FIFA.com - News

European qualifying fixtures announced

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 16:52:00 GMT

All but two of the Groups in European Zone qualifying for Brazil 2014 have had their fixtures finalised, with England, France, Italy and Spain starting out away to Moldova, Finland, Bulgaria and Georgia respectively.

Stange: Don't take Belarus lightly

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 08:21:00 GMT

FIFA.com hears from Bernd Stange, the German coach currently masterminding the meteoric rise of a Belarus side currently challenging France for a place at UEFA EURO 2012.

Del Bosque: We can’t focus just on France

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 16:12:00 GMT

“I’m not euphoric but I’m not sad either. We need to accept it because that’s the way fate wanted it, and we’ll live with the consequences,” Vicente del Bosque, Spain coach.

Champions draw early French test

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 16:28:00 GMT

On the road to Brazil 2014, all eyes will be on the heavyweight battle between France and Spain in qualifying Group I of the European region, while Belarus, Georgia and Finland complete the section.

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.

Del Bosque warns against French focus

Sat, 30 Jul 2011 23:01:00 GMT

Holders Spain were handed a daunting opponent in France at Saturday's Preliminary Draw but their coach Vicente del Bosque told FIFA.com that his world champions would be wrong to focus just on the French in Group I.

Berbatov treble helps Bulgaria cruise

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 22:48:00 GMT

Bulgaria ended their campaign with a 6-2 victory over Group 8 tailenders Georgia in Vaduz, with star man Dimitar Berbatov scoring a hat-trick.

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.

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.

Unconvincing, but ominous Italy

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 04:57:00 GMT

Italy have qualified for South Africa 2010 and will start the competition amongst the favourites, but this was far from a comfortable cruise to the finals.

European quartet stamp tickets

Sat, 10 Oct 2009 23:46:00 GMT

Italy, Germany, Denmark and Serbia all sealed their places at South Africa 2010 with positive results during Saturday's nervy round of qualifiers.

Debutant Delibasic propels Montenegro

Sat, 10 Oct 2009 21:56:00 GMT

Andrija Delibasic scored the winner on his debut as Montenegro earned their maiden South Africa 2010 qualifying triumph with a defeat of Georgia.

Keane eyeing Italian showdown

Sun, 06 Sep 2009 19:35:00 GMT

With Ireland and Italy battling fiercely for first place in Group 8, Republic striker Robbie Keane has already turned his focus to 10 October's vital qualifier in Dublin.

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.

Italy revel in Kaladze nightmare

Sat, 05 Sep 2009 21:28:00 GMT

AC Milan centre-half Kakha Kaladze scored an own-goal as Italy beat Georgia 2-0 in a dramatic 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa qualifier.

Big names face decisive duels

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 08:06:00 GMT

Portugal, Sweden, France and Czech Republic are all under pressure to claim maximum points as they limber up for vital FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Ronaldo faces World Cup heartbreak

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 05:41:00 GMT

A massive week of FIFA World Cup qualifying matches loom in Europe with Cristiano Ronaldo and his Portugal team facing the prospect of elimination.

Italy squad for Georgia, Bulgaria

Sun, 30 Aug 2009 16:41:00 GMT

Italy coach Marcello Lippi has named his 23-man squad for next month's South Africa 2010 qualification matches against Georgia and Bulgaria.

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.

Stoilov named as new Bulgaria coach

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 22:17:00 GMT

Litex Lovech coach Stanimir Stoilov was on Friday handed the job of trying to guide struggling Bulgaria into the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals.

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?

Fast starters eye nine from nine

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 09:09:00 GMT

England, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Ukraine and Spain will hope to make it three wins in a row, but the pressure is on Croatia, France and Portugal.

FIFA gives green light to Georgia

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 14:19:00 GMT

FIFA has confirmed that Georgia's next two home qualifiers for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa will take place in Tbilisi.

De Rossi fires Italy past Georgia

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 22:11:00 GMT

Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi proved the match-winner with a brace as world champions Italy laboured to a 2-0 victory over Georgia.

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.

Swiss slip up as Theo runs riot

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 17:58:00 GMT

From Switzerland's home defeat by Luxembourg to Theo Walcott's hat-trick, there have been thrills aplenty in Matchday 2 of European qualifying.

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.

Gattuso out of Georgia clash

Sun, 07 Sep 2008 22:24:00 GMT

Injured Gennaro Gattuso will join Fabio Grosso and Alessandro Gamberini on the sidelines when Italy take on Georgia on Wednesday.

Lippi rules out replacements

Sun, 07 Sep 2008 22:13:00 GMT

Italy coach Marcelo Lippi has said he will not be making any additions to his squad in place of injured defenders Fabio Grosso and Alessandro Gamberini.

Irish give Trapattoni winning start

Sat, 06 Sep 2008 19:40:00 GMT

Republic of Ireland beat Georgia 2-1 in their opening FIFA World Cup Group 8 match to give Italian coach Giovanni Trapattoni a winning start.

Europe up and running

Sat, 06 Sep 2008 16:01:00 GMT

England needed two-goal hero Joe Cole to beat Andorra on a day when France lost to Austria and Italy needed a little luck to beat Cyprus.

Iashvili preaches strength in unity

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 08:22:00 GMT

Ahead of European qualifying for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, FIFA.com spoke exclusively to Karlsruhe and Georgia striker Alexander Iashvili.

Italy aim to recapture spirit of Berlin

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Back in the Italian hot seat after two years away, Marcello Lippi must now guide the Nazionale safely through to South Africa 2010.

Georgia-Republic of Ireland to take place in Mainz

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:02:00 GMT

The South Africa 2010 qualifier between Georgia and Republic of Ireland will take place in the neutral venue of Mainz, Germany due to unrest in Georgia.

FIFA continues to monitor situation in Georgia

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 18:31:00 GMT

FIFA has confirmed that it is continuing to monitor the situation in Georgia and is liaising closely with the Georgian Football Federation (GFF).

Georgia-Republic of Ireland to take place at a neutral venue

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 12:27:00 GMT

FIFA today decided that the 2010 FIFA World Cup preliminary match between Georgia and the Republic of Ireland will take place at a neutral venue.

FIFA monitoring situation in Georgia

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 16:40:00 GMT

FIFA has confirmed it is monitoring the situation in Georgia, who are due to host Republic of Ireland in a South Africa 2010 qualifier on 6 September.

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.

Donadoni (ITA): They're tough opponents

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 20:38:00 GMT

Roberto Donadoni, Italy (Coach): "Bulgaria, Ireland, Georgia, Montenegro don't have a great football tradition but they are difficult opponents. On paper Bulgaria should be the one to push us closest for qualification."

Italian job looks straightforward

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 20:35:46 GMT

Italy, the FIFA World Cup holders, start out on the long road in defence of their crown in a section which includes Bulgaria and Republic of Ireland.

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.