France, runner-up in Germany in 2006, beat Ireland 1-0 in Dublin with a late deflected goal from Nicolas Anelka, and starts as the favorite to finish the job in Paris on Wednesday.Portugal beat Bosnia 1-0 in Lisbon with defender Bruno Alves heading the only goal in the first half, while two goals from Diniyar Bilyaletdinov put Russia 2-0 up against Slovenia which scored a vital away goal three minutes from time when substitute Nejc Pecnik headed home to make the final score 2-1.
Greece and Ukraine drew 0-0 in the first leg of their playoff in Athens, with Ukraine now the favorite to take control of the tie at home in Donetsk on Wednesday.
While Saturday saw the start of the European playoffs, it also signaled the end of New Zealand’s long wait to return to the finals for the first time since 1982. The New Zealanders sealed their place in next year’s finals in South Africa with a 1-0 win in the second leg of their Asia/Oceania playoff against Bahrain to win the tie 1-0 on aggregate.
Uruguay seized the advantage in the South American/CONCACAF playoff with a 22nd minute goal by 29-year-old Fenerbahçe Diego Lugano to give it a 1-0 victory in Costa Rica and head back to the Centenario Stadium in Montevideo on Wednesday.
