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Spain’s Sergio Ramos celebrates his goal against France on Tuesday. (AP-Yonhap News) |
Spain, Germany take hit in World Cup qualifying
Spain’s 24-game winning streak in qualifiers ended Tuesday night when Olivier Giroud scored in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time, giving France a 1-1 tie in qualifying for the 2014 World Cup.
On a busy day of international soccer, Germany wasted a four-goal lead at home in a 4-4 tie against Sweden and Canada, which hasn’t qualified since 1986, was eliminated with an 8-1 rout at Honduras.
Australia revived its qualifying campaign with a 2-1 win at Iraq as Tim Cahill of the New York Red Bulls scored on a header, his first competitive international goal since January 2011.
At Madrid, Sergio Ramos scored on a 25th-minute header for Spain, the defending World and European champion. Cesc Fabregas failed to convert a 43rd-minute penalty kick at Madrid, and Giroud scored off a cross from Franck Ribery after second-half substitute Juanfran Torres turned the ball over in midfield. Spain is ahead of France on goal difference in Group I.
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Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo is honored for his 100th international cap. (AP-Yonhap News) |
At Berlin, Germany wasted a four-goal lead at home in a 4-4 draw with Sweden. The hosts surged ahead as Miroslav Klose scored in the eighth and 15th minutes, and Per Mertesacker (39th) and Mesut Oezil (55th) added goals.
Germany’s 13-game winning streak in qualifying ended as Sweden got goals from Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the 62nd minute, Mikael Lustig in the 64th, Johan Elmander in the 76th and Rasmus Elm in the third minute of stoppage time.
“I don’t know how to explain it,” Germany coach Joachim Loew said, whose teams leads Sweden by three points in Group C. “Normally, we would not waste a four-goal lead. The problem seems to have been mental after 60 minutes. We became sloppy and lost our discipline.”
Canada dropped out of the top two in its group in North and Central America and the Caribbean with its loss to Honduras in San Pedro Sula. Honduras. which led 4-0 after 25 minutes, got goals three goals each from Jerry Bengston and Carlo Costly, and two from Mario Martinez. Honduras advanced from Group C along with Panama, which tied 1-1 at Cuba.
It was also a frustrating night for Cristiano Ronaldo, whose 100th appearance for Portugal ended in a 1-1 tie at home against Northern Ireland.
England’s qualifier against Poland was postponed until Wednesday because of heavy rain in Warsaw.
Italy beat Denmark 3-1 despite playing a man short following Pablo Osvaldo’s ejection 16 seconds into the second half for a reckless elbow into Nicolai Stokholm’s face. Riccardo Montolivo put the Azzurri ahead in the 33rd minute off a flick from Mario Balotelli, and Daniele De Rossi doubled the lead four minutes later with his third goal in four games. William Kvist scored for the visitors in first-half stoppage time, and Balotelli restored a two-goal lead in the 54th,
The Netherlands maintained its perfect qualifying start with a 4-1 victory at Romania. Jeremaine Lens, Bruno Martins, Rafael Van der Vaart and Robin Van Persie scored for the Oranje, who have a three-point lead in Group D over Romania and Hungary.
In South America, Lionel Messi and Gonzalo Higuain scored as first-place Argentina (6-1-2) won 2-1 at Chile. Bolivia took advantage of the thin air in La Paz and defeated Uruguay 4-1 as Carlos Saucedo scored a hat trick and Gualberto Mujica added a goal. Luis Suarez scored in the 81st for Uruguay. (AP)
