Ireland third as France slip up against Israel
David Trezeguet was sent off as France conceded a late equaliser to Israel - but still went top of Group Four with a 1-1 draw in the Ramat Gan Stadium.
Republic of Ireland lost their place at the top of World Cup qualifying Group Four but were boosted by France’s failure.
Brian Kerr’s side were without qualifying match tonight and, with a game in hand, are only a point behind leaders France and the second-placed Israelis.
Trezeguet looked like giving the 1998 World Cup winners a valuable three points with the opening goal just after half-time but Walid Badir grabbed a leveller seven minutes from time.
Also in Group Four Switzerland overtook the Ireland with a 1-0 home win over Cyprus and with nine points are in third on goal difference.
A last-gasp goal from Alexander Frei after 88 minutes to keeps qualification well within the reach for his side.
Serbia & Montenegro kept their two-point advantage at the summit of Group Seven after holding Spain to a goalless draw at home.
The visitors dropped star forward Raul for the match after his poor recent goalscoring form but they still could not breach the Serbo-Montenegrin defence.
Peter Rajczi scored a last-minute equaliser for Hungary as they drew 1-1 with mid-table rivals Bulgaria in Group Eight.
Celtic midfielder Stilian Petrov had put Bulgaria in front seven minutes after the interval.
FIFA World Cup European Qualifying Results:
Group One:
Andorra 0 Czech Republic 4 (Jankulovski 31 pen, Baros 40, Lokvenc 53, Rosicky 90 pen)
FYR Macedonia 1 (Maznov 31) Romania 2 (Mitea 18, 58)
Holland 2 (Castelen 3, van Nistelrooy 34) Armenia 0
Group Two:
Georgia 2 (Amisulashvili 13, Iashvili 41) Turkey 5 (Seyhan 12, Tekke 19 35, Avci 74, Sanli 89)
Greece 2 (Charisteas 35, Karagounis 85) Albania 0
Ukraine 1 (Voronin 67) Denmark 0
Group Three:
Estonia 1 (Terehhov 64) Russia 1 (Arshavin 18)
Latvia 4 (Bleidelis 33, Laizans 38 pen, Verpakovskis 73, 90) Luxembourg 0
Slovakia 1 (Karhan 8 pen) Portugal 1 (Postiga 62)
Group Four:
Israel 1 (Badir 83) France 1 (Trezeguet 50)
Switzerland 1 (Frei 88) Cyprus 0
Group Five:
Moldova 0 Norway 0
Slovenia 1 (Rodic 44) Belarus 1 (Kulchy 49)
Group Six:
Austria 1 (Aufhauser 87) Wales 0
England 2 (Gerrard 51, Beckham 62) Azerbaijan 0
Poland 1 (Zurawski 86) Northern Ireland 0
Group Seven:
Bosnia-Herzegovina 1 (Bolic 21) Lithuania 1 (Stankevicius 61)
San Marino 1 (Selva 40) Belgium 2 (Simons 17 pen, Van Buyten 65)
Serbia & Montenegro 0 Spain 0
Group Eight:
Croatia 3 (Prso 24, 35, Tudor 80) Malta 0
Hungary 1 (Rajczi 90) Bulgaria 1 (Petrov 52)
International Match:
Italy 0 Iceland 0.
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