Contrasting Fortunes for the Home Nations

The Home Nations Countries hopes of qualifying for the World Cup were further complicated on Saturday as both Wales and Scotland experienced difficult defeats, while Northern Ireland overcame Poland In Belfast.

Wales knew going into the match with Finland that the winner of the qualifier would be the main challenger to both Russia and Germany at the top of Group Four.

Clearly the enormity of the match affected the Welsh side, as they produced a performance full of nerves, and one that wouldn’t have instilled confidence with Manager John Toshack, whose job after this latest defeat is surely in the balance.

Goals from two players based within the British Isles Jonatan Johansson, formerly of Charlton Athletic, and Shefki Kuqi currently of Crystal Palace scored the goals just minutes before the end of each half to condemn Wales to a 2-0 defeat, a result that looks set to end there bid to reach South Africa in 2010.

Wales rarely threatened in the match, and must be fearing the worst when they host Germany on Wednesday.

The mid-week game against the German’s could be the final game in charge for Toshack, whose ambitious aim of reaching next summers finals seem to have petered out half way through the campaign.

The questionable words of striker Craig Bellamy about the quality of opposition that the home side came up against may be called into question, words he imparted during a hostile post match interview.

Scotland’s fortunes weren’t much better as they travelled to Group leaders Holland, a result that could have been much different had Kenny Miller converted an early chance.

The Rangers forward found himself clean through in the opening minutes, only for a tight angle and a brilliant tackle by Joris Mathijsen denying him getting a shot away.

It was to be one of the few chances the away side would get as Holland took a strange hold of the group match before half time.

Headers by Jan Klass Huntelaar and Robin Van Persie gave Holland a two goal advantage before half time, a lead that reflected their opening period dominance.

Scotland’s hope of getting back into the match was made all the more difficult when Gary Caldwell saw his seemingly legitimate header ruled out for a foul, a decision that bemused the visiting supporters and players.

And in the typical cut and thrust style that is International Football, the Dutch went down the other end and forced a penalty when Christophe Berra tripped Huntelaar.

Dirk Kuyt completed the victory, a defeat that will only take its toil if the Scot’s don’t beat Iceland on Wednesday.

Smiles around the British Isles were therefore left for Northern Ireland, who dodged a plucky Poland side to record a 3-2 victory at Windsor Park.

Warren Feeney opened the scoring from close range, after Polish keeper Arthur Boruc had misjudged a deep cross by Chris Brunt, which was headed back by Damien Johnson for Feeney to tap into an empty net.

The home side’s dominance wasn’t fully pressed home however, as Ireneusz Jelen broke the offside trap to fire past a despairing Maik Taylor.

The home side had to wait till the second half to regain there lead when defender Jonney Evans met a Grant McCann corner, and then Boruc’s evening went from bad to worse as he missed kicked a back-pass from Michal Zewlakow, which had travelled fully 25 yards before meeting the Celtic keeper.

Marek Saganowski pulled a goal back 12 minutes before then end, but the goal did nothing to affect the final result, as Windsor Park enjoyed a victory that puts Northern Ireland top of Group Three.

Before the game there were plenty of concerns about where the goals would come from for the Irish after injuries to Martin Paterson and Kyle Lafferty, and with David Healy severely lacking form and match fitness.

But an indifferent performance by Boruc all but gifted the win for the home team, as they look set to challenge just as strongly for World Cup qualification, as they did for the European Championships, two years ago.

Maybe a bit more Irish luck will see Nigel Worthington’s men reach South Africa, a major tournament that would be the countries first since 1988.

A quick mention for the forth-home nation side England, who cruised to a friendly victory over Slovakia who after yesterday were usurped at the top of Group Three, with a 4-0 win at Wembley.

Goals by Emile Heskey, two by Wayne Rooney and a Frank Lampard striker ensured the win, ahead of the visit of Ukraine on Wednesday.

Injuries to a host of strikers, including Heskey tarnished the victory, which highlighted Slovakia’s lightweight nature as much as England’s improvement under Italian manager Fabio Capello.