The 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification UEFA Group 2 was a
UEFA
Union of European Football Associations (UEFA ; french: Union des associations européennes de football; german: Union der europäischen Fußballverbände) is one of six continental bodies of governance in association football. It governs f ...
qualifying group for the
2010 FIFA World Cup
, image = 2010 FIFA World Cup.svg
, size = 200px
, caption = ''Ke Nako. (Tswana and Sotho for "It's time") Celebrate Africa's Humanity'It's time. Celebrate Africa's Humanity'' (English)''Dis tyd. Vier Afrika se mensd ...
. The group comprised
Greece
Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders with ...
,
Israel
Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...
,
Switzerland
). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...
,
Moldova
Moldova ( , ; ), officially the Republic of Moldova ( ro, Republica Moldova), is a Landlocked country, landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Romania to the west and Ukraine to the north, east, and south. The List of states ...
,
Latvia
Latvia ( or ; lv, Latvija ; ltg, Latveja; liv, Leţmō), officially the Republic of Latvia ( lv, Latvijas Republika, links=no, ltg, Latvejas Republika, links=no, liv, Leţmō Vabāmō, links=no), is a country in the Baltic region of ...
and
Luxembourg
Luxembourg ( ; lb, Lëtzebuerg ; french: link=no, Luxembourg; german: link=no, Luxemburg), officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, ; french: link=no, Grand-Duché de Luxembourg ; german: link=no, Großherzogtum Luxemburg is a small lan ...
.
The group was won by Switzerland, who qualified for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The runners-up Greece entered the
UEFA play-off stage.
Standings
Matches
The match schedule was established at a meeting in
Israel
Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...
on 8 January 2008. However, Greece and Latvia failed to come to an agreement on matches between themselves, and, since the match schedule was not finalised by 16 January 2008 deadline,
FIFA
FIFA (; stands for ''Fédération Internationale de Football Association'' ( French), meaning International Association Football Federation ) is the international governing body of association football, beach football and futsal. It was found ...
conducted a random draw to determine the fixtures. The draw took place in
Zagreb
Zagreb ( , , , ) is the capital (political), capital and List of cities and towns in Croatia#List of cities and towns, largest city of Croatia. It is in the Northern Croatia, northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slop ...
,
Croatia
, image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg
, image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg
, anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland")
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, capit ...
at 16:00 CET on 30 January 2008, the eve of the XXXII Ordinary
UEFA Congress
The UEFA Congress (french: Congrès de l'UEFA, german: UEFA-Kongress) is the supreme controlling organ of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). UEFA is the administrative body for association football and futsal in Europe, and is on ...
.
Draw settles disputes
FIFA
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Goalscorers
There were 86 goals scored during the 30 games, an average of 2.86 goals per game.
;10 goals
* Theofanis Gekas
Theofanis "Fanis" Gekas ( el, Θεοφάνης "Φάνης" Γκέκας; born 23 May 1980) is a Greek professional football official, coach and a former player, who played as a striker. He is the manager of Turkish fourth-tier TFF Third League ...
;6 goals
* Elyaniv Barda
Elyaniv Barda (or Elianiv, he, אליניב ברדה; born 15 December 1981) is an Israeli former football forward and winger, And the current manager of Hapoel Be'er Sheva. His former clubs include Hapoel Be'er Sheva, Maccabi Haifa, Hapoel Tel ...
;5 goals
* Alexander Frei
Alexander Frei or Alex Frei (born 15 July 1979) is a Swiss professional football coach and a former player who played as a forward. He is currently the manager of Basel.
He began his career at Basel, going on to various other clubs in Switzerla ...
* Blaise Nkufo
Isetsima Blaise Nkufo (born 25 May 1975) is a Swiss former international footballer who played as a striker and current coach of Rino's Tigers in the Vancouver Metro Soccer League.
He was born in Zaire and raised in Switzerland from the age o ...
;4 goals
* Angelos Charisteas
Angelos Charisteas ( el, Άγγελος Χαριστέας, ; born 9 February 1980) is a Greek former professional footballer who played as a forward. He works as sporting director for Aris Thessaloniki.
At club level he played for Aris Thessa ...
* Omer Golan
Omer Golan ( he, עומר גולן; born 4 October 1982) is a former Israeli footballer. He played as a striker for his home club Maccabi Petah Tikva and for Lokeren.
Club career
Maccabi Petah Tikva
Golan played in the youth ranks of Maccabi ...
;3 goals
* Yossi Benayoun
Yossi Shai Benayoun ( he, יוסי שי בניון; born 5 May 1980) is an Israeli former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He spent most of his career in England and captained the Israel national team. Born in Dimona, he is s ...
* Ben Sahar
Ben Sahar ( he, בן שׂהר, changed the Hebrew spelling of his surname from ; born 10 August 1989) is an Israeli professional footballer who plays as a striker for Maccabi Haifa and the Israel national team.
At 16, Sahar was the equivalent ...
* Māris Verpakovskis
Māris Verpakovskis (born 15 October 1979), is a Latvian retired professional footballer who played as a striker. He represented the Latvia national team at UEFA Euro 2004 and is the only Latvian player to score at the end stage of a major int ...
;2 goals
* Georgios Samaras
Georgios Samaras ( el, Γεώργιος Σαμαράς, ; born 21 February 1985) is a Greek former professional footballer who played as a striker.
Samaras started his career at OFI Crete, before moving on to Eredivisie side Heerenveen in 200 ...
* Vasilis Torosidis
Vasilis Torosidis (Greek: Βασίλης Τοροσίδης, born 10 June 1985) is a Greek former professional footballer who played as a right-back.
Club career
Skoda Xanthi
Torosidis made his senior debut for Skoda Xanthi on 19 April 2003 at ...
* Vitālijs Astafjevs
Vitālijs Astafjevs (born 3 April 1971) is a Latvian former professional football midfielder, and current assistant manager of Aris Limassol having previously held the role for the Latvia national team.
Astafjevs won nine Latvian championship ...
* Aleksandrs Cauņa
Aleksandrs Cauņa (; born 19 January 1988) is a Latvian former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.
Career Club
Born in Daugavpils, at youth level Cauņa played for Dinaburg, being brought to Skonto Riga system at the age of 14 i ...
* Ģirts Karlsons
Ģirts Karlsons (born 7 June 1981) is a Latvian football forward, who most recently played for the Latvian Higher League club FK Liepāja.
Club career
As a youth player Karlsons played for his local club FK Liepājas Metalurgs, being taken to t ...
* Andrejs Rubins
Andrejs Rubins (26 November 1978 – 1 August 2022) was a Latvian professional footballer who played as a left midfielder. He was a member of the Latvia national team. Rubins worked as a football manager.
Club career
Born in Riga, Rubins start ...
* Philippe Senderos
Philippe Sylvain Senderos (born 14 February 1985) is a Swiss retired professional footballer who played as a defender.
Senderos began his career at Servette, before moving to England as a teenager with Arsenal. He made 116 appearances over se ...
;1 goal
* Kostas Katsouranis
Kostas Katsouranis ( el, Κώστας Κατσουράνης; born 21 June 1979) is a Greek former international footballer. A versatile midfielder, who won the Super League Greek Footballer of the Year Award in 2005 and 2013, as well as the Co ...
* Dimitris Salpingidis
Dimitris Salpingidis ( el, Δημήτρης Σαλπιγγίδης ; born 18 August 1981) is a Greek former professional footballer who played as a winger or a striker. He was known to be "a very quick and useful tool on the counter attack."
...
* Aviram Baruchyan
Aviram Baruchyan ( he, אבירם ברוכיאן; born March 20, 1985) is an Israeli professional football player who currently plays for Agudat Sport Nordia Jerusalem.
Career
He has been playing for Beitar Jerusalem since Youth level. In the 2 ...
* David Ben Dayan
* Klemi Saban
* Salim Tuama
Salim Tuama ( ar, سليم طعمه, he, סלים טועמה; born August 9, 1979) is an Palestinian, Arab-Israeli association football, footballer who plays as a midfielder for Maccabi Sha'arayim F.C., Maccabi Sha'arayim. His former clubs incl ...
* Kaspars Gorkšs
Kaspars Gorkšs (born 6 November 1981) is a Latvian former professional footballer who played as a defender. Gorkšs was also the captain of the Latvian national team. From 2018 to 2019 Gorkšs served as president of the Latvian Football Feder ...
* Kristaps Grebis
Kristaps Grebis (born 13 December 1980 in Liepāja) is a retired Latvian footballer.
Club career
Grebis started his professional career in 2000 with FK Liepājas Metalurgs. Making 7 appearances and scoring one goal in his first season, he later ...
* Deniss Ivanovs
Deniss Ivanovs (born 11 January 1984) is a retired Latvian footballer who played as a defender.
Club career
Born in Liepāja, Ivanovs played in the youth team of local club Liepājas Metalurgs. Making his senior team debut in 2001, he played ...
* Vladimirs Koļesņičenko
Vladimirs Koļesņičenko (russian: Влади́мир Колесниче́нко; born 4 May 1980 in Riga) is a retired Latvian Russian footballer and the former chairman of Latvian Higher League club Skonto Riga.
Career
Club career
Being a ...
* Andrejs Perepļotkins
Andrejs Perepļotkins ( uk, Андрій Ігорович Перепльоткін, ''Andriy Igorovych Pereplyotkin''; born 27 December 1984) is a Ukrainian born Latvian footballer, who plays primarily as a right winger for SK Super Nova.
Alth ...
* Aleksejs Višņakovs
Aleksejs Višņakovs (born 3 February 1984 in Riga) is a Latvian football midfielder, who currently plays for SK Super Nova in Latvian First League. He is also a member of Latvia national football team.
Club career
Latvia
As a youth player ...
* Jurijs Žigajevs
Jurijs Žigajevs (born 14 November 1985) is a Latvian former football player who made 31 appearances for the Latvia national team.
Club career
Born in the then Leningrad, Russia Žigajevs moved to Latvia at a young age. In his youth he played ...
* Fons Leweck
* René Peters
René Peters (born 15 June 1981) is a former Luxembourgish football (soccer), football player who currently manages US Hostert. He was captain of the Luxembourg national football team, national team during his playing days.
Club career
Peters w ...
* Jeff Strasser
Jeff Strasser (born 5 October 1974) is a Luxembourgish former professional football player and the current manager of Progrès Niederkorn.
Club career
As one of the rare successful professional footballers from Luxembourg, Strasser has made a ...
* Serghei Alexeev
Serghei Alexeev (born 31 May 1986) is a Moldovan Association football, footballer who plays as a Forward (association football), forward. He also holds Russian citizenship as Sergei Viktorovich Alekseyev (russian: Сергей Викторови ...
* Valeriu Andronic
Valeriu Andronic (born 21 December 1982) is a Moldovan football manager and a former player.
Career
Andronic started his career at capital club before cross border to join FC Dinamo București. In summer 2002, he joined MTK Hungária FC on a ...
* Denis Calincov
Denis Calincov (born 15 September 1985) is a Moldovan Manager (association football), football manager and former professional Association football, footballer who played as a Forward (association football), striker. He has played international ...
* Gheorghe Ovseannicov
* Igor Picușceac
* Veaceslav Sofroni
Veaceslav Sofroni (born 30 April 1984) is a retired Moldovan professional football player and current head coach of Spartanii Selemet.
Career Coaching career
In the summer 2018, Sofroni was appointed player-coach of Spartanii Selemet. He left ...
* Eren Derdiyok
Eren Derdiyok (born 12 June 1988) is a Swiss professional footballer who plays as a striker. He is a former Swiss international.
Early life
Derdiyok was born in Basel, Switzerland, into a Kurdish family from Turkey. He also holds Turkish cit ...
* Gelson Fernandes
Gelson da Conceição Tavares Fernandes (born 2 September 1986) is a Swiss former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder.
Club career FC Sion
Fernandes started his football career at FC Sion when he first joined the club ...
* Stéphane Grichting
* Benjamin Huggel
Benjamin "Beni" Huggel (born 7 July 1977) is a Swiss former footballer who played as a midfielder for FC Basel in the Swiss Super League and for Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga.
He won a total of twelve titles with Basel, seven League Cha ...
* Marco Padalino
Marco Padalino (born 8 December 1983) is a Swiss former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He played for Malcantone Agno, Catania, Piacenza, Sampdoria and Vicenza, and Lugano. A Swiss international from 2009 to 2014, he represe ...
* Hakan Yakin
Hakan Yakin ( tr, Hakan Yakın; born 22 February 1977) is a Swiss football coach and a former player who played as a forward or midfielder. He is the manager of Schaffhausen. He was a member of the Swiss national team for eleven years.
Early a ...
;1 own goal
* Avraam Papadopoulos
Avraam Papadopoulos ( el, Αβραάμ Παπαδόπουλος; born 3 December 1984) is a Greek former professional footballer who played as a centre-back. He was born in Melbourne, Australia, to Greek parents.
Club career
Aris
Papadopoulos ...
(playing against Luxembourg
Luxembourg ( ; lb, Lëtzebuerg ; french: link=no, Luxembourg; german: link=no, Luxemburg), officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, ; french: link=no, Grand-Duché de Luxembourg ; german: link=no, Großherzogtum Luxemburg is a small lan ...
)
Attendances
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:World Cup
2
2008–09 in Israeli football
2009–10 in Israeli football
2008–09 in Greek football
qual
2008–09 in Moldovan football
2009–10 in Moldovan football
2008–09 in Luxembourgian football
2009–10 in Luxembourgian football
2008–09 in Swiss football
qual
2008 in Latvian football
2009 in Latvian football