adminLONDON. — Bosnia-Herzegovina reached their first ever major soccer finals on Tuesday as a 1-0 win over Lithuania saw them confirm their place at next year’s World Cup. They will be joined by holders Spain, who made no mistake in beating Georgia 2-0 at home in Albacete, and England, who also won 2-0 at home to Poland to reach their fifth successive World Cup finals.
England’s manager from their failed 2010 finals campaign Fabio Capello will also be in Brazil after Russia got the point they needed with a 1-1 away draw at Azerbaijan.
It will be the 2018 World Cup hosts’ first World Cup finals since 2002.
Bosnia — who had lost to Portugal in play-offs for the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012 — progress at the expense of Greece, who go into the play-offs, while Portugal finish runners-up to Russia and will also contest a winner takes all play-off.
Vedad Ibisevic was Bosnia’s hero as he scored what was the most important of his 20 international goals as the 29-year-old Stuttgart striker struck in the 68th minute.
His side-footed effort came just two minutes after he had seen another shot brilliantly saved by Giederius Arlauskas, who had denied Bosnia throughout the match in a stunning performance.
Arlausakas’s performance could be put into the context that only the Germans and the Dutch have scored more goals in the qualifying games than the Bosnians.
Greece by contrast have failed to sparkle in front of goal and were only able to beat Liechtenstein 2-0 in Athens.
Dimitris Salpingidis scored in the seventh minute but the goal shy Greeks — who had only scored 10 goals going into the match from their previous nine qualifiers — failed to add to that until veteran Giorgos Karagounis, appearing in his 130th game for the national side, scored with a free-kick nine minutes from time.
Greece coach Fernandos Santos, who was praised for guiding unfancied Greece to last year’s Euro 2012 quarter-finals, said his side were unfortunate to have to contest the play-offs with the points they had accrued.
“If you would have told me before the start of the qualifying round that with 25 points we would not have gained a direct berth to the World Cup I would not have believed it,” he said.
“We have to congratulate Bosnia for their performance and finishing first.”
Russia too scored early on in Baku, Roman Shirokov netting for the visitors, and although Azeri substitute Vagif Dzhavadov levelled in time added on a point was still enough for the Russians to progress.
“I’m satisfied with our performance in this qualifying campaign,” said coach Fabio Capello.
“We finished in first place having such a strong opponent as Portugal in our group.
“We played well in all of the matches except the game in Northern Ireland where we produced unsatisfactory football. But in general I have positive memories from this campaign.”
Portugal, who were missing the suspended Cristiano Ronaldo, got on top early at home to Luxembourg as Silvestre Varela and Nani scored in the first-half — but only after Luxembourg had had a player sent off.
However, they were only able to add one more in the second-half as veteran striker Helder Postiga scored 11 minutes from time.
Portugal and Greece will learn who their opponents are in the play-offs in the draw next Monday.
Portuguese coach Paulo Bento admitted they had not been the best team in the group but pledged his side would do their utmost to reach Brazil.
“When results and performances have not been good it is logical to shake things up,” said Bento, who took them to the Euro 2012 semi-finals.
“However, we cannot as we have a short time only to prepare for the play-offs in the best possible manner.”
Meanwhile, Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger earned his 100th cap in their 2014 World Cup qualifier against Sweden on Tuesday.
He has joined an exclusive club of German footballers.
The 29-year-old holding midfielder, described by Germany coach Joachim Loew as the team’s “brain”, won his first cap in 2004 as part of a
“wild youngsters” generation along with fellow centurions Philipp Lahm and Lukas Podolski.
He has since notched 23 goals for Germany and on Tuesday became the 10th German to rack up at least a century of internationals — joining the likes of Lothar Matthaeus (150 caps), Franz Beckenbauer and Juergen Klinsmann.
“Dear Basti, I am happy to be able to respond to your special congratulations to my 100th cap just a few weeks later with the same level of respect and with a genuine, written ‘God bless you!’,” Germany captain Lahm wrote in Bild newspaper on Tuesday.
“A World Cup title would be ideal.
“Let us go after this goal together, starting with a win against Sweden this evening.”
Having moved from the flank into his favoured holding midfield position some four years ago, the Bayern Munich man has matured into a natural leader for club and country, helping Germany book their spot at next year’s World Cup in Brazil.
Now sporting a greying temple instead of his once trademark bleached spiky hair, Schweinsteiger looks to have fully recovered from ankle surgery in the summer that saw him miss the start of the season.
With three-time winners Germany through to their 16th consecutive World Cup — a feat equalled only by Brazil — Schweinsteiger could not have hoped for a bigger stage in his third attempt for the World crown. — Soccernet.
Online Reporter