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.

Capello: England need to be careful

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 09:32:00 GMT

"England need to be careful, this will not be easy. We’ve seen already the strength of Ukraine and Montenegro," Fabio Capello, England manager.

Familiar foes await England

Wed, 03 Aug 2011 09:59:00 GMT

Ukraine, Poland and Montenegro, all of whom have taken points off England in previous qualifying campaigns, are once again preparing to challenge the Three Lions in Group H.

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.

Final four win through in Europe

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:33:00 GMT

France, Portugal, Slovenia and Greece were the teams left celebrating at the end of a dramatic evening of play-off action in the European Zone.

Charisteas: It's simply fantastic

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:43:00 GMT

Greece striker Angelos Charisteas toasted another significant chapter in Greek football after Otto Rehhagel's team reached South Africa 2010.

Greeks return to world stage

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:21:00 GMT

Greece edged Ukraine to reach South Africa 2010 with a 1-0 win in Donetsk, returning to the FIFA World Cup finals for the first time since USA 1994.

Shevchenko warns of tough battle ahead

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 02:53:00 GMT

Ukraine star forward Andrei Shevchenko says he expects the second leg FIFA World Cup play-off tie against Greece to be a tough battle.

European qualifiers preview

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:36:00 GMT

France, Portugal and Russia will all carry one-goal advantages into the second legs of their play-offs, while Ukraine and Greece begin level in Donetsk.

European trio earn slender leads

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 23:07:00 GMT

Russia, France and Portugal emerged with narrow one-goal advantages from their play-off first legs, while Greece and Ukraine played out a 0-0 draw.

Rehhagel: Everything is open

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 21:43:00 GMT

Greece coach Otto Rehhagel and Ukraine counterpart Alexei Mikhailichenko have been giving their reaction after their sides' play-off draw.

Stalemate in Athens

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 20:47:00 GMT

Greece and Ukraine's qualifying play-off proved as tight as expected, with these evenly-matched teams fighting out a tight goalless draw in Athens.

Greece, Ukraine prepare for tight clash

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:52:00 GMT

Greece coach Otto Rehhagel and Ukraine counterpart Alexei Mikhailichenko have been speaking ahead of their sides' European Zone play-off.

Tymoshchuk: Thrillers in store

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 08:07:00 GMT

Ukraine star Anatoliy Tymoshchuk is expecting two action-packed, hard-fought matches against Greece as they battle for a place in South Africa.

Greece looks to rediscover 2004 magic

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 03:21:00 GMT

Greece will look to put recent disappointments behind them by overcoming Ukraine in their upcoming South Africa 2010 play-offs.

Euro giants face play-off test

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 02:25:00 GMT

European giants including Germany 2006 runners-up France, and semi-finalists Portugal, face a test of nerves in their FIFA World Cup play-offs.

Rivals poised for play-off jousts

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:33:00 GMT

A quartet of South Africa 2010 berth remain up for grabs in Europe and will be contested by eight highly-motivated teams in a series of play-offs.

Who will be the play-off heroes?

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:17:00 GMT

With five play-offs for places at South Africa 2010 set to commence, FIFA.com wants to know which players you think will star in these crunch ties.

Gekas: It's in our own hands

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:07:00 GMT

The leading scorer in the European Zone qualifiers for South Africa 2010, Theofanis Gekas, is in confident mood before the play-off with Ukraine.

Greece call on Mitroglou

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:58:00 GMT

Olympiacos striker Kostas Mitroglou, 21, has been handed a first full call-up for Greece's European Zone South Africa 2010 qualifying play-off against Ukraine.

Samaras: We can't have regrets

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:07:00 GMT

FIFA.com speaks exclusively to Greece attacker Georgios Samaras about their upcoming play-off with old rivals Ukraine for a ticket to South Africa.

Users expect tense battles

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 08:44:00 GMT

You clearly feel that the play-offs will all be tight affairs, as only a small minority consider the outcomes clear-cut before a ball has been kicked.

Who will win the play-offs?

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 07:43:00 GMT

In this week's Have Your Say debate, FIFA.com wants your opinions on the following question: Who will win the FIFA World Cup play-offs?

Reaction to the play-off draw

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:30:00 GMT

Representatives of the eight countries taking part in next month's European Zone FIFA World Cup play-offs gave their reactions to Monday's draw.

European play-offs wide open

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:47:00 GMT

FIFA.com analyses the four play-off ties in the European Zone by looking at the past as well as the present as South Africa 2010 looms ever closer.

Play-off octet learn their fate

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:14:00 GMT

The much-anticipated draw for the European Zone 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa qualifying play-offs has taken place at the Home of FIFA in Zurich.

Seeded four set for play-off draw

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 22:51:00 GMT

France, Greece, Portugal and Russia will be the seeded teams when the draw for the European Zone play-offs for South Africa 2010 takes place.

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.

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.

Capello proud in defeat

Sat, 10 Oct 2009 21:19:00 GMT

Fabio Capello said that he was "proud" despite watching his England side lose 1-0 to Ukraine for the first competitive defeat of the Italian's reign.

England crash in Ukraine

Sat, 10 Oct 2009 19:49:00 GMT

England lost their 100 per cent South Africa 2010 qualifying record as Serhiy Nazarenko gave Ukraine a 1-0 win over Fabio Capello's ten men.

European qualifiers preview

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 08:24:00 GMT

Ten tickets to South Africa remain up for grabs in Europe, where crucial games are set to unfold in Athens, Copenhagen, Dublin, Lisbon and Moscow.

Terry desperate for dual success

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 11:21:00 GMT

John Terry has revealed his agony at failing to win the UEFA Champions League and the FIFA World Cup, and his desperation to atone for this in 2010.

Walcott not among England squad

Sun, 04 Oct 2009 21:04:00 GMT

Fabio Capello has not recalled Theo Walcott to the England fold, but selected Gabriel Agbonlahor, Rio Ferdinand and David James for the next qualifiers.

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.

Belarus dent Ukraine chances

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 21:48:00 GMT

Ukraine were held to a goalless draw in an entertaining game in Belarus, diminishing their hopes of achieving a top-two finish in their section.

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.

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.

Stange names Belarus squad

Sun, 30 Aug 2009 20:13:00 GMT

Belarus coach Bernd Stange has named his squad for their South Africa 2010 qualifiers against Croatia in Zagreb and Ukraine in Minsk.

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.

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.

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.

Croatia rally to retain second

Sat, 06 Jun 2009 22:23:00 GMT

Croatia came from behind to earn a 2-2 draw against Ukraine and retain second place in Group 6 of European Zone qualifying for the FIFA World Cup.

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.

Resilient England please Gerrard

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 08:59:00 GMT

Steven Gerrard says that England have a new-found belief after their strong fightback against Ukraine maintained their unblemished record.

Big guns fire as Poland cut loose

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 23:16:00 GMT

Spain, England and the Netherlands all won to move closer to a place in South Africa, while Poland scored a perfect ten against San Marino.

England leave it late

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 22:16:00 GMT

John Terry came to the rescue with an 86th-minute header to maintain England's 100 per cent record in Group 6 with a 2-1 win over Ukraine.