Why greece qualify instead of russia

It was a bittersweet game for veteran defender Pepe, who became the oldest player to start a game for Portugal at 38 years old, but was sent off for two bookings and will be suspended for the crucial game against Serbia. Qatar is playing home-and-away friendlies against the teams from Group A alongside the qualifying tournament, without much success. Sweden had its fate in its own hands in qualifying, and let it slip.

Twenty-year-old winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia of Rubin Kazan may be little known outside of the Russian league where he usually plays, but he had a big impact with two second-half goals to surprise Sweden.

That gave Spain the chance to overtake Sweden and take the advantage ahead of the decisive game against the Swedes on Sunday. Spain had to work hard in its win over Greece, sealed with a penalty, but moved one point ahead of Sweden. Spain only has to avoid defeat against Sweden in Seville. They drew in the same city this year at the European Championships.

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They've looked a little nervous at the back, understandably, but they force their first corner of the game which Karagounis clips to the near post to Katsouranis who meet it with a clipped volley which is heading for the top corner and Malafeev has to claw away one-handed.

From the ensuing corner there's a clash of heads between Anyukov and Salpingidis and the Russian defender is in a bit of trouble. Samaras clips a cross towards Salpingidis, who is a real live wire, but he's eased off the ball by Ignashevich. Little Andrey Arshavin gets in front of Torosidis and stabs the ball goalwards with his studs to Kerzhakov's cross and Sifakis gathers at the second attempt.

That's enough of that analogy but Kerzhakov goes very close hitting a bouncing ball from the edge of the area and it whistles past Sifakis's left-hand post. As it stands Russia and Czech Republic would go through. Both games are currently goalless. But Greece have another corner - their third of the game. He leaves Torosidis in his wake and cuts the ball back from the byline but before anyone can knock the ball into the empty net Papastathopoulos scrambles the ball behind.

On the pitch Katsouranis loses possession in the centre circle and Denisov advances towards the Greece goal but his shot is poor. Kerzhakov then has a go from the edge of the box but it takes a big deflection and goes for a throw. This screw is turning and turning but Greece just need to stay in the game and hope to nick a goal at some stage. In some ways Greece will be content enough with the way things have gone - Russia have largely been restricted to shots from distance, apart from that Zhirkov break.

And Arshavin's stab goalwards. But apart from those what what have the Romans ever done for us? And yes, I'll be sticking with these analogies all night. They will all involve instruments of destruction. Russia and Czech Republic still go through. Good news. A storm is coming. Mark Bright reckons last nights deluge in Donetsk was "the worst storm I've seen for a while".

When did you see a worse one, Mark? Before that Shirokov wanted a penalty in the area after he appeared to be clipped but the referee says nothing doing. My colleague Philip Cornwall has pointed out that those of you viewing on the website have an As it Stands table just to the right. Blood technology, eh? Coming over here and taking our jobs. They work a two-on-one from the corner and Zhirkov lets fly and it's not very far over the bar. Great effort from the former Chelsea man with a fine s 'I don't give a damn' haircut.

They just need to stay in the game for as long as possible. There are moments when their ability to do that is being tested - such as right now as it's cut back to Dzagoev, but several defenders throw their bodies on the line to get a block on the ball.

I have no idea. It's a simple throw up the right flank. Zhirkov makes a huge mess of it and Karagounis nips in behind and rifles a shot under Malafeev. They weren't even trying to score yet somehow they lead. Half time: Greece Russia. What a moment right at the end of the half. Peep: Russia get the second half underway. BBC still seem to believe that Russia are going out if it stays like this - they're not, but they are at the mercy of what happens in the other game.

I hope that he will get the opportunity. Keep the comments running. It helps relieve the tension caused by the Russian bombardment. Greece have started this half fairly brightly. Although my new theory is that they're at their most dangerous when they're not trying to score.

To explain the qualification situation: As it stands Russia, Czech Rep and Greece would all have four points so the three games between these sides become the deciding factors.

Each would have three points and so it would go to goal difference from these games. So Russia would win the group and Greece would be second. I hope I don't have to type that out again.