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Featured Sport News

World Cup qualifying hots up

Author: Brandon Barker
Date: 16/06/2009

England are well on their way to qualifying for the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa, but several sides have already booked their places at the showpiece event.

The hosts of course have been able to relax in the knowledge that they are guaranteed a finals spot and they will definitely be joined by the Netherlands, Australia, Japan and South Korea.

The Dutch have powered through thanks to seven wins out of seven in European qualifying Group Nine, having won four home games without conceding a goal.

England have matched that record of seven consecutive victories and are one more victory away from securing their qualification from Group Six.

European champions and one of the sportsbook betting favourites to win next summer's tournament, Spain, have not dropped a point in six games in Group Five.

In Group Seven, Serbia appear to be well on their way to South Africa thanks to six wins out of seven, but France have two games in hand and are eight points adrift.

Germany head Group Four by just one point after six games, with Russia, astutely coached by the wily Guus Hiddink, putting up a major challenge to their more illustrious rivals.

The Czech Republic are currently in fourth place in Group Three and face a tough ask to even make the play-offs, a position made even worse by the fact that Slovakia top the group.

In Group One both Portugal and Sweden are in trouble, being seven points adrift of section leaders Denmark and four points behind a resurgent Hungary side.

England's Wayne Rooney is the leading scorer in Europe so far, having found the net eight times in seven games for Fabio Capello's side.

Brazil top the South American group and look certain to take one of the four automatic qualifying spots, with Chile and Paraguay second and third, while Argentina have work to do as they are currently fourth, but only two points ahead of Ecuador.

In North and Central America, both Costa Rica and the USA are well on their way to South Africa, but Mexico are in grave danger of missing out.

They are fourth in the group behind Honduras and face a play-off against the fifth-placed team in South America unless they can improve on a record of just two wins in five games.

With Australia, Japan and South Korea all on their way to the finals already, North Korea, Saudi Arabia and Iran are all in contention for the fourth automatic slot ahead of a crucial final round of games.

New Zealand have wrapped up top spot in Oceania, but will face a play-off to try and secure a second appearance in the World Cup finals.

African qualification is still very much up in the air, with the final group stages having only just got underway.

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