FIFA.com - News

Toshack: A huge challenge

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 08:06:00 GMT

FYR Macedonia coach John Toshack speaks to FIFA.com about facing up to Wales in the Brazil 2014 qualifiers and about the scale of the task facing him in developing his team into a force to be reckoned with.

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.

Levein: We have homework to do

Sun, 07 Aug 2011 17:12:00 GMT

"It could have been worse. With a draw like this we’ll have a lot of homework to do in preparation for the matches, and I wouldn’t dare to make any predictions at this early stage. I have faith in my team," Craig Levein, Scotland manager

Wide open in Group A

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 20:46:00 GMT

Group A is possibly the hardest to call out of all the European qualifiers, with every team no doubt thinking they at least have a chance of a play-off spot, and no game looking like an easy asking.

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.

Norway clinch second in group

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 23:50:00 GMT

Norway clinched second place in qualifying Group 9 after a dominant victory over FYR Macedonia in Oslo, but may fall short of a play-off berth.

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.

Fletcher wary of Dutch threat

Sun, 06 Sep 2009 14:13:00 GMT

Scotland cannot afford to take the already-qualified Netherlands lightly in their final Group 9 qualifier on 9 September, according to key midfielder Darren Fletcher.

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.

Burley: Everyone played their part

Sat, 05 Sep 2009 17:43:00 GMT

George Burley praised the Scotland team and country's fans for playing their part in the vital 2-0 qualifying win over FYR Macedonia at Hampden.

Scotland secure vital win

Sat, 05 Sep 2009 17:24:00 GMT

Scott Brown and James McFadden were on target as Scotland beat FYR Macedonia 2-0 to move into the driving seat to finish as Group 9 runners-up.

Bullish Burley keeps the faith

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 15:08:00 GMT

George Burley has said that he fully expects Scotland to see off FYR Macedonia at Hampden Park tomorrow - because his side are "the better team".

Berra blow for Burley

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 10:23:00 GMT

Christophe Berra was today ruled out of Scotland's 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa qualifier with Macedonia on Saturday due to illness.

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.

Scots in make-or-break Macedonia clash

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 06:37:00 GMT

Celtic defender Stephen McManus could lead Scotland in their must-win FIFA World Cup qualifier against FYR Macedonia despite a lengthy absence with injury.

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.

Boyd fears for South Africa 2010 hopes

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 06:33:00 GMT

Finishing second in their South Africa 2010 qualification group may not be enough to keep Scottish hopes alive says national team Tom Boyd.

Smith: Fans will be behind us

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 15:54:00 GMT

The Scotland supporters can roar the team on to victories over FYR Macedonia and the Netherlands, according to SFA chief executive Gordon Smith.

Macedonia confident of Hampden win

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 10:20:00 GMT

Macedonia keeper Jane Nikolovski has said that Scotland are now worse than they were when the sides met in their FIFA World Cup qualifying opener.

Scots drinking at last chance saloon

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 09:44:00 GMT

It's win or bust for Scotland as they approach a decisive home double-header. Stephen McManus, Darren Fletcher and James McFadden look ahead.

O'Connor replaces Kyle for Scots

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 15:04:00 GMT

Scotland have called up Birmingham City striker Garry O'Connor for their qualifiers against Macedonia and the Netherlands as a replacement for the injured Kevin Kyle.

Kyle and Weir win Scotland recall

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 11:47:00 GMT

Kevin Kyle and David Weir were today recalled to the Scotland squad for the vital South Africa 2010 qualifiers with FYR Macedonia and Netherlands.

McCormack ruled out for Scotland

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 10:59:00 GMT

Ross McCormack has ruled himself out of Scotland's crunch 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa double-header against Macedonia and the Netherlands.

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.

Olsen hopes Dutch lack focus

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 03:49:00 GMT

With the Netherlands qualifying for South Africa 2010 last weekend, Norway coach Egil Olsen is hoping that the Dutch will be distracted for their qualifier.

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.

FYR Macedonia hold Norway

Sat, 06 Jun 2009 19:53:00 GMT

Norway remain without a win in 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa qualifying after they were held to a goalless draw by FYR Macedonia in Skopje.

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.

Four-star Dutch on the cusp

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 22:41:00 GMT

Liverpool striker Dirk Kuyt scored twice as Holland beat Macedonia 4-0 to register their fifth win in five South Africa 2010 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.

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?

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.

Burley upbeat despite fresh injury blows

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 02:45:00 GMT

Despite two more additions to Scotland's lengthy injury list, manager George Burley is upbeat heading into Wednesday's qualifier in Iceland.

Scotland wilt in Macedonia

Sat, 06 Sep 2008 16:56:00 GMT

Scotland crashed to a 1-0 defeat in their opening FIFA World Cup Group 9 qualifier in Macedonia, where temperatures hit a sizzling 35 degrees.

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.

Burley demands positive charge

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 03:06:00 GMT

Despite a number of injuries that have decimated his squad, Scotland manager George Burley is confident of a good result against Macedonia.

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.

Orange and Tartan to clash

Mon, 26 Nov 2007 00:56:00 GMT

In the only five-team group, Netherlands will come under strong pressure from Scotland if they can maintain their recent improvement.

Van Basten (NED): Scotland are very dangerous

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 19:10:00 GMT

Marco van Basten: "Scotland are very dangerous at the moment, especially over the last two years, and we have to be very careful playing against them."

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.