[ALBSA-Info] WorldCup Update

[Kreshnik Bejko]

Saturday, June 2 2:00 PM - Dish
Network, DirecTV, TVN, Cablevision and  Time Warner Cable Digital - NYC

Though it is still early in the qualifying process, this match could be a 
crucial one for both Albania and Greece if either nation hopes to make the 
trip to Japan/Korea.

Germany, with four wins in their first four matches is threatening to run 
away with Group Nine, and the automatic berth that come with it, leaving 
England, Finland, Albania and Greece hoping for the runner spot and a place 
in the UEFA Playoff pool for one of the four or five other available spots. 
(One UEFA team will playoff with a team from Asia).

Both Greece and Albania have managed only one win and three losses in their 
four previous matches.

Greece beat Finland 1-0 in Athens last July, while Albania beat Greece in 
their previous meeting in Tirana, 2-0.

The Greeks, who have only mustered three goals in qualifying, dodges two 
huge bullets this week.

First, a judge exonerated AEK star amd National team captain Thodoris 
Zagorakis in his doping case. Zagorakis had tested positive twice for higher 
than allowed testostorone levels, but the judge ruled the increased levels 
were not attributable to outside or banned substances. Zagorakis had already 
missed a friendly against Croatia while awaiting the ruling.

An even larger problem for the Greeks was avoided, when the Hellenic 
Football Association, the Greek Government and FIFA reached an accord 
intended to bring the Greek government's involvement in the Football 
Association into compliance with FIFA guidelines. Among other potential 
sanctions, FIFA was threatening to suspend the FA.

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