Jagielka satisfied with return

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AppId is over the quota

Phil Jagielka is confident England's FIFA World Cup™ qualifying draw with Ukraine would prove a good result - provided they now took a grip on Group H.

Jagielka would have been delighted after being given the nod to replace the injured John Terry before last night's game at Wembley. But the Everton defender's joy was short-lived as Ukraine threatened to pull off a shock victory until Frank Lampard's late penalty snatched what could prove a vital 1-1 draw.

The result nevertheless saw England surrender first place in Group H, a position they should reclaim next month when they host minnows San Marino. A tricky trip to Poland follows four days later and victory there would ensure they end 2012 with at least a share of top spot.

Asked if last night's performance and result were merely "OK", Jagielka said: "It's probably the right word to use, 'OK.' No great shakes. We'd have loved to have had the full six points but four points will do. As long as we continue building on it, we'll be fine."

He added: "Definitely one point gained. We look forward to the next game now and if we can make that seven then it's a progression and hopefully we'll finish top of the group."

Ukraine outplayed their opponents for large parts of last night's game and asked if England had "got out of jail", Jagielka said: "Yeah, a little bit.

"But if you look at the chances we created, two or three pretty clear-cut ones in the first half and a couple more in the second - hitting the post and stuff - as much as the performance wasn't amazing, we still showed glimpses of being able to create the chances. If we'd taken them, especially earlier on, we'd have been in control of the game."

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FIFA calls for solidarity eradicate match-fixing

Chaired by the president of FIFA Joseph Blatter s., the Executive Committee of FIFA ended today a two-day meeting at the home of FIFA in Zurich, where it is called to the solidarity of the community to help eradicate match-fixing from the game of football.

"Nearly 300 million people play football in the world." This extraordinary popularity gives us responsibilities. One of them, one a major, is to protect the integrity of the game. Match-fixing jeopardizes exactly this. We do already many - the early warning system, our partnership with INTERPOL, the creation of a Division of FIFA security, etc. - it, but in addition to this, what is needed is the solidarity of all those involved in the game. In particular, whenever you notice a match-fixing attempt, this must be reported to the competent bodies. This is crucial, said the FIFA president.

Concerning the process of reform of governance and of the decisions taken by the Congress of the FIFA 2012, the roadmap was developed which follows in order to complete the process at the Congress of the FIFA 2013 as initially planned. A working group chaired by a member of the Executive Committee of FIFA and Chairman of the Task Force review of the statutes Theo Zwanziger and comprising the Secretaries General and legal directors of the confederations and FIFA, was established to consult 209 member associations and submit proposals for the revision of the statutes of FIFA.

As regards the World Cup 2014 ™ Brazil Cup Executive has ratified the time kick-off of the matches of the final tournament (see: http://www.fifa.com/worldcup) and changed dates from the inter-Confederal playoffs at 13 or 14 November 2013 (go: Asia c. North and South America, Central America and the Oceania v. Caribbean) and November 20, 2013 (second stage) (: South America c. Asia and Oceania v. North, Central America and Caribbean) in order to give a longer period of rest for the teams involved. The Executive also decided to create the prize money of the FIFA confederations Cup by Brazil 2013 at $ 20 million, an increase of 2.4 million dollars from the last edition in 2009. It also approved the host cities 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia ™, which will be officially announced tomorrow in Moscow.

The Executive has proposed for FIFA member associations, to introduce periodic articles of FIFA the obligation for member associations to hold general meetings (at least every two years) and adopt their own statutes in accordance with the statutes of FIFA Standard. In addition, the following decisions were taken:

-Gambia: the Standardization Committee's mandate has been extended until March 31, 2013

-Sierra Leone: a Standardization Committee will be appointed to run the day-to-day operations of the association, to redo the electoral process and to hold elections by January 15, 2013

-Maldives: the mandate of the current Board has been extended until January 31, 2013 and an electoral Committee is appointed to hold elections by 31 January 2013

Other questions:

-Football Federation of Kosovo (FFK): the folder will be finalized at the next meeting of the Executive Committee in Tokyo on December 14.

-FIFA competitions:

o the Executive stressed the success of the Olympic Football tournaments of London 2012, in particular in terms of attendance (approximately 2.2 million viewers) and women of the FIFA U-20 World Cup Japan 2012.

o 2012 FIFA U-17 women's World Cup, currently being played in Azerbaijan, has been highlighted as a good example of how to use a FIFA event to create a legacy for women's football

o the FIFA Club World Cup Morocco 2013: Marrakech and Agadir have been ratified as sites of the tournament

o FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup: the Executive is pleased to note that no less than 13 member associations are currently offers to host the 2015 edition, thus proving the growing success of this event

Finally, the Executive Branch has received detailed reports of FIFA 11 committees that held meetings this week at the home of FIFA.

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Low: Germany lacked self-assurance

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AppId is over the quota

Germany coach Joachim Low believed his side's 2-1 win over Austria could have been a lot easier had his side kept their composure in the second half.

Germany led 2-0 early in the second period when Mesut Ozil converted a penalty, but Austria replied and had their visitors on the ropes for the final half-hour, missing numerous chances to make the breakthrough and grab at least a point.

Indeed, Germany struggled from start to finish against a hungry Austria, but Low said all his team had failed to do was land a decisive blow. "We had the chances to make it 3-0, which we should have done," he said.

"They showed a lot of energy but they tired after an hour or 70 minutes and we should have got the third goal and that would have been that. Instead, we let them come at us and committed too many mistakes."

Low admitted he was not surprised by Austria's strength, or their doggedness, in what he described as "the biggest game they can have".

He told Germany's ARD television: "I don't think there is one game in which Austria want to win more than against Germany. This makes them so motivated. We lacked self-assurance and got nervous and we did not deal with that very well."

Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira agreed: "We can be happy with our three points, but not with the way we won them. We were up 2-0 and then we let Austria back into the game with tactical errors. That should not happen."

Bayern Munich's Thomas Mueller added: "We made mistakes and literally handed our opponents two or three invitations (to score). We did not deliver a perfect game. We were just lucky in the end."

Austria were left frustrated at the final whistle given the number of opportunities they wasted. Marko Arnautovic missed the best chance in the closing moments of the game, but he received support from his team-mate Martin Harnik.

"I reminded him that he set up our goal well and had played a good game and it could just happen to anybody" said the Stuttgart attacker. "It's deja-vu from last year - we really had to win. Germany had maybe three chances and we had at least double so we are disappointed. Now we have just got to pick up the points against other nations and not Germany."

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Higuain earns Argentina draw in Peru

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AppId is over the quota

Argentina held on to top spot in the South American qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ with an lacklustre 1-1 draw at Peru.

Alejandro Sabella's men were way below their best and they fell behind to Carlos Zambrano's opener - after Claudio Pizarro had missed from the penalty spot - before Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain levelled matters. The draw helped Argentina stay on top by one point, ahead of Colombia and Ecuador respectively.

Peru dominated possession throughout and they had an opportunity to make a dream start when Angel Di Maria fouled Jefferson Farfan in the box. Pizarro stepped up, but his effort produced a fine save from Argentinian goalkeeper Sergio Romero.

The two-time FIFA World Cup winners were given a reprieve, but they could not take advantage and it was Peru who took a deserved lead in the 22nd minute. Rinaldo Cruzado picked out Luis Advincula, who was allowed plenty of room to cross to Zambrano to score.

That spurred Argentina into action and Higuain drew them level seven minutes before half-time after a flowing move involving Federico Fernandez and Ezequiel Lavezzi.

The visitors came firing out of the traps after the interval as Lavezzi forced keeper Raul Fernandez to save at his near post while at the other end, Andre Carrillo's long-range strike struck a post.

Argentina finished the match strongly with Higuain forcing Fernandez into action from distance, while Marcos Rojo headed over from a corner. Peru were worthy of at least a share of the spoils, however, they remain third from bottom in the standings.

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Mexico first to advance

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AppId is over the quota

Mexico beat Costa Rica to advance to the final six-team phase of the CONCACAF qualifying competition for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ and leave their opponents struggling for survival. Meanwhile, the USA and Honduras both won to move back into the qualifying places in their respective groups.

In contrast Cuba became the first side to be eliminated from the competition, a fate that is all but certain to befall Antigua and Barbuda unless they can work a miracle in their final two games.  FIFA.com reviews Tuesday’s events in the region.

Match of the day
Mexico 1-0 Costa Rica
Goal: Javier Hernandez 60

Handsome 2-0 winners at San Jose’s Estadio Nacional last Friday, Mexico went into this game with their sights set on booking an early place in the fourth and final qualifying round, while Los Ticos were anxious to avoid a defeat that would leave them staring elimination in the face.

Battling to avoid such an outcome, the Costa Ricans acquitted themselves better than they had done four days previously, but the game was up for them on the hour mark, when Javier Hernandez broke through their defensive barrier to score the only goal of the match and his first in a FIFA World Cup qualifier.

Victory maintained the Mexicans’ perfect record and sent them into the final phase two games early. The picture is a good deal gloomier for Los Ticos. Now relegated to third place in Group B by El Salvador’s 3-2 win at Guyana, they will go out of the competition if they lose away to La Selecta in their next outing on 12 October.

Elsewhere
While the Mexicans can now afford to put their feet up, arch rivals USA have no such luxury, though they remain masters of their own destiny after downing Jamaica 1-0 in Columbus, avenging last Friday’s 2-1 defeat to the same opposition in Kingston.

Herculez Gomez’s strike ten minutes into the second half took the Americans on to seven points in Group A and into a three-way tie with the Jamaicans and Guatemala, who edged out bottom-placed Antigua and Barbuda thanks to Carlos “Pescadito” Ruiz’s solitary goal. Guatemala and the USA now share the top two spots on goal difference, one goal better off than the Reggae Boyz, with Antigua and Barbuda, who remain bottom on one point, virtually out of the running.

In Group C regional heavyweights Honduras stayed in contention for a place in the next round following their second defeat of Cuba in four days, secured by a lone Jerry Bengtson goal. In the other match in the section, Rolando Blackburn and Blas Perez were both on target as Panama downed Canada 2-0 to gain instant revenge for last week’s reverse in Toronto. Back on top with nine points, the Panamanians stand two clear of Honduras and the Canadians, while Cubans - still without a point - are now out of the competition.

Player of the day
Herculez Gomez (USA)
Failure to beat Jamaica would have left the USA in real danger of not reaching the final qualification phase. Though a combination of woodwork and fine goalkeeping caused American nerves to fray as the game went on, the Santos Laguna striker eased the tension with a superb free-kick 55 minutes in.

The stat
10 - The number of FIFA World Cup qualifiers Mexico have now gone unbeaten. El Tri’s last qualifying defeat was a 2-1 loss away to El Salvador on 6 June 2009, since when they have chalked up nine wins and a draw.

What they said
“We’ve been one of the best sides in the CONCACAF region behind Mexico and the USA for some time now, but we’re not through yet. We’ve taken a big step towards qualification, and as they show every time they play, this team is hungry to win,” Panama coach Julio Dely Valdes.

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Makridis makes the difference for Cyprus

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AppId is over the quota

Konstantinos Makridis belatedly launched Cyprus' FIFA World Cup™ qualifying campaign with the only goal in a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Iceland.

The Cypriots, who lost their opening qualifier 3-1 in Albania on Friday, bounced back to take three vital points, courtesy of Makridis' 57th-minute strike from Dimitris Christofi's cut-back.

Iceland, who had Solvi Ottesen dismissed for using foul and abusive language four minutes from full time after being penalised for a foul on the goalscorer, started brightly with Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson creating two early opportunities for Birkir Bjarnason.

However, Anthos Solomou tested Icelandic goalkeeper Hannes Halldorsson at his near post with 32 minutes played and it was the home side who took the lead 12 minutes after the restart when Makridis fired home from 12 yards.

The visitors might have been back in the game within seconds, but substitute Alfred Finnbogason's effort came back off the crossbar and Cyprus held on with little difficulty to secure the win.

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Davids saluted as Goliaths feel the heat

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AppId is over the quota

Australia and Iran were expected to achieve routine victories in Amman and Beirut in the fourth round of Asian Zone qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™. Instead, they were stunned 2-1 by Jordan and 1-0 by Lebanon respectively to significantly complicate their hopes of making it.

Naturally, the Socceroos and Team Melli have come in for criticism back home. With the Jordanians and Lebanese being showered in praise, FIFA.com reflects on the Asian media’s reaction to the latest action in the continent’s preliminary competition.

Pressure on for big guns
In an article entitled 'Poor showing as Socceroos lose to Jordan’, the country's leading newspaper, The Australian, surmised that Holger Osieck's team have much to do if they are to qualify for Brazil 2014.

It read: "Hassan Abdel Fattah and Amer Deeb's second-half strikes sealed Australia's fate overnight when the Socceroos were ultimately unable to match the unrelenting intensity of their less-fancied opponents. Archie Thompson's late strike - his second goal in as many games - was all Australia had to celebrate on an evening when their treacherous World Cup journey was underlined emphatically."

Osieck, speaking to The Sydney Morning Herald, said his men had nobody to blame but themselves. "We never could get into our normal rhythm," said the German. "We played a lot of long balls and there was not enough movement in midfield. We could have scored, but when we can't capitalise then you can't blame anybody else but us."

Also under fire is Iran coach Carlos Queiroz, whose side fell to Roda Antar's first-half strike in a game they largely dominated. Disappointed by the result, Iransportspress.com made its feelings clear in a piece entitled ‘Team Melli suffers its first-ever defeat against Lebanon’.

It labelled the game as "one of the most forgettable results in Iran’s football history", because "Iran showed a very weak and disappointing performance".

Lebanon, Jordan earn the plaudits
The producers of those aforementioned upsets came in for high praise from their own media.

‘Al-Nashama regain the spirit’ was the top headline in Al Rai, Jordan's leading newspaper. "The defeat of Australia is a good sign as the campaign reaches the halfway mark.”

Addustour, the country’s oldest newspaper, hailed the achievement as "A gift to the nation. Our national team outplayed the Socceroos and the victory sees our World Cup hopes revived."

In Lebanon, the Aliwaa newspaper paid tribute to Antar and goalkeeper Abbas Hassan, both of whom were instrumental as they stunned Iran. "The duo led our team to a history-making win against Iran.”

The Assafir newspaper, meanwhile, pointed out that "the national team have restored the lost credibility with the Iran win".

The Al Akhbar newspaper, for its part, revealed optimism in Lebanon’s chances of reaching the next FIFA World Cup: "Coach Theo Bucker silenced the critics with the win. The victory has revived our hopes and established our place among Asia's big boys. The team showed they are capable of reaching Brazil 2014."

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