European qualification for Brazil 2014 round up

Group A

Belgium and Croatia took giant steps to securing the top two spots in Group A as both won 2-0 at home to the group's two Great Britain representatives in Scotland and Wales respectively. 

Real Madrid's Luka Modric was in inspired form as Croatia cruised past Wales in Zagreb. Chris Coleman's side had done the hard part and kept the Croat's at bay for the opening 20 minutes; however a mix up between captain Ashley Williams and Lewis Price gifted the hosts their opener, with Mario Mandzukic blocking and then converting the goalkeeper's kick out. Croatia created a host of chances, and their deserved second duly arrived when the former Arsenal forward Eduardo Da Silva tapped in from close range. The defeat leaves Wales seven points adrift of Croatia, with their chances of qualification realistically all but over.

Eduaro sealed the points for Croatia

For the second consecutive match Scotland conceded twice late on to miss out on important away points. The Premier league duo of Christian Benteke and Vincent Kompany broke Scottish hearts to leave them bottom of Group A after two games, in doing so giving Belgium a brilliant chance of making the 2014 World Cup.

The group's other game saw Macedonia beat Serbia 1-0, to go level on four points with their counterparts. 

Belgium P4 Pts 10

Croatia P4 Pts 10

Serbia P4 Pts 4

Macedonia P4 Pts 4

Wales P4 Pts 3

Scotland P4 Pts 2

Group B

The ten men of Italy took a giant step towards Brazil following their 3-1 win over Denmark, who realistically are their closest rivals for the Group B top spot. Riccardo Montolivo and Daniele De Rossi appeared to set the Azzurri on their way to a routine home win; however a minute before and after half-time changed the games perspective. Denmark got on the score sheet on the stroke of the interval via William Kvist and the Danes chances of a result improved grately when just 19 seconds into the second half Pablo Osvaldo saw red for a reckless tackle. However having been played through beautifully by Andrea Pirlo, Mario Balotelli finished in style to secure the win. The groups other game saw the Czech Republic held at home by Bulgaria in a scoreless draw.

Italy P4 Pts 10

Bulgaria P4 Pts 6

Czech Republic P3 Pts 5

Armenia P3 Pts 3

Denmark P3 Pts 2

Malta P3 Pts 0

Group C

An amazing game in Group C saw Germany throw a four goal lead away at home to Sweden in a simply unbelievable match in Berlin. Seemingly cruising after a double from Miroslav Klose was backed up with strikes from Per Mertesacker and Mesut Ozil; however Sweden stirred up the most unlikely of comebacks. Zlatan Ibrahimovic's goal on 62 minutes appeared to be just scant consolation, but Mikael Lustig and Johan Elmander ensured a nervy last ten minutes for the Germans, and they couldn't hold on as Rasmus Elm rescued an incredible point. 

The league's two other games saw the Republic of Ireland bounce back from their German nightmare on Friday in routine fashion with a 4-1 victory away to the Faroe Islands, whilst Austria thrashed Kazakhstan 4-0.

Ireland's win relived the pressure from manager Giovanni Trapattoni.

Germany P4 Pts 10

Sweden P3 Pts 7

Ireland P3 Pts 6

Austria P3 Pts 4

Kazakhstan P4 Pts 1

Faroe Islands P3 Pts 0

Group D

Holland eased to their fourth consecutive Group D win away to Romania, who prior to the defeat were level with the Dutch at the top of the group. Jeremain Lens, Marten Indi, Rafael Van Der Vaart and Robin Van Persie sealed a 4-1 win for the 2010 World Cup finalists. Turkey again disappointed as they blew a goal lead to lose away to Hungary 3-1 and ensure they went level with Romania in the battle for the all important second spot. Estonia scored their first goal in their first win as they overcame Andorra 1-0. 

Holland P4 Pts 12

Hungary P4 Pts 9

Romania P4 Pts 9

Turkey P4 Pts 3

Estonia P4 Pts 3

Andorra P4 Pts 0

Group E

All the Group E favourites won as Norway and Switzerland recorded impressive away victories. Those two will most likely battle it out for the one automatic qualification spot in the weakest European qualification group. Norway won 3-1 away to Cyprus whilst Switzerland overcame Iceland 2-0. The group's other game saw Albania beat Slovenia 1-0 to keep them on the tails of Norway. 

Switzerland P4 Pts 10

Norway P4 Pts 7

Albania P4 Pts 6

Iceland P4 Pts 6

Slovenia P4 Pts 3

Cyprus P4 Pts 3

Group F

Northern Ireland ruined Cristiano Ronaldo's 100th international for Portugal as the Group F minnows earned a 1-1 in Porto. Defensively superb through out and threatening on the counter attack, Northern Ireland deserved their point and only a late Helder Postiga goal cancelled out Niall McGinn's opener on the half hour mark.

Russia are yet to concede or drop a point in Group F; however they needed a late disputable penalty to overcome Berti Vogts' Azerbaijan side, whilst Israel eased past Luxembourg 3-0 to go level on points with Portugal. 

Fabio Capello's side managed back to back 1-0 home wins this week to strengthen their grip on Group F

Russia P4 Pts 12

Israel P4 Pts 7

Portugal P4 Pts 7

Northern Ireland P3 Pts 2

Azerbaijan P3 Pts 1

Luxembourg P4 Pts 1

Group G

Bosnia continued their fine unbeaten start to qualification as they eased past Lithuania 3-0. Goals from Vedad Ibisevic, Edin Dzeko and Miralem Pjanic ensured Bosnia top the group ahead of Greece on goal difference. The Greek's themselves recorded an impressive 1-0 away win against Slovakia with Dimitris Salpingidis scoring the all important match winner. Latvia won the battle of the two previous pointless sides in their 2-0 victory at home to Liechtenstein. 

Bosnia P4 Pts 10

Greece P4 Pts 10

Slovakia P4 Pts 7

Lithuania P4 Pts 4

Latvia P4 Pts 3

Liechtenstein P4 Pts 0

Group F

Poland against England was postponed because of torrential rain, meaning the duo will have to play each other on Wednesday, causing embarrassment for the hosts whose stadium's roof wasn't used as they were unaware of the potential of the rain that was predicted. 

The group's other two games saw Ukraine's chances of qualification take a huge hit as they lost 1-0 at home to Montenegro. Dejan Damjanovic scored the game's only goal on the strike of half-time, meaning Stevan Jovetic's penalty miss was irrelevant. Moldova won the battle of the minnows as they secured a 2-0 victory away to San Marino. 

England P3 Pts 7

Montenegro P3 Pts 7

Poland P2 Pts 4

Moldova P4 Pts 4

Ukraine P3 Pts 2

San Marino P3 Pts 0

Group I

Olivier Giroud stunned Spain as France rescued a deserved point in the last minute of their group I qualifier. Sergio Ramos had given the European and World Champions the lead, and Cesc Fabregas blew the chance to double their advantage from the penalty spot after Hugo Lloris saved the former Arsenal midfielder's spot kick. Fabregas's miss was pivotal in the end as Giroud scored in stoppage time as France went some way to avenging their defeat to the Spanish at Euro 2012. Belarus overcame Georgia 2-0 to keep their slim chances of making Brazil alive. 

Spain P3 Pts 7

France P3 Pts 7

Georgia P4 Pts 4

Belarus P3 Pts 3

Finland P2 Pts 1

Can Lazio finish in the top three?

15 points from 21 represents a very good start for the Biancocelesti and they currently occupy the third and final Champions League spot in the Serie A table; however with 31 games left to play, can they really qualify for Europe's elite club competition for the first time since 2007?

Every team needs a few individual match winners and Lazio have a handful they can call upon when needed to influence those close games, which could be the difference between a third or another fourth placed finish.

The Brazilian midfielder Hernanes has been quality so far this campaign for Lazio and brings goals to the party as well as being the main source of creativity in the middle of the park.

Despite being 34, Miroslav Klose is still banging the goals in, with five in just seven Serie A games this season. And if the German international can get 20 league goals, then Lazio have a real chance of finishing third.

The returning Mario Zarate offers something different, and if he can find the form that made Inter bring him in on loan last year, then he will play a huge part in Lazio's Champions League push.

Another reason why third is certainly up for grabs is the fact Champions League mainstays in Inter and AC Milan are no longer a certainty to qualify, with the latter making a horrible start to their Serie A campaign, which when coincided with the fact they've lost not only quality but experienced players in the last transfer window, the Rossenari's top three spot is up for grabs.

Udinese finished 3rd last year; however have had another selling summer and have won just once in seven games this campaign, giving Lazio a nine point buffer over the side that qualified for the Champions League last year.

Like I touched upon, two of the three Champions League qualifiers from last year have seen their squad's heavily weakened whilst Lazio's has been improved in a quiet transfer window for the club, with only one notable departure.

Lazio's first eleven is more then capable of finishing in the top three; however whether they've the strength in depth to challenge for third is questionable! For me the likes of Roma, Napoli and even Fiorentina all have stronger looking benches then Vladimir Petkovic's side.

Considering the fact all of Lazio's five league win's have all been sown up on before the hour mark, means that they've not had anyone to bring on to change the game, which was highly evident in their home defeat to Genoa.

Aside from Napoli away from home, Lazio's start has been a favorable one (Facing just two of last season's top 10 in Napoli and Chievo), meaning they've still to play many of Italy's big guns.

This isn't the first time Lazio have found themselves within a realistic chance of a top three spot, and in the previous two campaigns they've blown good opportunities to do so.

For two consecutive seasons the Biancazzurri lost six of their last 12 games, in doing so missing the chance to overhaul Udinese for the final Champions league spot on both occasions.

Like in those two seasons, Lazio have started the season in brilliant fashion, and you'd think they will have learnt from their previous mistakes and will be more competitive come the tail end of the season.

Napoli have started incredibly well and probably will secure Champions League football, meaning the likes of Inter, AC Milan, Roma and even Fiorentina will be left to fight it out for the one remaining spot along with the Biancocelesti.

You'd only really say that champions Juventus are realistically secure of a top three spot, meaning Petkovic's side have an incredible chance of finishing in the top three this season.

Cavani inspired Napoli ease past Lazio

An Edison Cavani hat-trick fired Napoli joint top of the Serie A table, as they thrashed Lazio 3-0 at the San Paolo.

Napoli opened the scoring after 19 minutes as Cavani let fly from 25 yards; however it needed a deflection from the unlucky Michael Ziani otherwise Federico Marchetti would have dealt with the effort.

If Marchetti was unfortunate with the first, he should have done better with Cavani’s second as the Uruguayan scored from a tight angle, despite the Italian goalkeeper getting a good hand on the shot.

Napoli killed the game off with 63 minutes gone as Cavani finished well into the bottom left of the goal.

Lazio were poor throughout; however with the game scoreless Miroslav Klose appeared to have given his side the lead, only for it to be ruled out for handball, which to the German strikers credit, he did admit to when asked about by the referee.

AC rescue point in lively opener

First half goals from Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Antonio Cassano rescued a point for the Italian Champions in a enthralling start to the Serie A season.

Early strikes from both of Lazio's new look centre forward pairing Miroslav Klose and Djibril Ciise looked to have given Lazio a shock victory at the San Siro, however a Ibrahimovic tap in and a Cassano header earned a share of the spoils for the Serie A champions.

Alberto Aquliani making his debut for the Rossenari should have given his new side the lead when well placed early on, however it was the Rome side who grabbed the early incentive via the German Klose.

Stefen Mauri did superbly to get a ball into the box under pressure from Luca Antonini, and Klose, with a superb first touch took the ball away from Alessandro Nesta, engineered some space in the Milan box to finish past Christian Abbiati. The finish was by no means world class, but the Italian keeper couldn't keep it out, and the goal gave Lazio a lead against the run of play.

The goal spurred Lazio on, and for 10 minutes AC Milan were all over the place, and Ciise, who was a consistent threat could have doubled Milan's trouble, only to put wide.

However Ciise's goal wasn't long in waiting as he headed home brilliantly to give Abbiati no chance whatsoever in the Milan goal.

An injury to Gennaro Gattuso saw Mark Van Bommel enter the fray and be it the change or the position Milan found them in, the Rossoneri responded brilliantly with two quick fire goals.

Their first goal was one of real quality, as Cassano, who had a quiet time with AC last year, played a superb one-two with Aquilani, before squaring the ball for the Swede Ibrahimovic who had the simplest of tasks to tap home from within the six yard box.

Kevin Prince Boateng, who on the whole had a quiet game for Milan, saw his shot from the edge of the area well saved by Albano Bizzarri, however from the resulting corner AC drew level. Aquilani's corner wasn't the best and Cassano at the near post headed past Bizzarri into the far corner. With neither post being marked by a Lazio player, the flicked header saw Cassano score his fifth league goal in the red and black of AC Milan.

The fourth goal of the match was the end of the chances in a brilliant first half in which neither side covered themselves in glory defensively, especially Milan who at times were very poor in allowing Lazio so frequent chances.

The second half failed to live up to the drama of the first half, with AC Milan dominating, however failing to have the cutting threat needed to get the winner.

Infact it was nearly Lazio that stole the points mid way through the half when the former Liverpool forward Ciise used his pace to get beyond the Milan defence and knock the ball past Abbiati only for Alessandro Nesta to somehow prevent the French striker from his second and Lazio's third.

Nesta prevents Ciise from giving Lazio all three points

Both Ibrahimovic and Boateng saw tame long range efforts easily saved by the impressive Bizzarri. The draw represented a fair result and both sides will probably be happy with a point.

Milan will need to improve defensively with two hard away games in both Europa and domestically up next in the form of the European Champions Barcelona and the Edison Cavani spearheaded Napoli, who will be boosted by the addition of Inter striker Goran Pandev for the visit of AC. Lazio themselves have Europe to contend with the visit of FC Vaslui, however a more difficult challenge awaits in Genoa who were very active in the Summer transfer window.

Both Cassano and Aquilani were key in Milans two goals