Sextet seek qualifying boost

Last updated : 28 March 2005 By Pancho Villa

After their 3-0 victory against Kazakhstan on Saturday, Denmark’s Villa duo of Thomas Sørenson and Martin Laursen will be hoping for a similar shutout against slightly tougher opposition Ukraine in Kiev tonight as the side attempt to close the gap to their opponents at the top of Group 2. Sweden won by the same scoreline in Bulgaria at the weekend to remain top of Group 8 but Olof Mellberg and his teammates will sit out this round of games that could see Croatia sidle past them.

Although the 4-0 defeat by England on Saturday all but ended Northern Ireland’s slim hopes of qualification from Group 6, they will have to be at their best to keep out a Polish side that rampaged their way to an 8-0 win against Azerbaijan last time out. Steven Davis came on as a second-half substitute at Old Trafford and could start on Wednesday after making an impressive contribution. Wales manager John Toshack has dismissed his side’s chances of qualifying from the same section but they will be looking for revenge against Austria in Vienna.

Villa’s South American contingent experienced differing fortunes at the weekend with Ulises de la Cruz’s Ecuador cementing their qualifying berth while Colombia were held and a Peru side led by Nolberto Solano lost to a late Kaká strike in Brazil. Peru now face Ecuador in Lima when the Villa teammates are likely to be in direct competition, while Colombia face CONMEBOL leaders Argentina.