that in mind, their home match against Bulgaria next could be absolutely crucial. It looked bad as Tiago Rodrigues scored the only goal of the first half, but just after the break Lewandowski fired Germany level. The game was drifting towards a draw until the 87th minute when a scramble in the box led to the ball falling to Emil Forsberg, who smashed the ball home. For the second game in a row, Germany had taken the lead in the final few minutes - and once again there was more action. However, time time it resulted in Germany stretching their lead with a Lewandowski penalty. Rodrigues immediately replied with a shot that went through Manuel Neuer, but Germany hung on for a 3-2 win - exact revenge for their opening defeat. Revenge also looked on the cards as Belarus flew out of the traps to lead Slovakia 2-0. However, Marek Bakos pulled one back, before Boris Godal's penalty made it all-square. We weren't finished, though, and in added time Bakos pulled the ball across goal for his strike partner Andrez Sporar to blast home and earn a second 3-2 win over the same opponents. With all that dramatic action, Moldova and Ireland provided a contrast with a dull 0-0.
We had yet another repeat match as Bulgaria beat Moldova 1-0 thanks to an Anicet header from a corner. And it proved enough to return the Bulgarians to the top of the table, as Germany were held to a 0-0 draw away to Slovakia, despite 21 shots to their opponent's 2. Meanwhile, Ireland extended their unbeaten run to four - and their drawing streak - as they played out a 0-0 with Belarus.
With a trip to Dortmund next, Ireland's unbeaten run looked unlikely to continue, especially after Lewandowski prodded Germany ahead. But no - a late free kick found Stephen O'Donnell on the edge of the box, and his powerful shot had enough on it to beat Neuer and earn an incredible 1-1 draw! This allowed Bulgaria to move to the verge of qualification as they beat Slovakia 2-0. Moldova battled hard with 10 men against Belarus, making it very galling to see them lose in the final few minutes when an aimless cross took a big deflection off Ante Kulusic and creep into the bottom corner for a 1-0 Belarus win.
With a trip to Dortmund next, Ireland's unbeaten run looked unlikely to continue, especially after Lewandowski prodded Germany ahead. But no - a late free kick found Stephen O'Donnell on the edge of the box, and his powerful shot had enough on it to beat Neuer and earn an incredible 1-1 draw! This allowed Bulgaria to move to the verge of qualification as they beat Slovakia 2-0. Moldova battled hard with 10 men against Belarus, making it very galling to see them lose in the final few minutes when an aimless cross took a big deflection off Ante Kulusic and creep into the bottom corner for a 1-0 Belarus win.
A Lewandowski hat-trick and yet another Neuer error resulted in a 3-1 win for Germany over Belarus. This meant Bulgaria needed a win against Ireland to secure qualification, and Berbatov's penalty would have been enough, but the icing on the cake was delivered by an absurd Rory Feely own goal, as he guided a header beyond Mannus. Slovakia needed to beat Moldova to avoid elimination, but they could only get a point from a dour 0-0 draw.
That last round of fixtures means that this is the table with one game to go:
Sadly, this leaves nothing at stake in the final round of fixtures...
Germany made a number of changes for their final game, a 3-1 win over Moldova, but it was mainstay Lewandowski who got all three goals, taking his tally for the group up to 13. This meant Ireland could sneak off the bottom with a win over Slovakia, but a Godal penalty ensured a 1-0 Slovakian win. Finally, Bulgaria rounded off a superb group performance with a 3-0 win over Belarus.
Final table
Germany made a number of changes for their final game, a 3-1 win over Moldova, but it was mainstay Lewandowski who got all three goals, taking his tally for the group up to 13. This meant Ireland could sneak off the bottom with a win over Slovakia, but a Godal penalty ensured a 1-0 Slovakian win. Finally, Bulgaria rounded off a superb group performance with a 3-0 win over Belarus.
Final table
Since we're getting towards the end of European qualifying, let's look at how the second-placed teams rank, because the best of those will qualify for the Intercontinental play-off, which is likely to be far easier than the European play-offs:
Turkey's 22 points may well be enough to see them through. Everyone else in the table above is certain to be in the European play-offs. These are unseeded, so there is a one-in-seven chance that Netherlands and Germany will face each other. With France, Spain and Portugal to come, the play-offs could be utterly brutal this year.
Next time, we find out who is the third African team to qualify, with North African rivals Tunisia and Algeria the favourites.
Next time, we find out who is the third African team to qualify, with North African rivals Tunisia and Algeria the favourites.