Germany needed a late goal by Lukas Podolski to snatch a draw at home to Finland in their final 2010 World Cup qualifier. Jonatan Johansson’s goal in the 11th minute ended Germany’s six-match run without conceding, dating back to Russia’s goal just over a year ago. But Podolski’s sixth goal of the qualification campaign finally rescued Germany, in the 90th minute of a match with no bearing on qualification - the hosts already assured of first place and Finland unable to pip Russia for second.
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Vagif Javadov cancelled out Andrei Arshavin’s early goal as a lacklustre Russia side rounded off their World Cup Group Four qualifying campaign with a draw against Azerbaijan. Russia were already resigned to second place following defeat to group winners Germany on Saturday, and coach Guus Hiddink, with six players on yellow cards and an eye on next month’s play-offs, fielded an experimental side in Baku. (more…)

Croatia were left to count the cost of their two defeats to England as they failed to qualify for the World Cup. Ukraine’s six-goal hammering of Andorra ended the faint hopes of Slaven Bilic’s team who finished third in Group Six. Tottenham winger Niko Kranjcar grabbed a late headed winner for Croatia against Kazakhstan in Astana, after Ognjen Vukojevic’s earlier goal had been cancelled out by Sergey Khizhnichenko’s shock equaliser.
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Three goals in as many minutes late on put some shine on Ukraine’s performance as they hammered Andorra 6-0 to finish as runners-up to England in World Cup qualifying Group Six. Andriy Shevchenko, Oleg Gusev, Yevgen Khacherdi, Yaroslav Rakitskyy, Yevgen Seleznov and Andriy Yarmolenko shared the goals in Andorra La Vella to earn Ukraine a place in the play-offs next month. The victory maintained their one-point advantage in the group over Croatia, who were 2-1 winners in Kazakhstan. (more…)