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Italy, England, Portugal, Dutch advance in World Cup
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-10-09 09:00

BECKHAM OFF

England had earlier limped to an uninspired 1-0 home win over Austria despite having captain David Beckham sent off after an hour -- the first England player ever to be dismissed twice and the first England captain to be sent off in England's 133-year international history.

England's David Beckham (L) walks from the pitch after being shown the red card, as Austria's Andreas Ibertsberger (R) looks on, during their World Cup 2006, Group Six qualifying soccer match at Old Trafford in Manchester, northern England, October 8, 2005.

England's David Beckham (L) walks from the pitch after being shown the red card, as Austria's Andreas Ibertsberger (R) looks on, during their World Cup 2006, Group Six qualifying soccer match at Old Trafford in Manchester, northern England, October 8, 2005. [Reuters]

However, it proved enough once the Dutch won as they and Poland, who were not in action, are guaranteed at least one of the two best-runners-up places.

That left their Manchester meeting on Wednesday merely to decide the Group Six honours.

Portugal stuttered to a 2-1 home win over Liechtenstein but it was enough to secure top spot in Group Three for the Euro 2004 runners-up.

Slovakia edged Estonia 1-0 while Russia beat Luxembourg 5-1 to set up a deciding head-to-head in Bratislava when Slovakia need a draw and Russia a win to clinch the Group Three playoff berth.

The day began with no less than 12 permutations of the top two finishers in Group Four and ended little clearer with the top four all still in contention.

France seemed on course for the finals via Djibril Cisse's 52nd minute goal until a late equaliser earned Switzerland a 1-1 draw in Bern.

That left both sides on 17 points, one behind Israel, who completed an unbeaten campaign with a 2-1 home win over the Faroe Islands but still seem set to miss out.

Ireland won 1-0 in Cyprus to move to 16 and they face Switzerland in Dublin on Wednesday in a game they must win.

France should still win the group by beating Cyprus in Paris but, with a history of slip-ups in similar encounters, the 1998 world champions will take nothing for granted.
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