European Championship Qualifying Group A

Armenia News

October 14, 2009Turkey 2-0 Armenia: Terim ends with a win
Goals from Halil Altintop and Servet Cetin earned Turkey a 2-0 victory against Armenia in their World Cup Group Five qualifier on Wednesday, small consolation after they failed to qualify for next year's finals.

October 9, 2009Armenia v Spain: Preview


September 10, 2009Armenia 1-2 Spain: Mata nets penalty winner
A neat finish from Cesc Fabregas and a Juan Mata penalty gave Spain a 2-1 win over Armenia in their World Cup Group Five qualifier on Saturday.

September 9, 2009Armenia 2-1 Belgium: Historic Armenian win
Armenia caused a shock with their first victory in World Cup qualifying Group Five as goals from Hovhannes Goharyan and Sargis Hovsepyan saw off Belgium.

Azerbaijan News

October 14, 2009Azerbaijan 1-1 Russia: Lacklustre Russia held
Vagif Javadov cancelled out Andrei Arshavin's early goal as a lacklustre Russia side rounded off their World Cup Group Four qualifying campaign with a draw against Azerbaijan.

September 10, 2009Liechtenstein 0-2 Azerbaijan: First ever away win
Azerbaijan moved off the bottom of World Cup qualifying Group Four courtesy of their first ever away win , at the expense of Liechtenstein in Vaduz.

September 9, 2009Germany 4-0 Azerbaijan: Germans a step closer
Germany edged closer to securing a place at next summer's World Cup finals with a comfortable victory over Azerbaijan in Hanover.

September 5, 2009Azerbaijan 1-2 Finland: Late goal gives hope
Finland came from behind to earn a hard-fought 2-1 win at Azerbaijan in a World Cup qualifier on Saturday and keep alive their faint hopes of reaching next year's finals in South Africa.

Belgium News

December 8, 2009Belgium give Advocaat green light for AZ job
The Belgian football association have granted national team coach Dick Advocaat permission to speak to AZ Alkmaar over the possibility of him joining the Dutch champions until the end of the season.

November 18, 2009The brats of Belgian football
Jon Carter on how an attitude problem contributed to Belgium's absence from the World Cup.

October 14, 2009Estonia 2-0 Belgium: Belgians beaten away
Estonia completed their World Cup qualifying Group Five campaign with an encouraging victory over Belgium.

October 13, 2009Belgium ask FIFA to ban Fellaini for Everton game
Belgium have asked FIFA to prevent Marouane Fellaini from playing for Everton this weekend after the midfielder pulled out of their clash with Estonia on Wednesday because of surgery he needed on his wisdom teeth.

Finland News

October 14, 2009Germany 1-1 Finland: Podolski earns late draw
Germany, already through to the 2010 World Cup, needed a last-gasp equaliser by Lukas Podolski to grab a 1-1 draw with eliminated Finland in their final qualifier on Wednesday.

October 13, 2009Baxter happy to commit his future to Finland
Stuart Baxter plans to sign a contract extension with Finland and will not be interested in the Sweden job when it becomes available.

Germany v Finland: Preview


September 10, 2009Finland 2-1 Wales: Finns seal third spot
A Niklas Moisander goal 13 minutes from time gave Finland a deserved 2-1 win over Wales on Saturday, sealing third spot for the Nordic country in World Cup European qualifying Group Four.

Kazakhstan News

October 14, 2009Kazakhstan 1-2 Croatia: Kranjcar salvages pride
An injury-time goal from Niko Kranjcar gave Croatia a 2-1 win over Kazakhstan on Wednesday but it was not enough to clinch a play-off place for next year's World Cup finals.

September 10, 2009Belarus 4-0 Kazakhstan: Kalachev shines in romp
Belarus completed their home fixtures in World Cup qualifying Group Six with a comprehensive thrashing of Kazakhstan in Brest.

June 10, 2009Ukraine 2-1 Kazakhstan: Nazarenko to the rescue
Ukraine battled back for a 2-1 win over Kazakhstan to keep up the pressure on second-placed Croatia in World Cup qualifying Group Six on Wednesday.

June 6, 2009Lampard, Capello hail a "professional" display
Frank Lampard applauded a "professional" job by England after they maintained their 100% qualifying record with a 4-0 win over Kazakhstan in World Cup Group Six.

Poland News

October 30, 2009Local takes Poland reigns for home Euro 2012 tilt
Poland have appointed local Franciszek Smuda as coach in place of sacked Dutchman Leo Beenhakker. Having missed out on a World Cup berth and qualifying automatically as hosts for Euro 2012, Smuda's first competitive game is more than two and a half y

October 14, 2009Poland 0-1 Slovakia: Thrilling win in the snow
Slovakia qualified for their first ever World Cup finals on Wednesday, clinching top spot in Group Three with a 1-0 win in Poland.

September 10, 2009Czech Republic 2-0 Poland: Miracle needed
aThe Czech Republic picked up a hollow victory as Slovenia's win over Slovakia left them needing a San Marino miracle on Wednesday to keep their World Cup dreams alive.

Poland fire Beenhakker after missing World Cup
The Polish Football Association has sacked Leo Beenhakker as coach of its national team after the side's poor showing in a loss to Slovenia that cost Poland a place in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Portugal News

February 4, 2010Deco reveals international retirement plans
Chelsea midfielder Deco has revealed he intends to quit Portugal after this summer's World Cup.

January 28, 2010Manuel Fernandes aiming to catch Queiroz's eye
Valencia midfielder Manuel Fernandes has confirmed his intention to leave the club in the hope of making the Portugal squad for the 2010 World Cup.

January 7, 2010North Korea target Portugal scalp at World Cup
North Korea assistant manager Jo Tong-Sop believes the country can cause an upset by making it to the second round of the World Cup despite being drawn in a group with Brazil, Portugal and Ivory Coast.

December 23, 2009Manuel Fernandes' agent claims Everton interest
Everton are apparently looking to take Valencia midfielder Manuel Fernandes back to the club on loan in January.

Serbia News

February 5, 2010Manager profile: Radomir Antic


January 20, 2010Frank Arok warns Socceroos of Serbia threat
Former Australia boss Frank Arok believes his home country, Serbia, could cause the Socceroos real problems from set-pieces at the World Cup.

January 18, 2010Vidic believes Ghana scalp is vital to hopes
Nemanja Vidic believes victory over Ghana in Serbia's opening match will be vital to any hopes of progressing to the knockout stages at this summer's World Cup.

December 19, 2009Coach Antic extends Serbia contract
Radomir Antic has extended his contract as Serbia coach until the end of their Euro 2012 campaign after getting the team out of a "deep black hole", in the words of his Football Association chief.