Bosnia and Herzegovina 1 - Lithuania 0; Greece 2 - Liechtenstein 0; Latvia 2 - Slovakia 2

Photo by Petras Malukas

Greece were at home in Piraeus against Liechtenstein.  Greece needed to manage a better result than Bosnia and Herzegovina today or else they would be consigned to the European playoffs.  Greece did their part early on in the proceedings.  Jose Holebas played a ball to Georgios Samaras, who did a back heel into the path of Holebas's run.  Holebas played a long rolling cross to the back post that Dimitrios Salpingidis banged into the net for 1-0.  The visitors were no pushovers today, however.  Sandro Wieser had a nice one-bounce effort parried away for a corner kick by Greece goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis.  Liechtenstein had legitimate appeals for a handball in the box against Greece turned away on the resulting corner kick play.  Salpingidis came close to a second goal, but his powerful effort was just wide.  Greece were ahead 1-0 going into their locker room.

Liechtenstein were fouling the Greeks in dangerous spots on the pitch in the second half, and finally they were made to pay with ten minutes left in the match.  Georgios Karagounis struck a twenty-five yard kick off the upright and in to double the lead for the hosts.  Greece ease to a 2-0 victory and hope for help from Lithuania at the end of their match.

Bosnia were in Kaunas to take on Lithuania.  A Bosnia victory would guarantee them a spot in Brasil 2014 barring an unthinkable barrage of Greek goals in another Group G match today.  Miralem Pjanic hit a dipping free kick that looked like it would put the visitors ahead, but Lithuania goalkeeper Giederius Arlauskas was looking to single-handedly steal a point for his side on this night.  This was the first Arlauskas intervention of many.  However, midway through the period, Mindaugas Kalonas hit a nifty ball off a half volley that drew a save from Bosnia goalkeeper Asmir Begovic.  Soon thereafter, Pjanic hit a dipping free kick to the other side of Arlauskas, but the change of side did not change the result: a diving save.

A miraculous save by Arlauskas off Vedad Ibisevic's low drive to the corner prevented Bosnia from an opener.  Midway through the second half, Bosnia were desperate to score and to ease their anxiety.  Edin Dzeko got to the endline, from where his pass across the face of goal was pushed home from four yards by a wide open Ibisevic, and finally Bosnia were in position to go to the FIFA World Cup finals for the first time.  It was Bosnia's eighteenth shot on goal in the match.  With the crowd overwhelmingly supporting Bosnia, it appeared only a matter of time before the final whistle marked the beginning of a mass celebration.  Bosnia hold on for a 1-0 victory that sends them to a FIFA World Cup finals for the first time in their history.  Greece are relegated to the playoffs.

Latvia closed Group G play at home in Riga against visiting Slovakia.  An early Tomas Kona corner kick was flicked on into the goal by Martin Jakubko to give Slovakia the opening goal.  One minute later, Latvia responded with a bounce header from six yards out by Valerijs Sabala, but an acrobatic save from Slovakia goalkeeper Matus Kozacik was enough to tip the effort over the bar.  Slovakia extended their lead within seven minutes through another Kona corner kick play.  The ball was flicked on at the near post, either by teammate Kornel Salata as credited or by his Latvian marker Andrejs Kovalovs.  Either way, it was 2-0 to Slovakia.  The visitors maintained that 2-0 scoreline through halftime.

Latvia pipped a goal back in the first minute of the second half.  A header was won by Eduards Visnakovs, and the ball rolled into a through ball of sorts for Sabala, who drove twenty yards before releasing his shot from the half circle.  The ball rolled into the net to bring the score to 2-1 on the back of Sabala's first international goal.  In stoppage time, a third goal was scored from the same corner of the pitch.  A corner from Arturs Zjuzins found the bandaged head of Kaspars Gorkss.  The header fell inside the six-yard box and was pushed home for the late equalizer by Renars Rode.  The match ends as a very entertaining 2-2 draw.

Bosnia 25 pts +24 IN
Greece 25 pts +8
Slovakia OUT
Lithuania OUT
Latvia OUT
Liechtenstein OUT

Goals
Greece
Dimitrios Salpingidis 7
Georgios Karagounis 81

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Vedad Ibisevic 68

Slovakia
Martin Jakubko 9
Kornel Salata 16

Latvia
Valerjis Sabala 47
Renars Rode 90+2

Match Reports:
http://www1.skysports.com/football/live/match/253688/report
http://soccer.si.com/2013/10/15/bosnia-herzegovina-qualifies-first-world-cup/
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/oct/15/bosnia-lithuania-world-cup-qualifier
http://www1.skysports.com/football/live/match/253690

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzNRAs2-sCg (Greece v. Liechtenstein)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jot9Y4JZqag (Bosnia v. Lithuania)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFEyf67Reps (Latvia v. Slovakia)

Full Match Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZz5bXEHF58 (Bosnia v. Lithuania)

Greece 1 - Slovakia 0; Lithuania 2 - Latvia 0; Bosnia and Herzegovina 4 - Liechtenstein 1

Vilnius was the site for Lithuania's home match against neighbors Latvia.  Lithuania jumped ahead within ten minutes by scoring off a corner kick set piece.  The header by Fedor Cernych to the near post was allowed to bounce in by Vladislavs Gabovs, who foolishly wandered away from the near post where he had been positioned.  Giederius Arlauskas made a bursting run off his line in goal for Lithuania to clear a ball with a desperate slide on a nearly perfect through ball from Latvia.  Latvia had a free kick header just ruled offside.  The halftime score was Lithuania 1, Latvia 0.

Mindaugas Kalonas made a nice dribbling maneuver to get into the Latvian box, but he hit both posts from a sharp angle.  Latvia were caught forward by a three-on-two break.  Cernych picked out the right pass, and Saulius Mikoliunas provide the finish to punish Latvia for their foray forward with a second goal.  Nerijus Valskis was denied a goal by Latvia goalkeeper Andris Vanins late in the match, but it did not affect the final outcome.  Lithuania win 2-0.

Zenica was the site as Liechtenstein paid a visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina.  Avdija Vrsajevic put in a whipped cross that was headed home viciously by Edin Dzeko to give Bosnia the lead before the half hour mark.  Bosnia scored a second due to good fortune.  A completely shanked shot flew sideways to Zvjezdan Misimovic, who belted home a shot from twelve yards for 2-0.  Vrsajevic found his second assist via a cross that was headed in by Vedad Ibisevic for 3-0.  Bosnia scored their fourth goal in thirteen minutes the next minute.  Dzeko scored after beating the offside trap.  Bosnia gladly took their 4-0 lead into the locker room with them.

Bosnia eased off the gas in the second period.  Liechtenstein took advantage in order to score a goal.  Andreas Christen curl a ball forward that Robin Gubser volleyed across the box to a wide open Nicolas Hasler.  Hasler tapped in to bring his side within 4-1.  The rest of the half provided little of note.  Bosnia win 4-1 and now need only to defeat Lithuania on the road this Tuesday in order to qualify for Brasil 2014.

Greece needed to win at home in Piraeus against Slovakia in order to keep pressure on Bosnia.  A Kostas Manolas header off a Vasileios Torosidis cross was all but in the Slovak goal.  Slovakia goalkeeper Jan Mucha made an absolutely miraculous save, diving inside the goal, but pushing the ball out with his hand in front of the goal line.  Mucha gave the goal back with the worst pass reception in national team history.  A soft pass to Mucha under no pressure slipped under Mucha's feet and rolled into the goal.  Greece had a 1-0 lead at the conclusion of the first half.

Kostas Mitroglou chipped a ball over Mucha that was goalbound, but Tomas Hubocan (pictured, blue) was there to clear off the line even as he was facing his own goal.  Greece were completely dominant in possession and in the amount of chances created, but they could not push across a goal on their own accord.  However, Slovakia never came close to breaking down the Greek defense.  Greece win 1-0 and stay tied atop Group G with Bosnia with one match left to play.

Bosnia 22 pts +23
Greece 22 pts +6
Slovakia OUT
Lithuania OUT
Latvia OUT
Liechtenstein OUT

Goals
Lithuania
Fedor Cernych 8
Saulius Mikoliunas 68

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Edin Dzeko 27, 39
Zvjezdan Misimovic 34
Vedad Ibisevic 38

Liechtenstein
Nicolas Hasler 61

Greece
Martin Skrtel 44 OG

Match Reports:
http://www.uefa.com/worldcup/season=2014/matches/round=2000294/match=2008716/postmatch/report/
http://www.uefa.com/worldcup/season=2014/matches/round=2000294/match=2008696/postmatch/report/
http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite5_1_11/10/2013_522745

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYrV-x5FEQY (Lithuania v. Latvia)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asa5xdJajDE (Bosnia v. Liechtenstein)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHRaJvfPR6U (Greece v. Slovakia)

Full Match Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkTywcikHQg (Greece v. Slovakia)

Bosnia and Herzegovina 2 - Slovakia 1; Greece 1 - Latvia 0; Lithuania 2 - Liechtenstein 0

Liechtenstein made the trek north to Marijmapole to take on Lithuania.  A poor giveaway a dozen minutes in should have cost the visitors, but Deivydas Matulevicius directed his shot straight at the goalkeeper.  Michele Polverino was soon thereafter dispossessed by Matulevicius, who this time made no mistake with his finish.  An Edgaras Cesnauskis cross was turned into the Liechtenstein goal by a side header from Tadas Kijanskas with five minutes left in the half.  Lithuania were up 2-0 after the opening forty-five.

Liechtenstein were improved in the second half.  It took a brave charge from Lithuania goalkeeper Zhidrunas Karchemarskas to block a hard shot from Mathias Christen.  Both teams had a dangerous set piece play go begging.  Matulevicius on a late run again muffed a goal chance by hitting straight into the goalkeeper.  Lithuania win 2-0 in spite of their poor finishing.

Zilina was the site of the return match as Slovakia hosted Bosnia and Herzegovina in the teams' second meeting in five days.  Bosnia were looking to rewrite the script from the first meeting, a Slovakian victory.  The name Jan Mucha will be giving the Bosnians nightmares for years to come.  The Slovakia goalkeeper put on a show in Zilina today as his side hosted Bosnia before a surprisingly pro-Bosnia crowd.  Within the first five minutes, Mucha had already made diving saves to rob both Misimovic and Edin Dzeko on quality strikes.  Slovakia were working the counterattack well, which was a necessity given their dearth of possession.  Slovakia really should have opened the scoring, but Adam Nemec push his header wide from six yards in spite of the lack of pressure from the defense. Nemec made up for his miss with a nice pass to put Marek Hamsik in with a chance inside the box.  Hamsik struck his shot well and Slovakia had the opener.  In stoppage time, Mucha made a reaction kick save off a header from Pjanic, who was unmarked on a curling run to meet a Mujdza cross.  Slovakia escaped the half up 1-0.

Vladimir Weiss nearly made it 2-0 after he had shaken the mark of Ermin Bicakcic, but Weiss pushed his shot just wide of target.  Emir Spahic flicked on a corner kick to the back post, where Bicakcic tipped the ball in for his first international goal.  The match was suddenly level again.  With a dozen minutes left in regulation, Izet Hajrovic took a running start before lacing a rocket strike from thirty yards that sent the visiting crowd into delirium.  Bosnia were able to hold on with the crowd's support.  Bosnia win 2-1.

Piraeus and hosts Greece welcomed Latvia for a FIFA World Cup qualifier.  Konstantinos Mitroglou thought he surely had the opener from a close-range diving header, but Latvia goalkeeper Aleksandrs Kolinko made a miraculous reaction save and collection of the rebound before it crossed the line.  Greece were far superior but left the scoreless first half with nothing to show for their efforts.

As so often happens, Greece's lone goal came from a counterattack.  Georgios Samaras run the ball up the pitch and burned two defenders before slotted a perfect through ball in for Dimitrios Salpingidis.  His shot was weak but it had the placement to give the Greeks the lead.

Latvia lost Ritvars Rugins to a straight red in minute 86, ending their bid at a comeback.  Rugins was banished for a choke hold on Kostas Katsouranis's neck.  Katsouranis later joined Rugins on the sideline when he was sent off in second half stoppage time, but by then the mission for Greece had already been accomplished.  The results eliminates not only Latvia but also Slovakia from the 2014 FIFA World Cup.  The group is now down to just Bosnia and Greece for the title.

Bosnia 19 pts +20
Greece 19 pts +5
Slovakia OUT
Lithuania OUT
Latvia OUT
Liechtenstein OUT

Goals
Lithuania
Deivydas Matulevicius 18
Tadas Kijanskas 40

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Ermin Bicakcic 70
Izet Hajrovic 78

Slovakia
Marek Hamsik 42

Greece
Dimitrios Salpingidis 58

Match Reports:
http://www.uefa.com/worldcup/season=2014/matches/round=2000294/match=2008717/postmatch/report/index.html
http://www.thestar.com.my/Sport/Football/2013/09/11/Bosnia-march-on-with-21-win-in-Slovakia.aspx
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/Bosnia-march-on-with-2-1-win-in-Slovakia/articleshow/22471176.cms
http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2013/9/10/4715986/slovakia-vs-bosnia-herzegovina-world-cup-qualifying-final-score-result
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/soccer-bosnia-march-2-1-win-slovakia-213721244--sow.html
http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite5_1_10/09/2013_518161
http://neoskosmos.com/news/en/Greece-push-through-1-0-win-against-Latvia

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgVd7nhslGM (Lithuania v. Liechtenstein)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHm6oxRfo6I (Bosnia v. Slovakia)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBh-1wG8JRo (Greece v. Latvia)

Slovakia 1 - Bosnia and Herzegovina 0; Latvia 2 - Lithuania 1; Greece 1 - Liechtenstein 0

Latvia hosted Lithuania for a Baltic derby in Riga.  Off a corner taken by Juris Laizans, Latvia had their opening goal.  Nauris Bulvitis boxed off Lithuania goalkeeper Zhidrunas Karchemarskas, and then rose for a header two yards out for his first international goal.  With less than five minutes to go, Marius Stankevicius was dispossessed inside the Lithuania penalty area and the ball was picked up by Valerijs Sabala.  Sabala pushed back to an open Arturs Zjuzins, whose finish made it 2-0.  Two minutes later, Latvia goalkeeper Andris Vanins spilled an easy catch on his goal line during a corner kick, and Deivydas Matulevicius was able to knee the ball over the line for Lithuania's first goal.  Latvia were ahead 2-1 at the break.

In the second half, the defenses cleaned up their mistakes, and the lack of true dangerous attacks continued during the second half.  All three goals had come from defensive errors rather than offensive force, so with the errors cleaned up no goals were anywhere to be found in the second period.  Latvia win 2-1.

Bosnia and Herzegovina were facing Slovakia at home in Zenica, the first of two meetings over a five-day span between the sides.  Slovakia were the more desperate side given their position in the table, and their emphasis on attack reflected this fate.  Juraj Kucka came closest for Slovakia in the first half, but Amer Begovic dropped quickly enough to save at his near post.  Bosnia were looking more lively by the end of the half, but the teams went into their locker rooms even at zero goals apiece.

Vladimir Weiss was put through via a through ball that left him in a foot race ahead of two Bosnia defenders.  With Begovic coming out to meet him, Weiss had the goal at his mercy from eighteen yards, but he steered just wide.  Viktor Pecovsky was next to try Begovic, but again Begovic came up
trumps.  With barely a dozen minutes left, Pecovsky found the breakthrough.  His shot from the half circle was a slow roller, but a deflection off Bosnian captain Emri Spahic helped it past Begovic, and Slovakia were ahead 1-0.  Slovakia held on through the finish and win 1-0 behind Pecovsky's first international goal.

Vaduz and cellar dwellers Liechtenstein welcomed Greece to town.  Ultra-defensive Liechtenstein were holding out easily against a typically unimaginative Greek side, and the first half was quite forgettable.  0-0 was its score.

The home side had a massive advantage with which to pull the upset when Jose Holebas was sent off for a second yellow in minute 59.  However, Liechtenstein gave a man right back in minute 66 with David Hasler pick up his own second yellow card.  Perhaps the extra space would convince the teams to go for goal.  A long switch from Konstantinos Katsouranis to Vasileios Torosidis opened the Liechtenstein defense enough for Torosidis to slot a ball across to Konstantinos Mitrouglou for a tap-in finish.  Greece win 1-0 behind the solitary goal and move level with Bosnia atop the group table.  The result eliminates not only Liechtenstein but also Lithuania from the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Bosnia 16 pts +19
Greece 16 pts +4
Slovakia 12 pts +3
Latvia 7 pts -7
Lithuania OUT
Liechtenstein OUT

Goals
Latvia
Nauris Bulvitis 20
Arturs Zjuzins 42

Lithuania
Deivydas Matulevicius 44

Slovakia
Viktor Pecovsky 77

Greece
Konstantinos Mitroglou 72

Match Reports:
http://www.uefa.com/worldcup/season=2014/matches/round=2000294/match=2008707/postmatch/report/index.html
http://www.uefa.com/worldcup/season=2014/matches/round=2000294/match=2008698/postmatch/report/index.html
http://www.sbnation.com/world-cup-2014-qualifying/2013/9/8/4703458/liechtenstein-vs-greece-final-score-0-1

Highlights:
http://espnfc.com/video/espnfc/video?id=1546058&cc=5901 (Latvia v. Lithuania)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9pkQpij4a0 (Slovakia v. Bosnia)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CM4dkSm347E (Greece v. Liechtenstein)

Liechtenstein 1 - Slovakia 1; Greece 1 - Lithuania 0; Bosnia and Herzegovina 5 - Latvia 0;

Bosnia and Herzegovina came storming into Riga looking to continue their dominance in Group G against hosts Latvia.  Edin Dzeko nearly had an early opener for Bosnia, but a one-handed stab save was made by Latvia goalkeeper Andris Vanins.  Aleksandrs Fertovs thrown out for Latvia after receiving a straight red card in minute 11, essentially rendering the rest of the match a formality.  Fertovs had stuck a high boot into Bosnian midfielder Elvir Rahimic's knee as Rahimic tried to clear a ball.  A Miralem Pjanic free kick bent over the wall was knocked aside on a dive by Vanins.  Latvia were able to hold back the flood of goals in the first half, leaving the pitch tied 0-0.

Within three minutes, Bosnia were on their way to victory.  A probing cross by Mensur Mujdza was tipped by Latvian captain Kaspars Gorkss, but Senad Lulic was not thrown off by the deflection and scored his first international goal in off the post to give Bosnia the opener.  Lulic created a second goal five minutes later as his chipped cross has headed home by Vedad Ibisevic for 2-0.  Haris Medunhanin scored a spectacular thirty-yard strike after having teed himself up to give Bosnia a glorious third goal.  With ten minutes to go, a run by Edin Visca took the ball to the end line, from where he laid the ball back upfield.  An onrushing Pjanic pushed home the fourth goal from there.  Bosnia were sitting on the counterattack, and Dzeko got the fifth of the night for Bosnia off a long clearance that led to a breakaway.  Bosnia win 5-0 and pull themselves even closer to their first ever FIFA World Cup finals.

The fans in Vilnius were supporting home side Lithuania, who were looking to upset visiting Greece and launch themselves back into contention for the playoff berth from Group G.   Greece looked to make their superior quality pay off, and twenty minutes in it was the quality of left back Jose Holebas that provided the break through.  A long-distance, inswinging cross from Holebas found a great run at the back post by Lazaros Christodoulopoulos, whose header put Greece into the lead.  It was Christodoulopoulos's first international goal.  Greece would take that 1-0 lead in to the break.

Georgios Karagounis nearly got the second half off to a perfect start for the visitors as his long-distance cross from the right side found an open Theofanis Gekas at the penalty spot, but his diving header was pushed aside by Lithuania goalkeeper Emilijus Zubas.  Lithuania were reduced to shooting from distance, and the Greeks were happy with that given the lack of threatening shots.  Greece nearly pushed a second ball across the line at the end of the match, but Dimitrios Salpingidis struck the crossbar flush with a cannoned shot after a nice lay-off by Georgios Samaras.  Greece win 1-0.

Vaduz was the site for Liechtenstein's home match against Slovakia as the perennial minnows looked to shock the larger country.  Andreas Christen was on the ball for the hosts on a two-versus-two break.  Christen slowed down to cross the ball, which beat a diving slide from a Slovak defender and landed on Martin Buechel.  Buechel shook Marian Cisovsky and then hit a shot that found the net for a shock 1-0 to Liechtenstein.  Marek Hamsik looked to right the ship four minutes on, but Liechtenstein goalkeeper Peter Jehle's fist denied him the goal.  Liechtenstein continued to be the brighter side for the remainder of the first half with no less than two further saves being forced out of Slovakia goalkeeper Dusan Kuciak, who could not have been pleased with the time and space afforded to the Liechtenstein attack.  Cisovsky was able to knock a rebound away to safety to prevent a tap-in for 2-0 on the stroke of haltime.  Liechtenstein took a 1-0 into their locker room.

A through ball saw Tomas Dubek in on goal for the chance at an equalizer, but Liechtenstein defender Yves Oehri was having none of it as his daring saving tackle was perfect and denied the opportunity inside his own box.  A well-worked set piece finally provided some joy to Slovakia as a short corner slid across to the top of the penalty area.  Miroslav Stoch deftly landed a chipped cross onto the six-yard box where three unmarked Slovak attackers caught the defense off-guard.  Jan Durica would be the one to get the goal as his open header tied the match at one-goal apiece.  Slovakia could have won the match with two minutes left to play when a Dusan Svento floating cross found an unmarked man at the back post, but Jehle was able to make the point-blank saved to ensure the spoils were split on this day.  The match ends 1-1.

Bosnia 16 pts +20
Greece 13 pts +3
Slovakia 9 pts +2
Lithuania 5 pts -4
Latvia 4 pts -8
Liechtenstein 2 pts -13

Goals
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Senad Lulic 48
Vedad Ibisevic 53
Haris Medunhanin 63
Miralem Pjanic 80
Edin Dzeko 82

Greece
Lazaros Christodoulopoulos 20

Liechtenstein
Martin Buechel 13

Slovakia
Jan Durica 73

Match Reports:
http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2013/6/7/4407262/bosnia-vs-latvia-final-score-result-2013
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/soccer-table-topping-bosnia-rout-10-man-latvia-185954374.html
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1665590-lithuania-vs-greece-score-grades-and-post-match-reaction
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/soccer-slovakia-hopes-dented-liechtenstein-draw-213020832.html
http://www.uefa.com/worldcup/season=2014/matches/round=2000294/match=2008713/postmatch/report/index.html

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lm_tV74eN7U (Bosnia v. Latvia)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BzsNoK0FP0 (Greece v. Lithuania)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o43fiK8HxOQ (Liechtenstein v. Slovakia)

Full Match Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGsqjeNJ_Zg (Bosnia v. Latvia)

Bosnia and Herzegovina 3 - Greece 1; Liechtenstein 1 - Latvia 1; Lithuania 1 - Slovakia 1

Vaduz was an unlikely place for a result to be found as Liechtenstein welcomed Latvia to town.  In a real team effort, four Liechtenstein players touched the ball in the final third as the ball was incrementally swung from left to right.  The third man was David Hasler, who chested the ball and then provided a soft touch behind himself to the right.  Michele Polverino scored the opener for the home side as the fourth man to touch the ball, putting Latvia under immense pressure on the road.  Aleksandrs Cauna responded on the half-hour mark as his thirty-two yard free kick went in off the underside of the crossbar at the right upper ninety.  The score was 1-1 at the half.

A hand ball just beyond the hour mark provided Latvia with the opportunity to take the lead from the penalty spot.  Fortunately for Liechtenstein, their goalkeeper Peter Jehle tipped Cauna's effort around the posts to preserve the draw.  Liechtenstein actually had the better of the final half hour, but they were unable to snatch the victory.  The match ends in a 1-1 draw.

Zilina was the scene as a desperate Slovakia looked to use the homefield advantage against Lithuania to propel themselves make into the race for Brasil 2014.  In the second minute, Slovakia almost made it count.  A Marek Sapara free kick was curled to the left side, from where Jan Durica headed back to an open Juraj Kucka at the far post, who blew the open header from two yards over the crossbar.  An unlucky rebound off a clearance saw the ball land at the feet of Lithuanian Mindaugas Kalonas, who dribbled away from one defender.  The ball was stolen from him, but the thief was his own teammate Darydas Sernas, whose one-time finish gave the visitors the lead twenty minutes into the match.  A quarter hour on, a Robert Mak through ball had Marek Hamsik one-on-one with the goalkeeper, but his effort was meekly hit straight at the only obstacle in his way.  Three minutes later, Sapara sent a free kick flush off the crossbar, and the Lithuanians appeared to be living a charmed life.  In perhaps the least promising of their first half chances, Slovakia equalized with five minutes to play in the half.  A perpetually loose ball came to Martin Jakubko with his back turned to goal.  Jakubko rose up for the half bicycle kick and equalized for Slovakia.  The half ended at one-goal apiece.

A dozen minutes into the second period, a Kucka volley attempt off a clearance was hit squarely but collided with the far post rather than the side netting, leaving Slovakia wondering what voodoo was placed against them on this day.  With under five minutes to go, Lithuania substitute Arvydas Novikovas slalomed around Dusan Svento to lay off a great pass to Sernas, who smacked the opportunity wide right.  The match finishes as a 1-1 draw.

Zenica and the Bosnia home crowd welcomed Greece into town for what could be deemed the de facto deciding match of Group G.  Unmarked from seven yards off a corner kick, the first chance went to Bosnian Ognjen Vranjes, whose header was saved on the dive by Greece goalkeeper Orestis-Spyridon Karnezis.  Bosnia were undeterred by this missed chance, and they took the lead before the half hour mark.  A long free kick from Zvjezdan Misimovic was whipped into the box.  Edin Dzeko performed an amazing half-spin header from nine yards out to nod the ball home for the opener.  Six minutes later, Bosnia won a penalty when Georgios Tzavelas tripped and rolled over Mensur Mujdza.  Karnezis saved the initial spot kick, but the ball was eventually bungled over the line after it was knocked back toward goal by a Greek player despite the efforts of two onrushing Greek defenders.  The half ended with the home side ahead 2-0.

Eight minutes into the second half, Bosnia put the game away.  A Misimovic free kick was perfectly curled onto Dzeko's head, from where the ball was nodded away to the near post for a three-goal advantage.  In the penultimate minute of regulation.  Miroslav Stevanovic held off his defender for an open shot, but Karnezis saved.  In the final minute of stoppage time, Greece pulled a goal back when Georgios Samaras slotted a through ball to the far post for a tap in by Theofanis Gekas.  Bosnia win 3-1 and are well-positioned for their first ever berth at a FIFA World Cup finals.

Bosnia 13 pts +15
Greece 10 pts +2
Slovakia 8 pts +2
Lithuania 5 pts -3
Latvia 4 pts -3
Liechtenstein 1 pts -13

Goals
Liechtenstein
Michele Polverino 17

Latvia
Aleksandrs Cauna 30

Lithuania
Darvydas Sernas 19

Slovakia
Martin Jakubko 40

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Edin Dzeko 30, 54
Vedad Ibisevic 36

Greece
Theofanis Gekas 90+3

Match Reports:
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=2041491/index.html
http://www.uefa.com/worldcup/season=2014/matches/round=2000294/match=2008723/postmatch/report/index.html
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2013/soccer/wires/03/22/2080.ap.soc.bosnia.greece.1st.ld.writethru.242/index.html

Highlights:
http://www.wat.tv/video/lie-vs-lat-wawsport-5y5gb_4zqor_.html (Liechtenstein v. Latvia)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyL7UlTu2qE (Lithuania v. Slovakia)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXrzKFJX8kw (Bosnia v. Greece)

Greece 1 - Slovakia 0; Bosnia and Herzegovina 3 - Lithuania 0; Latvia 2 - Liechtenstein 0

Liechtenstein came to Riga to visit Latvia.  Latvia, in spite of having earned no points, were heavy favorites against their opponents on this.  On the half hour mark, Latvia took advantage of an injured Liechtenstein player inside of the visitors' penalty area, scoring a goal rather than playing the ball out of bounds so that he could be treated.  Liechtenstein goalkeeper Cengiz Bicer made a great double save from his knees with five minutes to go in the half.  Latvia led 1-0 at recess.

Daniel Kaufmann picked up his second yellow in minute 60 after having been booked only two minutes prior, leaving Liechtenstein to cope with ten players.  A through ball breakaway chance was converted by Edgars Gauracs to put the home side up two goals.  Latvia win 2-0.

A loud crowd gathered in Zenica to cheer on Bosnia and Herzegovina as they took on Lithuania.  The match was decided in a twelve-minute run that began just before the half hour mark.  Miralem Pjanic is the creator in the Bosnian midfield, and he came through tonight.  For the first goal, he nutmegged his defender with a short through ball that allowed Vedad Ibisevic to latch on at full speed and delivered a roof finish for 1-0.  Six minutes later, another Pjanic assist was recorded when his pass to the penalty spot was converted by Edin Dzeko, who had run free of his marker in the process.  Dzeko paid his teammate back after a bit of excellent hold up play.  Dzeko fielded the ball with his back to goal and drew a double team before turning and chipping a cross that was knocked home on the half volley by Pjanic.  Twelve minutes of genius gave Bosnia a 3-0 lead at halftime.

The second half was much more subdued.  In fact, Lithuania had the only two real chances in the period, but neither was well-taken.  Bosnia win 3-0 to remain atop the Group G standings with six matches left to play.

Slovakia hoped that some home cooking Bratislava would be the recipe for success against a stubborn Greece defense as both teams needed a win to keep pace with high-flying Bosnia.  Slovakia were the better team for much of the night, but that often is not enough to beat the Piratiko.  With seven minutes left in the half, Slovakia attacking midfielder Marek Hamsik had a chance at goal, but his shot grazed the outside of the post.  Slovakia really should have scored after a nice one-two-one play beat the Greek defense, but over-dribbling led to the initial chance being knocked away by a sliding goalkeeper, but the rebound led to an open shot.  Greece center back Nikos Spiropoulos retreated to the goal line during the play and was there to clear the shot off the line.  The half ended 0-0 with Greece lucky to be even.

Slovakia took a few long distance shots in the hopes that the rain would cause a mistake, but they were never rewarded for the strategy.  A frustrated Slovakia team had one defensive lapse during the match, and it  cost them dearly.  A ball fell wide of the penalty box after an initial clearance.  Greece captain Konstantinos Katsouranis played a ball in to Dimitrios Salpingidis.  Salpingidis had been played onside by Martin Skrtel, who compounded his mistake by allowing Salpingidis to stay goal side of him for multiple seconds.  Slovakia had two chances for the equalizer in the final five minutes, but neither one fell with the better of the two being a Michal Breznanik laser that met the crossbar and the point at the same time and flew many yards out of bounds of the rebound.  Greece hold on to win 1-0 in typical Greek fashion.

Bosnia 10 pts +13
Greece 10 pts +4
Slovakia 7 pts +2
Lithuania 4 pts -3
Latvia 3 pts -3
Liechtenstein 0 pts -12

Goals
Latvia
Vladimirs Kamess 29
Edgars Gauracs 77

Bosnia
Vedad Ibisevic 29
Edin Dzeko 35
Miralem Pjanic 41

Greece
Dimitrios Salpingidis 63

Match Reports:
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1785743/index.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2012/oct/18/bosnia-herzegovina-world-cup
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1785745/index.html
http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite5_1_16/10/2012_466351
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1785783/index.html

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LyMjDPHMDg (Latvia v. Liechtenstein)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6JCX4x_-eY (Bosnia v. Lithuania)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9-NUVnucKw&feature=related (Greece v. Slovakia)

Full Match Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwmdWGnA3-Y (Bosnia v. Lithuania: 1st half)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tw_mm-JSLtc&feature=relmfu (Bosnia v. Lithuania: 2nd half)

Bosnia and Herzegovina 0 - Greece 0; Slovakia 2 - Latvia 1; Lithuania 2 - Liechtenstein 0

Liechtenstein welcomed Lithuania to Vaduz on UEFA Matchday Three.  The first half was played on Lithuania's terms, but no goals were to be had.  The scoreboard read 0-0 after the first forty-five.

In the second frame, Edgaras Cesnauskis brought the full complement of three points to Lithuania.  He scored the first five minutes in from twelve yards when he beat the goalkeeper to the far post despite a touch from the gloves.  His second goal came from a rocket from distance with one quarter hour left.  Lithuania win 2-0.

Slovakia made their way home to Bratislava for their match against Latvia.  Slovakia jumped all over their opponents early.  Vladimir Weiss drew a penalty after the goalkeeper came out to challenge him, setting up a penalty conversion and a lead after five minutes.  Three minutes after that, the second goal was found by the Slovaks.  A Marek Sapara free kick from the corner of the penalty area was struck low and goalward, somehow going through the mass of bodies untouched and disappearing to the point where the goalkeeper had no chance to read the strike before it went into the net.  Slovakia would take the 2-0 lead into halftime, but only after a late Latvia goal was disallowed for offsides.

The second half was mostly uneventful as the Slovaks clearly had lost enthusiasm going forward.  Latvia capitalized in the final ten minutes as they drew a penalty kick from a foul just inside the side of the box.  A Panenka-style chip into the roof of the net made it 2-1 to Slovakia and set up a dramatic finish.  Slovakia held onto their slim lead and win 2-1.

Hosts Greece and Bosnia faced off in the Group G showdown of the day in Piraeus.  Five minutes in, the Greeks had their golden opportunity.  Georgios Samaras drew both defenders on a two-on-two break before slotting across the box with the outside of his foot.  Theofanis Gekas had the goal at his mercy, but he somehow managed only to find the post, breaking the hearts of thousands in the stands.  Zvjezdan Misimovic  cracked a shot for Bosnia toward the far post midway through the first half, but a brave Ioannis Maniatis rose to clear the violent shot with his forehead.  Vassilis Torosidis found a shot inside the box for Greece but his lasered nicked the top of the crossbar on it s way into oblivion.  Senad Lulic nearly pulled a goal out of a quick break, but the Bosnians were denied by a one-handed lunge across the grass by Greece goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis.  The half ended 0-0.

The second period proved that the action in this match was frontloaded as the final forty-five failed to produce the excitement of the first period.  A dull second half allowed the match to end 0-0.

Bosnia 7 pts +10
Slovakia 7 pts +3
Greece 7 pts +3
Lithuania 4 pts 0
Latvia 0 pts -5
Liechtenstein 0 pts -11

Goals
Lithuania
Edgaras Cesnauskis 51, 75

Slovakia
Marek Hamsik 5 PK
Marek Sapara 9

Latvia
Maris Verpakovskis 84 PK

Match Reports:
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1784045/index.html
http://football.thestar.com.my/2012/10/13/nowhere-to-turn-for-tiny-liechtenstein/
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1784155/index.html
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/soccer/wires/10/12/2080.ap.soc.greece.bosnia.1st.ld.writethru.330/index.html
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1784346/index.html

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhPMs1qc6Bs (Lithuania v. Liechtenstein)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qsa0ZThYRSE (Slovakia v. Latvia)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWoBy-29XHU (Bosnia v. Greece)

Greece 2 - Lithuania 0; Bosnia and Herzegovina 4 - Latvia 1; Slovakia 2 - Liechtenstein 0

Zenica welcomed home Group G contenders Bosnia and Heregovina to take on Latvia.  Latvia spoiled the party with an excellent corner kick set piece five minutes into the match. Oskars Klava found the head of Deniss Ivanovs, who nodded to the back post where a sliding captain Kaspars Gorkss finished against a stunned Bosnia defense.  Six minutes later, Bosnia drew an unbelievably soft penalty that they would convert for 1-1. Just before half, an Edin Dzeko run up the left side of the pitch led to a cross to Miralem Pjanic, who gathered, turned off his defender, and blasted home for a 2-1 lead after forty-five minutes.

Pjanic won a 50-50 ball just outside Latvia's penalty box with ten minutes off the clock, and he then picked out Zvjezdan Misimovic for Bosnia's third goal.  In stoppage time, Dzeko pulled a double juke, causing two defenders to fall with the same move before beating the goalkeeper for Bosnia's fourth and final goal. Bosnia win 4-1, marking the second straight match that Latvia led 1-0 before ultimately losing.

Bratislava welcomed their heroes Slovakia to take on visiting Liechtenstein.  Liechtenstein goalkeeper Peter Jehle made a fine save from close range after a half-dozen minutes to prevent Slovakia from taking the lead.  Vladimir Weiss put a low cross into the box, and on his second attempt to make contact, Marek Sapara scored the opener for his side.  In the final ten minutes, Slovakia kept pushing, and a Marek Hamsik header crashed the underside of the crossbar without going in, leading the provider of the service Sapara with his hands on his head in disbelief.  Slovakia took the 1-0 advantage into the dressing room.

Jehle saved from Hamsik in the first danger play of the half.  With twelve minutes to go when Miroslav Stoch had a one-on-one with Jehle and got the ball through his hands.  Stoch's goal was stolen by a teammate as it crossed the line, but no matter. Slovakia win 2-0.

Greece made their first appearance at home in the 2014 FIFA World Cup against Lithuania in Piraeus.  Greece had the better of play at the start, but they did not come close to a goal until a free kick by Sotiris Ninis (pictured, blue #18) curled over the wall and was tipped away by goalkeeper Zydrunas Karcemarskas.  Karcemarskas made two more saves to preserve the 0-0 after one half.

Karcemarskas knocked away a close-range Kostas Mitroglou  header in the first minute after the break, leaving Greece to wonder if they would ever score.  Mitroglou had another header chance, but this time he hit the post.  Greece gathered the rebound, and Ninis ended up with a nice turn-and-shoot to make it 1-0 to Greece.  Mitroglou, in his third chance after substituting onto the pitch, scored with under twenty minutes to play off a one-two-one play with Ninis.  Greece would set out the match, and they win 2-0.

Bosnia 6 pts +10
Greece 6 pts +3
Slovakia 4 pts +2
Lithuania 1 pts -2
Latvia 0 pts -4
Liechtenstein 0 pts -9

Goals
Bosnia
Zvjezdan Misimovic 12 PK, 54
Miralem Pjanic 44
Edin Dzeko 90+1

Latvia
Kaspars Gorkss 5

Slovakia
Marek Sapara 36
Martin Jakubko 78

Greece
Sotiris Ninis 55
Konstantinos Mitroglou 72

Match Reports:
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1699691/index.html
http://www.euronews.com/sport/1654464-rampant-bosnia-continue-goal-spree-to-sink-latvia/
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1699909/index.html
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1699935/index.html

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yEviK3s5zw (Bosnia v. Latvia)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tFO_ZCWahA (Slovakia v. Liechtenstein)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1cFl9VhNTk (Greece v. Lithuania)

Full Match Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NXI53iqV4c (Bosnia v. Latvia - 1st half)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guBfApaAr4I (Bosnia v. Latvia - 2nd half)

Greece 2 - Latvia 1; Slovakia 1 - Lithuania 1; Bosnia and Herzegovina 8 - Liechtenstein 1

Bosnia and Herzegovina started their campaign with a real chance of making it to their first ever FIFA World Cup finals after having been drawn into a soft Group G with Slovakia and Greece.  Their first test was a simple road qualifier in Vaduz to face Liechtenstein.  Liechtenstein held out for twenty-five minutes, but then the floodgates opened.  Zvjezdan Misimovic hit a first half brace as part of a 4-0 Bosnia partial victory.

In the second period, Edin Dzeko scored a hat trick and Vedad Ibisevic picked up his third goal to earn his own hat trick.  When the scoreline was 5-0, Mathias Christen pulled one back for the hosts.  In the end, the match ends as an easy 8-1 Bosnian win.

Slovakia, Round of 16 participants at South Africa 2010, began their long journey back to the big stage with a trip to Vilnius to face Lithuania.  Lithuania grabbed the lead before twenty minutes had elapsed, but a costly turnover saw Slovakia equalize.  Marek Sapara stripped his man at the half circle, dribbled up field and passed off to a teammate.  His teammate lost the ball, but Sapara had continued his run and smoked the rebound home from outside the box to make it 1-1, which would be the halftime score.

Slovakia's Martin Skrtel headed over the go-ahead goal but made amends with a crucial block on the defensive end.  In minute 56, Viktor Pecovsky was ejected for a straight red, leaving Slovakia a man down.  Lithuania were never able to capitalize.  In fact, Tadas Labukas had a short day for Lithuania.  He was subbed on with fifteen minutes to go but had received his second yellow by the time the match had ended, though Lithuania only had to ten-on-ten a very short time in stoppage time.

Riga was the site as Greece made the trip to the Baltic Sea to play hosts Latvia.  Greece had the joy of being the better side throughout the opening stages of the match.  Two headers inside the box failed to threaten the Latvia goal, but a Theofanis Gekas side-foot volley struck the post flush with ten minutes remaining in the period.  Latvia drew a penalty five minutes later and converted for a 1-0 halftime lead against the run of play.

Greece still looked the stronger side in the second half.  Indeed, the Greeks must have felt snake-bitten not to have a goal after creating so many chances.  Miros Spiropoulos struck a ball from twenty-six yards with a left-footed swerving blast to equalize.  After all their botched chances, Greece broke through for a second on a turnover deep in Latvia's area that was one-timed into Gekas's path for a calm finish and a 2-1 lead.  After so much creating nothing out of something, Greece had created something out of nothing.  However, they proceeded to finish the match creating more nothing out of another solid set of chances.  Oskars Klava made a sliding block in stoppage time to deny the best of these chances, but it was no matter.  Greece win 2-1.

Goals
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Zvjezdan Misimovic 26,31
Vedad Ibisevic 34, 40, 83
Edin Dzeko 46, 64, 80

Liechtenstein
Mathias Christen 61

Lithuania
Marius Zaliukas 18

Slovakia
Marek Sapara 41

Greece
Miros Spiropoulos 57
Theofanis Gekas 69

Latvia
Aleksandrs Cauna 42 PK

Match Reports:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/sns-rt-uk-soccer-world-liechtensteinbre88617q-20120907,0,3070868.story
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1697348/
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1697290/index.html

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnhRuH5vSRI (Bosnia v. Liechtenstein)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElIA-_twfME (Greece v. Latvia)

UEFA Group G Fixtures

The fixture list was decided upon at a meeting in Bratislava on 18 November 2011. Group G consists of six teams, and they are listed from highest seed to lowest seed: Greece, Slovakia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Lithuania, Latvia, and Liechtenstein.

7 September 2012

Greece at Latvia

Bosnia at Liechtenstein

Slovakia at Lithuania

11 September 2012

Lithuania at Greece

Latvia at Bosnia

Liechtenstein at Slovakia

12 October 2012

Bosnia at Greece

Latvia at Slovakia

Lithuania at Liechtenstein

16 October 2012

Greece at Slovakia

Lithuania at Bosnia

Liechtenstein at Latvia

22 March 2013

Greece at Bosnia

Lithuania at Slovakia

Latvia at Liechtenstein

7 June 2013

Greece at Lithuania

Bosnia at Latvia

Slovakia at Liechtenstein

6 September 2013

Greece at Liechtenstein

Slovakia at Bosnia

Lithuania at Latvia

10 September 2013

Latvia at Greece

Bosnia at Slovakia

Liechtenstein at Lithuania

11 October 2013

Slovakia at Greece

Liechtenstein at Bosnia

Latvia at Lithuania

15 October 2013

Liechtenstein at Greece

Bosnia at Lithuania

Slovakia at Latvia