Originally Posted by BBC Sport

World Cup Qualifiers Round-up


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England return from the arduous 7,000-mile round trip to Kazakhstan a step closer to World Cup qualification - but only after surviving a close encounter with embarrassment in Almaty.

Fabio Capello's record on the road to South Africa remains flawless with six successive victories after this journey to Europe's eastern extremity and a meeting with one of the genuine minnows of the world game.

The gulf in these contrasting football cultures was not immediately apparent, however, as England suffered the ignominy of almost going behind to Kazakhstan before exerting their authority and claiming the expected victory.

John Terry saved England from going a goal down virtually straight from the kick-off with a brave block on Sergey Ostapenko before the striker saw a header ruled out for offside with the scoresheet still blank.

England eventually overpowered the resilient Kazakhs with two goals in six minutes before half-time, with Gareth Barry celebrating his £12m move from Aston Villa to Manchester City by heading in Steven Gerrard's cross.

Saturday, 06 June 2009

Azerbaijan 0-1 Wales R

Belarus 5-1 Andorra R

Bulgaria 1-1 Rep of Ireland L

Cyprus 1-0 Montenegro L

FYR Macedonia 0-0 Norway R

Finland 2-1 Liechtenstein R

Iceland v Netherlands

Kazakhstan 0-4 England R

Lithuania 0-0 Romania L

Slovakia 7-0 San Marino R

Sweden 0-0 Denmark L

Georgia 1-2 Moldova R

South Africa 1-0 Poland R