FIFA.com - News

Van Marwijk: Turkey the biggest danger

Sat, 06 Aug 2011 20:35:00 GMT

"We’re going to be facing three sides – Turkey, Hungary and Romania – with different styles. They’ll be our main rivals, with Turkey looking like the biggest danger in terms of beating us to top spot." Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk

Rocky road for the Netherlands

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 00:08:00 GMT

Favourites in a group featuring “four genuine football nations” according to coach Bert van Marwijk, the Netherlands cannot expect to have everything their own way.

Drama and derbies await in Europe

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 00:37:00 GMT

The draw for the European zone yielded some potentially thrilling sections, with local rivalries set to be stirred and the world champions left to do battle with another winner of football's ultimate prize.

Celebrations for Swiss, Slovaks

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 22:42:00 GMT

Switzerland and Slovakia seized Europe's last two automatic berths in South Africa, while Portugal, Greece, Slovenia and Ukraine made the play-offs.

Ukraine beat Croatia to play-offs

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:30:00 GMT

Ukraine ran out 6-0 victors in Andorra to make sure of a runners-up finish in Group 6 and a play-off place at the expense of Croatia, who also won.

Two tickets on offer in Europe

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 10:09:00 GMT

Switzerland, Greece, Slovakia and Slovenia head into Wednesday's final qualifiers hoping to claim the two remaining direct tickets to South Africa.

Duo recalled for Ukraine qualifiers

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 04:18:00 GMT

Taras Mykhalyk and Olexander Aliyev have been recalled to the Ukraine squad for their important upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Kazakhstan secure second win

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 23:46:00 GMT

Kazakhstan completed the double over Andorra tonight with a 3-1 win in Andorra La Vella in Group 6 of the European qualifying zone.

England and Serbia on the verge

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 00:54:00 GMT

England and Serbia will have the chance to reach South Africa 2010 in midweek, while Denmark, Slovakia and Spain could also secure qualification.

Swedes surge as France flounder

Sat, 05 Sep 2009 23:32:00 GMT

Sweden gave some much-needed impetus to their qualification hopes with a win over Hungary, while France could only draw with Romania at home.

Ukraine sweep aside Andorra

Sat, 05 Sep 2009 18:06:00 GMT

Artem Milevskiy scored two of the goals as Ukraine eased to a 5-0 win over Andorra that moved them level with Croatia in the Group 6 standings.

Terry dismisses fitness concerns

Sat, 05 Sep 2009 10:09:00 GMT

John Terry says that he finds it "bizarre" that his fitness is being questioned as England close in on a place at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa.

Ukraine seek goals and glory

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 08:36:00 GMT

With Ukraine three points behind Croatia with a game in hand, Alexei Mikhailichenko's team are still very much in the race for a play-off place.

England, Serbia edge ever closer

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 23:20:00 GMT

England took a big step towards next year's finals in South Africa with an emphatic win over Andorra while Serbia and Russia did their hopes no harm.

England edge closer

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 22:28:00 GMT

England are one win away from securing a place at next year's FIFA World Cup finals after a comprehensive 6-0 victory over Andorra.

Capello anticipates defensive Andorra

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 14:29:00 GMT

Andorra will put ten men behind the ball in an attempt to frustrate England, according to Fabio Capello, who has urged his England side to score early.

Mission to join the Dutch

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 09:56:00 GMT

A crop of European teams could put one hand on a place at South Africa 2010 in midweek, while others will attempt to improve their slim chances.

Heskey hails Rooney the great

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 15:02:00 GMT

Emile Heskey has labelled Wayne Rooney a "great player", but believes England will be given a stiff examination by Andorra at Wembley.

Lampard eyes management

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 10:01:00 GMT

England and Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard has revealed his desire to enter football management after he finishes his playing career.

Safe passage for Netherlands

Sat, 06 Jun 2009 22:56:00 GMT

The Netherlands became the first European side to book passage to South Africa as England, Serbia, Denmark and Slovakia moved closer to the finals.

Five-star Belarus stay in touch

Sat, 06 Jun 2009 20:32:00 GMT

Two goals apiece from Gennady Bliznyuk and Sergey Kornilenko eased Belarus to a 5-1 European Zone Group 6 qualifying victory over Andorra in Grodno.

Dutch close in as neighbours clash

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 07:57:00 GMT

In Europe, the Netherlands know that a win in Iceland will guarantee a spot in South Africa, while Sweden square up to Nordic neighbours Demark.

Lampard warns against complacency

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 12:10:00 GMT

England will not take Kazakhstan lightly according to Frank Lampard, who has urged his team to strenghten their grip on a place in South Africa.

England face goalkeeper crises

Tue, 19 May 2009 07:39:00 GMT

Injuries to David James and Ben Foster have left England manager Fabio Capello with a goalkeeper crises for next month's FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Flawless trio aim for more

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 16:38:00 GMT

Spain, England and Netherlands have won all their games to date and are out to consolidate their leads on matchday six in the European Zone.

Points mean pride for Andorra

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 08:11:00 GMT

FIFA.com hears from Andorra coach David Rodrigo on the challenge of ensuring that this tiny nation punches above its weight in European qualifying.

Stork takes over Kazakhstan

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 22:17:00 GMT

Berndt Stork was appointed Kazakhstan new national coach on Friday, the country football federation's press service announced.

Determining Europe's runners-up

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 15:17:00 GMT

FIFA has revealed the criteria that will determine the eight best runners-up in the group phase of European Zone qualifying for South Africa 2010.

Fearsome foursome lead the way

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 05:10:00 GMT

Four teams have maintained a perfect record on the first three matchdays of European qualifying for South Africa 2010. Can they keep it up?

Kazakhstan sack Pijpers

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 12:08:00 GMT

It was announced today that Kazakhstan's Dutch coach, 49-year-old Arno Pijpers, has been relieved of his duties by the country's FA.

Trebles steal the headlines

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 18:24:00 GMT

Theo Walcott scored a hat-trick to inspire England to a 4-1 win in Croatia, while Miroslav Klose's treble saved Germany from defeat in Finland.

All eyes on Zagreb

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 11:24:00 GMT

England face a tough test against bogey side Croatia in the pick of Wednesday evening's FIFA World Cup qualifying matches in Europe.

Big guns fail to convince

Sun, 07 Sep 2008 00:07:00 GMT

England and Italy struggled to victory over minnows, Austria upset France, and Romania and Scotland fell to surprise defeats on their openers.

Cole spares England's blushes

Sat, 06 Sep 2008 21:14:00 GMT

Substitute Joe Cole rescued England as his double secured a 2-0 victory over Andorra in their opening FIFA World Cup qualifier in Barcelona.

Beckham out, Walcott in for England

Sat, 06 Sep 2008 18:29:00 GMT

David Beckham has been left out of England's starting line-up for their FIFA World Cup qualifier against Andorra, with Theo Walcott taking his place.

Rio out for Andorra test

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 18:02:00 GMT

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has been ruled out of England's opening qualifier against Andorra on Saturday with a back injury.

Capello's first test awaits

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 05:41:00 GMT

Fabio Capello heads into England's first FIFA World Cup qualifier against Andorra on Saturday with his coaching reputation squarely on the line.

Barry haunted by ghosts of Andorra

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 01:33:00 GMT

Although he was only on the bench the last time England played Andorra, Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry remembers the crowd reaction very well.

Shearer shocked by Owen omission

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 11:33:00 GMT

Alan Shearer has questioned Fabio Capello's decision to leave Michael Owen out of his squad for England's opening South Africa 2010 qualifiers.

Capello and England at the ready

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 09:19:00 GMT

After a series of dress rehearsals over the past seven months, England play their first competitive game under Italian Fabio Capello on Saturday.

Ostapenko shoots down Andorra

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 10:56:00 GMT

Sergei Ostapenko scored twice to drive Kazakhstan to a 3-0 win over Andorra as European Zone qualifying to South Africa 2010 began.

European qualifiers taking shape

Wed, 16 Jan 2008 12:00:00 GMT

The European teams have been busy drawing up a fixture list, with the matchdays for Groups 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, and 8 now set in stone.

Beckham (ENG): A chance to get our own back

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 19:28:00 GMT

David Beckham: "It's a group with some very tough teams in there and obviously Croatia's in there again and we have to try to get our own back."

England handed revenge mission

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 19:01:00 GMT

England have the chance for revenge against Croatia, their nemesis in UEFA EURO 2008 qualifying, after the sides were drawn together.

Europe stirs preliminary passions

Sat, 24 Nov 2007 12:39:00 GMT

In our feature examining the history of FIFA World Cup preliminaries, FIFA.com reflects on Europe's most memorable and dramatic qualifiers.