France, Portugal stumble on road to South Africa

Paris: France, the 1998 champions, and equally star-studded Portugal suffered two more potentially fatal stumbles on the road to the World Cup finals on Saturday. The French, who were also runners-up in 2006, were held to a 1-1 draw by Romania in Paris which kept them in second spot in Group Seven, four points behind leaders Serbia who they must visit on Wednesday in a must-win clash. Defeat in Belgrade would leave Raymond Domenech’s side facing having to qualify via the lottery of the play-offs. Portugal are in an even more precarious position after a 1-1 draw at Group One leaders Denmark in Copenhagen which virtually ended the 2006 semifinalists’ hopes of automatic qualification. In Paris, France took the lead through veteran captain Thierry Henry early in the second-half only for Julien Escude to put through his own net a few minutes later. “It’s disappointing,” said Domenech. Portugal still face shock elimination despite Brazilian-born striker Leidson marking his debut with a headed equaliser three minutes from time against Denmark in Copenhagen. Arsenal’s Nicklas Bendtner had volleyed the Danes ahead in the first half. Portugal have slumped to fourth place, seven points behind Denmark, three behind Hungary and two back from Sweden who won 2-1 in Budapest thanks to an injury-time strike from Barcelona striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic. World champions Italy saw off Georgia 2-0 in Tbilisi to stay a point ahead of the Republic of Ireland in Group Eight thanks to a pair of own-goals from AC Milan defender Kakha Kaladze. The Irish defeated Cyprus 2-1 in Nicosia with a late strike from Robbie Keane securing the three points. In Group Five, European champions Spain crushed hapless Belgium 5-0 to wrap up their seventh win in seven games.
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