Al-Khateeb: Rate of Foreign tourists coming for recreational purposes soars 600% in 5 years    Saudi Arabia participates in OIC anti-corruption agencies' meeting in Qatar    Saudi Arabia implements over 800 reforms to drive rapid transformation    Al-Jadaan: Painful decisions were part of the reforms, but economy overcame them    Al-Swaha: Saudi Arabia is heading towards exporting technology in the next phase    Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire appears to hold as Lebanese begin streaming back to their homes    Al Rajhi: Saudi Arabia sets revised unemployment target of 5% by 2030 "300,000 citizens employed in qualitative professions"    Imran Khan supporters call off protest after crackdown    Five survivors found day after Red Sea tourist boat sinking    Russia launched a record number of almost 200 drones toward Ukraine    Al Hilal advances to AFC Champions League knockout stage despite 1-1 draw with Al Sadd    Saudi Arabia unveils updates on Expo 2030 Riyadh master plan at 175th BIE General Assembly Riyadh Expo Development Company established to oversee strategic planning, operations, and legacy development    Saudi FM attends Quadripartite meeting on Sudan in Italy    Best-selling novelist Barbara Taylor Bradford dies    Cristiano Ronaldo's double powers Al Nassr to 3-1 win over Al Gharafa in AFC Champions League    Al Ahli edges Al Ain 2-1, bolsters perfect start in AFC Champions League Elite    Most decorated Australian Olympian McKeon retires    Adele doesn't know when she'll perform again after tearful Vegas goodbye    'Pregnant' for 15 months: Inside the 'miracle' pregnancy scam    Do cigarettes belong in a museum?    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Filipino pilgrim's incredible evolution from an enemy of Islam to its staunch advocate    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Netherlands earns a spot at 2010 World Cup
By Rob Harris
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 07 - 06 - 2009

The Netherlands became the first European side to qualify for the 2010 World Cup on Saturday and England moved closer to joining them in South Africa as both countries made it six wins out of six.
Mark Van Bommel's early goal clinched a 2-1 victory for the Dutch in Iceland, and Wayne Rooney scored his sixth goal in England's qualifying campaign in a 4-0 win at Kazakhstan.
While Group 6 leader England won't be assured of qualification even if it beats Andorra on Wednesday, the Netherlands is already celebrating winning Group 9 with two games to spare.
The goals came quickly for the Dutch in Reykjavik, with midfielder Nigel de Jong scoring in the 9th minute and Mark van Bommel doubling the lead seven minutes later. Kristjan Orn Sigurdsson scored a consolation goal for Iceland in the 88th.
Norway, bottom in the Netherlands' group, remains without a win as it was held to a 0-0 draw in Macedonia.
Scotland is second in Group 9 with seven points from five games.
In Almaty, Gareth Barry and Emile Heskey scored at the end of a nervy first half for England, while Frank Lampard added the fourth from the penalty spot after Rooney's 73rd-minute goal.
A seventh straight win against Andorra, which was routed 5-1 by Belarus, would all but ensure England's passage to the finals.
England is seven points clear of Croatia, which was held 2-2 by Ukraine. The nine European group winners qualify and the top eight runners-up go to playoffs.
Richard Dunne kept Ireland on course for at least second place in Group 8 with a headed goal in a 1-1 draw at Bulgaria.
Ireland is a point behind leader Italy having played one more game than the world champions, who beat Northern Ireland 3-0 in a friendly.
The Northern Irish was toppled from the Group 3 summit by Slovakia, which routed last-place San Marino 7-0.
Denmark took the outright lead in Group 1 by beating Sweden for the first time since 1996. Thomas Kahlenberg's early goal inflicted a 1-0 loss on Sweden.
Coming off three straight scoreless draws, Portugal revived its qualifying hopes by beating Albania 2-1 to move up to third in the group – seven behind Denmark and four adrift of Hungary.
Serbia beat Austria 1-0 to extend its lead over France at the top of Group 7 to five points. Nenad Milijas scored a seventh-minute penalty. Next-from-last Romania beat third-place Lithuania 1-0.
Finland kept alive its hopes of finishing second in Group 4 by rallying to beat winless Liechtenstein 2-1.
Jonatan Johansson's 71st-minute winner put Finland two points behind second-placed Russia, which trails Germany – which didn't play Saturday – by four.
David Edwards scored as Wales recorded a 1-0 win in Azerbaijan, its first away success in the campaign, and it now lies fourth in the group with nine points from seven games.
Brazil routs Uruguay
Brazil beat host Uruguay 4-0 on Saturday to move closer to a place in next year's World Cup in South Africa.
Daniel Alves, Juan, Fabiano and Kaka scored for the five


Clic here to read the story from its source.