Group Nine

Germany escaped an embarrassing defeat to Finland in Helsinki on Saturday but their fight-back from two goals down to salvage a 2-2 draw confirmed they are emerging from the deepest crisis in their rich history.

After conceding two goals before the break and seeing their hosts narrowly miss a third early into the second half, the three-times world champions showed the character which once made them such a feared force to salvage a draw.

"This is a game we should have lost, really," Germany head coach Rudi Voeller said after witnessing a clumsy defensive display from his men.

Chelsea striker Mikael Forssell twice beat Germany's offside trap for a pair of first-half goals before setting up Aki Riihilahti, who should have clinched victory for the Finns but somehow missed an open net.

A penalty converted by midfielder Michael Ballack, followed by a superb effort from outside the box by Bayern Munich striker Carsten Jancker, allowed the visitors to share the points.

The draw ended Germany's 100 per cent record in the qualifying campaign but Voeller's men still comfortably lead group nine with 13 points from five games and a victory away to Albania on Wednesday would virtually hand them a place in next year's finals.

Meanwhile, Greece got their campaign back on course with a 1-0 win over neighbours Albania in Crete. Local favourite Nikos Machlas, who began his career at Irakio club OFI, was the Greek hero as he came off the bench to claim his first goal of a campaign wrecked by injury.

Greece v England

Sven-Goran Eriksson has warned that although Germany's failure to beat Finland has reignited England's chances of winning their World Cup group, it will mean nothing if his team do not defeat Greece on Wednesday.

The dropped points by Germany mean's the fate of Eriksson's side now lies in their own hands again. They trail the Germans by six points but have one match in hand and play them in Munich in September.

To secure first place and avoid the need for a two-legged playoff, England realistically need to win all four of their remaining games and go ahead of Germany on goal difference.

Eriksson said: "It's very encouraging for England that Germany were held to a draw.

"We now have a chance to win the group but the important thing is to focus on winning our remaining matches."

Group Three

Sammy McIlroy admits he is at his lowest ebb as he contemplates the daunting prospect of facing the Czech Republic on Wednesday without 10 players.

The Northern Ireland manager has never felt more down after yet another self-inflicted defeat by his side, this time losing 1-0 against Bulgaria at Windsor Park.

McIlroy is growing tired of the Irish version of Groundhog Day as yet again his players spurned good chances and gifted their opponents a goal.

He was livid after seeing Georgi Ivanov easily outpace Colin Murdock to score the only goal on 52 minutes to condemn the Irish to their fifth straight defeat. What pains McIlroy even more is that in two of these losses - against Iceland and the Czechs - his side should have taken a point.

He conducted a post-mortem surrounded by his players on the pitch immediately after the final whistle and his frustration was clear to see.

"I'm very low to be honest with you," he said. "It's the worst I've felt. I don't like losing but it's the manner in which we have lost that really hurts and to concede a goal like that is suicidal.

"Bulgaria over there, when we lost 4-3, was the worst one, but in every other game I feel we should have got something.

"Just a point from Bulgaria, the Czechs and Iceland and we could be on seven points. Instead we're on four and it's just hard to take."

McIlroy knows he cannot afford to feel sorry for himself with the Czechs next up on Wednesday.

Any remote hopes of qualifying for the 2002 World Cup ended long ago and now he must lift his players or risk a real mauling in Teplice against the seventh-best team in the world.

Just to make his task even harder, he must do without 10 players. Steve Lomas, Jim Magilton, Gerry Taggart, Jeff Whitley, Andy Kirk, Kevin Horlock, Jon McCarthy and Phil Gray are injured.

Neil Lennon and Keith Gillespie joined that absentee list after they stupidly picked up their second cautions of the campaign against Bulgaria.

McIlroy's job could hardly be more difficult, but he refuses to throw in the towel.

"Everyone is expecting us to lose and we don't want a drubbing but we won't be travelling there and saying `let's just get this game over with and have a holiday'.

"I won't let that happen. We won't be going through the motions."

Group Five

Poland moved closer to their first appearance at the World Cup finals since 1986 with a fine come from behind 2-1 win over Wales in Cardiff.

The defeat leaves Wales' already faint hopes of making it to Japan or Korea next year through the play-offs looking mission impossible as Belarus' 0-0 draw in Armenia leaves them seven points adrift of the second-placed Belarussians with five matches remaining.

Poland took the recalled Nathan Blake's 13th minute goal on the chin and levelled through Emmanuel Olisadebe before the break and took the three points when substitute Pawet Kryszatowicz netted in the 72nd minute.

The hosts took the lead when wing wizard Ryan Giggs charged through the middle and lifted the ball in for John Hartson to head down. Blake, who has been plagued by injury all season, was on hand to fire a low shot from eight yards which Polish keeper Jerzy Dudek, who is wanted by Premiership giants Arsenal, could not quite keep out.

Group Eight

Italy's remorseless march to next year's finals carried on apace in Tbilisi as they beat a valiant Georgia 2-1.

Goals by AS Roma duo Marco Delvecchio and Francesco Totti gave them a two-goal cushion before substitute Georgy Gahokidze reduced the deficit 10 minutes from time.

The Italians, who have two matches remaining, lead second-placed Romania by seven points with the Romanians having a game in hand.