D Friday, October 9, 2009 METROSPORT 27 SOCCER (7.45pm unless stated) European Under-21 Championship Group Two Rep of Ireland U21 v Georgia U21 ............................ Coca-Cola Football League One Hartlepool v Brentford............................................... Southend v Southampton ......................................... League of Ireland Premier Division Bohemians v Drogheda Utd...................................... Bray v Cork................................................................ Derry City v Shamrock Rovers ........................... 7.35 Dundalk v St Patricks................................................ Sligo v Galway Utd............................................. 8.00 League of Ireland First Division Athlone Town v Finn Harps........................................ Limerick FC v Kildare County ................................... Mervue Utd v Longford Town.................................... Sporting Fingal v Shelbourne.................................... UCD v Wexford Youths.............................................. Waterford Utd v Monaghan Utd ................................ HORSE RACING Carlisle, Lingfield, Wolverhampton, York, Dundalk RUGBY UNION Heineken Cup Pool 2: Gloucester v Newport-Gwent Dgons (8.00). Pool 4: Ulster v Bath (7.30). Pool 6: Leinster v London Irish (8.00). Amlin Challenge Cup Pool 2: Connacht v Olympus Madrid (6.00). SATURDAY SOCCER (3pm unless stated) FIFA World Cup European Qualifying Group One Denmark v Sweden ............................................ 7.00 Portugal v Hungary............................................. 8.45 Group Two Greece v Latvia................................................... 7.30 Israel v Moldova ................................................. 7.00 Luxembourg v Switzerland................................. 4.45 Group Three Czech Republic v Poland ................................... 7.30 Slovakia v Slovenia............................................. 7.30 Group Four Finland v Wales ......................................................... Liechtenstein v Azerbaijan.................................. 7.00 Russia v Germany .............................................. 4.00 Qualifying Group Five Armenia v Spain ................................................. 5.00 Belgium v Turkey................................................ 7.45 Estonia v Bosnia-Herzegovina ........................... 5.00 Group Six Belarus v Kazakhstan......................................... 4.00 Ukraine v England .............................................. 4.15 Group Seven Austria v Lithuania.............................................. 7.30 France v Faroe Islands ....................................... 8.00 Serbia v Romania ............................................... 7.30 Group Eight Cyprus v Bulgaria............................................... 6.00 Montenegro v Georgia........................................ 6.00 Rep of Ireland v Italy........................................... 8.00 International Matches Japan v Scotland.............................................. 11.20 Coca-Cola Football League One Carlisle v Norwich...................................................... Charlton v Oldham .................................................... Gillingham v Wycombe.............................................. Huddersfield v Exeter................................................ Leyton Orient v Colchester........................................ Milton Keynes Dons v Walsall ................................... Swindon v Millwall..................................................... Yeovil v Brighton........................................................ Coca-Cola Football League Two Accrington Stanley v Cheltenham............................. Aldershot v Morecambe ............................................ Bournemouth v Chesterfield ..................................... Bradford v Crewe ...................................................... Bury v Northampton.................................................. Dag & Red v Darlington............................................. Grimsby v Burton Albion ........................................... Macclesfield v Lincoln City........................................ Rochdale v Barnet..................................................... Rotherham v Hereford............................................... Shrewsbury v Port Vale ............................................. HORSE RACING Ascot, Bangor-on-dee, Chepstow, Hexham, York, Wolverhampton, Fairyhouse RUGBY UNION Heineken Cup Pool 1: Northampton v Munster (6.00), Treviso v Perpignan (1.30). Pool 2: Glasgow v Biarritz (3.45). Pool 3: Clermont Auvergne v Viadana (3.00). Pool 4: Stade Francais v Edinburgh (1.35). Pool 5: Cardiff Blues v Harlequins (1.35). Pool 6: Scarlets v Brive (3.00) A I B League Division One Section A: Blackrock College v Garryowen (2.30), Clontarf v Dolphin (2.30) Cork Constitution v UL Bohemians (2.30), Shannon v St Marys College (2.30). Section B: Ballynahinch v Galwegians (2.30), Buccaneers v Old Belvedere (2.30), Dungannon v Young Munster (2.30), UCC v Ballymena (2.30) SUNDAY SOCCER Coca-Cola Football League Two Notts County v Torquay...................................... 5.15 HORSE RACING Goodwood, Lingfield, Ffos Las, Fairyhouse, Limerick. RUGBY UNION Heineken Cup Pool 3: Leicester v Ospreys (12.45). Pool 5: Toulouse v Sale (3.00) GROUP ONE P W D L F A GD Pts Denmark 8 5 3 0 15 4 11 18 Sweden 8 4 3 1 9 3 6 15 Portugal 8 3 4 1 10 5 5 13 Hungary 8 4 1 3 9 5 4 13 Albania 9 1 4 4 5 9 -4 7 Malta 9 0 1 8 0 22 -22 1 GROUP TWO P W D L F A GD Pts Switzland 8 5 2 1 15 8 7 17 Greece 8 4 2 2 13 7 6 14 Latvia 8 4 2 2 13 8 5 14 Israel 8 3 3 2 17 9 8 12 Luxbourg 8 1 2 5 3 20 -17 5 Moldova 8 0 3 5 3 12 -9 3 GROUP THREE P W D L F A GD Pts Slovakia 8 6 1 1 21 8 13 19 Slovenia 8 4 2 2 13 4 9 14 N Ireland 9 4 2 3 13 9 4 14 Czech Rep8 3 3 2 15 6 9 12 Poland 8 3 2 3 19 11 8 11 S Marino 9 0 0 9 1 44 -43 0 GROUP FOUR P W D L F A GD Pts Germany 8 7 1 0 24 4 20 22 Russia 8 7 0 1 18 4 14 21 Finland 8 4 2 2 11 12 -1 14 Wales 8 3 0 5 6 10 -4 9 Liechtstn 8 0 2 6 2 19 -17 2 Azerbaijan 8 0 1 7 1 13 -12 1 GROUP FIVE P W D L F A GD Pts Spain 8 8 0 0 21 2 19 24 Bosnia-Hz 8 5 1 2 21 8 13 16 Turkey 8 3 3 2 11 8 3 12 Belgium 8 2 1 5 11 18 -7 7 Estonia 8 1 2 5 7 22 -15 5 Armenia 8 1 1 6 5 18 -13 4 GROUP SIX P W D L F A GD Pts England 8 8 0 0 31 5 26 24 Croatia 9 5 2 2 17 12 5 17 Ukraine 8 4 3 1 14 6 8 15 Belarus 8 3 1 4 15 11 4 10 Kazakhstn8 2 0 6 10 23 -13 6 Andorra 9 0 0 9 3 33 -30 0 GROUP SEVEN P W D L F A GD Pts Serbia 8 6 1 1 16 6 10 19 France 8 4 3 1 10 8 2 15 Austria 8 3 2 3 11 11 0 11 Lithuania 8 3 0 5 7 8 -1 9 Romania 8 2 3 3 9 12 -3 9 Faroes 8 1 1 6 4 12 -8 4 GROUP EIGHT P W D L F A GD Pts Italy 8 6 2 0 13 3 10 20 Rep of Ire 8 4 4 0 10 6 4 16 Bulgaria 8 2 5 1 10 7 3 11 Cyprus 8 1 3 4 8 12 -4 6 Montngro 8 0 5 3 7 13 -6 5 Georgia 8 0 3 5 4 11 -7 3 The leading contenders all have two games to go and two draws for Denmark will see them finish top but they take on Sweden tomorrow before facing Hungary. The Czech Republic and Poland were at Euro 2008 but stand fourth and fifth. A draw for Slovakia tomorrow would see them qualify, helping Northern Irelands cause. European champions Spain have run away with it while Bosnia will pip Turkey to the runners-up spot with two points from their last two games but they finish at home to Spain. Leaders Serbia will come second at least and will win the group if they beat Romania tomorrow. France, four points adrift, can still finish top but a slip-up could let in Austria. A pool bereft of big names remains up for grabs with Switzerland leading by three points and playing Luxembourg next. Greece, Latvia and Israel could all yet finish top. Straightforward. Leaders Germany and second-placed Russia cant be caught. A point separates them going into tomorrows clash with the winners likely to top the group. England can play their last two games with their finals place secured. Tomorrows opponents Ukraine must win to have a realistic chance of overhauling Croatia. Italy will finish top if they claim a point in Dublin tomorrow and cant finish outside the top two. Ireland could still win the group but hope to move out of reach of Bulgaria. All to play for in World Cup race With Holland having already secured their spot in South Africa following completion of the five-team Group Nine, GAVIN BROWN takes a look at how the other eight groups are shaping up with two matchdays remaining. Group winners automatically qualify the eight best runners-up play off home and away for a place in the finals weekend fixtures OShea demands clinical finishing Given hoping to create more magical memoriesBY DAVID kENNEDY Shay Given is desperate to give the nation a chance to dance in the streets as he once did by securing an- other trip to the World Cup finals. The Republic of ireland goalkeeper was a teenager back in 1994 when Ray houghtons strike at Giants Stadium in newyork saw off the mighty italy and sparked one of the most memorable nights in irelands football history. Fifteen years on, 33-year-old Given will be between the posts as the Re- public of ireland attempt to repeat the dose against the italians, the reigning world champions, at Croke Park to- morrow night with a place at next summers finals at stake. asked about that night, Given said: i was in Lifford, back in Donegal with the family watching it. its a spe- cial memory. Looking back over the history of ire- land, it was a special goal. houghton chipped [Gianluca] Pagliuca and we were celebrating around the cars in Lif- ford as if we had won the World Cup. it was a special atmosphere and great memories, and it is up to us as a team to try to recreate some of those memories. The only way we can do that is to get back to the World Cup. There will be young guys growing up in ireland wanting to support us in South africa next year, and it is up to us to get the country there. Given, like full-back Kevin Kilbane, will win his 99th senior international cap against the italians, however, all thoughts of reaching a century are secondary as the Manchester City keeper attempts to make a return trip to the biggest stage of all after play- ing at the 2002 finals in the Far east. he said: it was the highlight of my irish career to play in the World Cup finals. The houghton goal was the highlight as a fan, but to actually play in a World Cup finals is something very special and something i want to be part of again. There are two massive games com- ing up and a lot of points at stake and important points. We have got to re- ally focus on what we do as a team and not on me getting 100 caps. Dancing in the streets: Shay Given wants Saturday night to see a repeat of the celebrations after the 1994 World Cup victory over Italy Picture: Sportsfile sOCCer REP OF IRELAND V ITALY MIDFIELDER Jay OShea is convinced the Republic of Ireland can kickstart their European Championship qualifying campaign if they can find a killer touch in front of goal. Ireland have taken only one point from their opening two games and face a crucial double-header against Georgia and Switzerland in the next few days. However, 21-year-old OShea is confident they can prosper if they turn chances into goals. He said: There are great players in the squad and we have been playing really well. We have been playing good football and, if we take the chances we create in the next two games, I think we will win both of them. under-21s premier league LE HAVRE have refuted Manchester Uniteds claim Fifa have cleared Paul Pogba to join the Premier League champions. The clubs have been embroiled in a bitter feud over the 16-year-old and the issue appeared to have been resolved when United released a statement on Wednesday saying they had been authorised by footballs world governing body to register Pogba with immediate effect. However, the French club insist no firm decision has yet been made by Fifa. Contrary to what Manchester United state on their official website, Fifa have not validated the transfer of Paul Pogba but, as they normally do in this type of case, have issued a provisional international certificate, said Le Havre in a statement. The decision of the international body is, therefore, a non-event and is normal procedure. Le Havre: United hasty on Pogba index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html24.html25.html26.html27.html