France closes in on World Cup, other playoffs tight

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LONDON (AP) -- France has a one-goal lead and home advantage as it faces Ireland for a spot at next year's World Cup, while the other three European playoffs are closer.

Portugal takes a slender 1-0 lead to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Russia goes to with a 2-1 advantage, and Ukraine and Greece are level at 0-0.

Wednesday's playoffs, which involve eight of the team that finished second in their qualifying groups, will decide the last four of the 13 European spots in the field of 32 headed for South Africa next year.

European champion Spain and World Cup holder Italy qualified as group winners, and so did three-time winner Germany and 1966 champion England. Like Spain, the other five countries -- the Netherlands, Switzerland, Serbia, Denmark and first-time qualifier Slovakia -- have never won the title.

The draw is in Cape Town on Dec. 4 and France, which won the title in 1998 and was runner-up to Italy three years ago, should be confident of being in it after Nicolas Anelka's deflected winner in Dublin on Saturday.

The 30-year-old Chelsea striker, who has yet to play in a World Cup after being overlooked by the coaches in the past three, is taking nothing for granted.

"We shouldn't get carried away, anything can happen,'' said Anelka, who believes it would be wrong for his side to concentrate on defense. "We will play to win on Wednesday because that's the only way we can play freely.''

There were angry scenes at Croke Park on Saturday after Ireland midfielder Keith Andrews was unhappy at a comment he says opponent Lassana Diarra made. Several players then began pushing each other.

That will give Wednesday's return game at Stade de France an extra edge with the Irish needing to score at least once to win a place at a major championship for the first time since the 2002 World Cup.

"The main thing now is to keep a clean sheet,'' Andrews said. "I don't think we will be going gung-ho in terms of throwing everything at the French team in the first half, certainly.

"We know we have got the players to score a goal. If we win 1-0 over there, then obviously, it's job done. It goes to extra time and we would be happy with that.''

While the French defend a lead at home, Russia can't afford a 1-0 loss in Slovenia.

The Russians conceded a late goal in Moscow which gave the Slovenes a major boost ahead of Wednesday's match in Maribor. Russia remains the favorite but an early Slovenia goal will put huge pressure on the visitors.

Portugal wanted more than just a 1-0 lead over Bosnia ahead of the second leg in Zenica. With Cristiano Ronaldo still sidelined with an ankle injury, the Portuguese are short of firepower but have not lost away from home in World Cup qualifying in 13 years.

Goalkeeper Eduardo has conceded only two goals in 10 games since his debut in February, and Portugal has not conceded in its last three matches.

"It's halftime and we're winning 1-0,'' Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz said. "Playoffs go down to the wire, to the last minute of play.

"We're going there to score. We can't sit back and wait for things to happen. We have to dictate the run of play, stay cool-headed.''

While Greece failed to score in Athens, the 0-0 draw still gives the 2004 European champions a good chance to make it to the World Cup for the first time since 1994. An early goal in Donetsk will leave the home side needing to score twice.

Ukraine is without strikers Andriy Voronin and Serhiy Nazarenko, putting more pressure on veteran striker Andriy Shevchenko who knows that, for him, a loss will almost certainly mean no more World Cups.

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