France 1 – 1 Ireland (Agg. 2-1)
‘It was ridiculous really and unfortunately it’s what we thought was going to happen. The World Cup is run by people who want to decide who gets there. Big teams get big decisions. The referee says he was 100% certain that Henry didn’t handball it but Henry said [to me] that he did.’
Richard Dunne
Ireland were phenomenal from the off and in the 33rd minute their got their reward when an incisive move from Damien Duff down the left was finished by Robbie Keane’s finish into the far corner. Damien Duff had the chance to put the game out of sight early in the second half but the Fulham man fluffed his opportunity with a lame shot at Lloris. The match was forced into extra time, where controversy struck in the 102nd minute as the dishonourable Thierry Henry blatantly handled the ball on the Irish touchline before his cross was headed in by the offside William Gallas.
Slovenia 1* - Russia 0 (Agg. 2-2)
Shove your seeding up your arse Platini. With 2-1 lead from the first leg, the Russians were left breathing a sigh of relief after 13 minutes when a cross which cannoned off a defender lucky rebounded off the post. On the stroke of halftime a cross from the left was converted by the stray leg of Zlatko Dedic and the Slovenians quite rightly went nuts. Alexander Kerzhakov didn't help Russia’s chances by getting himself sent off for kicking keeper Handanovic after spurning a goalscoring opportunity. Slovenia qualified on away goals.
Bosnia 0 - 1 Portugal (Agg. 0-2)
Boring, boring, boring. An away goal from Raul Meireles ten minutes into the second half confirmed UEFA darlings Portugal's place at the World Cup.
Algeria 1 - 0 Egypt
In a volatile atmosphere in Sudan, it only took three minutes for a brawl to break out between Algeria and Egypt and then just a minute later Hany Said saw his header saved by the Algerian keeper. On the quarter hour Algeria then saw Antar Yahia’s effort saved off the line, and later in the half Egyptian keeper El Hadary was forced to tip over a difficult free-kick from underneath his bar. Five minutes before the break, after Egypt had looked in control, Antar Yahia met a cross at the back stick and belted home from an narrow angle.
A great save from El Hadary to keep out Ghezzal’s header kept Egypt in the game on the hour, and minutes later Algeria had keeper Chaouchi to thank after saving a point-blank shot from Emad Metoeb. Algeria held on to qualify for their first World Cup since 1986 amid wild post match celebrations.
Ukraine 0 - 1 Greece (Agg. 0-1)
How crap can football get? After their dour, goalless first leg, Greece struck first in the Ukraine to claim a crucial away goal as Dimitris Salpigidis slotted in the decisive goal.
Uruguay 1 - 1 Costa Rica (Agg. 2-1)
Sub Sebastien Abreu settled Uruguay’s nerves with the opener on 70 minutes. Five minutes later Costa Rica pulled one back through Walter Centeno but the home side held on to secure a place in South Africa.
Increasingly middle-aged and increasingly disillusioned by modern football, I want to share with you how good football used to be before it was ruined by money. 
