2010 World Cup Qualifying

Check out the road to South Africa

What's French for 'contrite'?

Paul Marshall gauges the continuing fall-out of France's qualification for South Africa.

Thierry Henry: Replay the "fairest solution" for Ireland

France captain Thierry Henry has admitted replaying the World Cup qualification play-off against the Republic of Ireland would be "the fairest solution".

FIFA rejects replay request to end Irish hopes

FIFA has ruled that the World Cup play-off between the Republic of Ireland and France cannot be replayed.

French get helping hand in Cup qualifier

An unlikely side punched its ticket to South Africa while a presumed contender was sent packing during the second leg of the European World Cup qualifiers. But all the attention focused on a sequence of officiating mistakes that cost one club dearly.

Löw hails resilient Germany on emotional night

Germany coach Joachim Löw praised his side for their performance in Wednesday night's 2-2 draw with the Ivory Coast in what were difficult circumstances just days after Robert Enke was laid to rest.

Italy 1-0 Sweden: Chiellini heads Italy winner

Giorgio Chiellini's first-half header earned Italy a narrow victory over Sweden in the Azzurri's last friendly match of the year in Cesena

Bosnia-Herzegovina's goalkeeper Kenan Hasagic is dejected after Portugal's Raul Meireles scores

Portugal's players celebrate after Raul Meireles scores the opening goal

Villain Henry as Ireland, Ukraine, Russia exit in play-offs

All 32 World Cup finalists are now decided after play-offs in Europe, Africa and between Uruguay and Costa Rica confirmed the continents' representatives in South Africa.

France 1-1 Ireland: Henry hands France place

A controversial goal in extra-time by defender William Gallas sent France to next year's World Cup with a 2-1 aggregate play-off win over Ireland on Wednesday.

Ukraine 0-1 Greece: Greeks earn Donetsk shock

Greece qualified for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa with a 1-0 victory against hosts Ukraine on Wednesday, courtesy of a first-half goal from Dimitris Salpigidis.

Denmark 3-1 U.S.: Second-half surge for Danes

The United States wasted an early goal by Jeff Cunningham and lost a World Cup warmup 3-1 to Denmark on Wednesday night, the final match of 2009 for the Americans.

Last chance for Trap's plan to pay off

Gareth Maher reckons Giovanni Trapattoni is right not to change his tactics as Ireland take on France.