Spain will edge closer to an unexpected playoff place if it fails to beat France in their World Cup qualifier on Tuesday.The Spanish surprisingly drew 1-1 against Finland on Friday while the French beat Georgia 3-1, giving them the initiative in Group I and a chance to open up a five-point lead if they win at Stade de France.
Even a draw suits France, as Spain would then only have three matches left to close the gap. “The unity we have within this squad is our strength and we have to preserve that whatever happens,” Spain defender Sergio Ramos said Monday through an interpreter. “We will stick to our way of playing. We’re not going to change now.”
When Spain won its third straight major title at last year’s European Championship, it seemed inconceivable that it would then struggle to qualify automatically for the World Cup. Following a run of 24 straight wins in qualifying games dating back to 2007, a mini-slump of two consecutive draws has led to early whispers that its dominant grip on world football may finally be loosening.
There are signs of weakness in Spain’s defense. The way it conceded the equalizer to Finland led to a heated row between Real Madrid’s Alvaro Arbeloa and Gerard Pique of Barcelona as club tensions resurfaced. Pique reproached Arbeloa for not closing down his right flank and allowing the cross from which Teemu Pukki scored. Arbeloa shouted back at Pique, who then told him to shut up. Spain has failed to protect a 1-0 home lead in its past two qualifiers, suggesting it tires late on.
Dutch face Romania
Amsterdam: Rafael van der Vaart says you need a mixture of experience and youth at the World Cup and the veteran midfielder can underscore his credentials to play in Brazil when the Netherlands takes on Romania in a qualifier Tuesday. The 30-year-old Hamburg playmaker is not the first choice attacking midfielder for Netherlands coach louis van Gaal, but with Wesley Sneijder out injured Van der Vaart is expected to play his 105th international match against third-place Romania in Group D. Van der Vaart showed Friday he can still influence the outcome of an international match when he came on for Sneijder and scored the opening goal against Estonia early in the second half of a match the Dutch went on to win 3-0.
Germans fight complacency
Nuremberg: Germany is playing down World Cup expectations and battling complacency ahead of its second back-to-back qualifier against Kazakhstan on Tuesday. Joachim loew’s side leads Group C with four wins from five games and is looking for another routine victory to follow Friday’s 3-0 result over winless Kazakhstan in Astana. Kazakhstan has scored just one goal and claimed one point so far, and loew is doing all he can to maintain his side’s concentration.
Englandface ambitious Montenegro
Podgorica (Montenegro): England will face hostile crowds, an ambitious opponent and some bad memories for Wayne Rooney when the team plays Montenegro on Tuesday in a World Cup qualifier. England cannot afford to lose to the Group H leaders. If Montenegro wins, the team would move five points ahead of England, jeopardizing its direct qualification for the 2014 tournament in Brazil. Montenegro will go into the game spurred by an eight-match unbeaten streak, including a 1-0 victory in Moldova on Friday to remain two points clear of England with 13 points. Ukraine and Poland are both eight points behind Montenegro, and six points behind England. Montenegro’s main striker, Mirko Vucinic, said his team will “fight like lions” against England.