Football: Norway go with the Flo to finals

WORLD CUP ROUND-UP

Norway became the ninth nation to book their place in next year's World Cup Finals, and the Netherlands all but joined them when they both won important qualifying matches on Saturday.

Norway clinched their place in France 98 when they won 1-0 in Azerbaijan thanks to a 43rd-minute long-range goal from Chelsea's Tore Andre Flo. Norway join the world champions Brazil, the hosts France and qualifiers Nigeria, Morocco, Tunisia, South Africa, Cameroon, and Romania at the finals.

Meanwhile, the Dutch virtually wrapped up Group Seven with a 3-1 win over their neighbours Belgium, a late solo effort from the Arsenal striker Dennis Bergkamp sealing the win.

Nine-man Austria took a big step towards the finals - or at the least the runners-up play-offs, after Scotland regained the top-spot with yesterday's win over Belarus - following their 1-0 victory over Sweden in Vienna in a Group Four match that saw three sendings off. The win came courtesy of a superb 76th-minute goal from Andreas Herzog, but Anton Pfeffer and the goalkeeper Michael Konsel of Austria, and Roland Nilsson of Sweden, were all sent off.

In Group One, Greece celebrated Friday's announcement that Athens has been awarded the 2004 Olympic Games with an emphatic 3-0 win over Slovenia in Ljubljana that put them back on top of the standings, ahead of Denmark on goal difference. Croatia remain a point behind Greece and Denmark after a hard-fought 3-2 win over Bosnia.

The upset of the night came in Group Three, where Finland moved into second place behind Norway with a 2-1 win over Switzerland in Lausanne - keeping alive their hopes for a first-ever appearance in the finals. Jari Litmanen (16min) and Antti Sumiala (79) scored for Finland with Adrian Kunz's 90th-minute goal proving too little too late for the Swiss.

Germany looked to be heading for defeat against Portugal after Pedro Barbosa scored in the 71st minute. But Rui Costa's red card five minutes later upset their rhythm and Ulf Kirsen equalised for the Germans nine minutes from time.

Germany and Portugal are now both on 16 points, one point behind the surprise Group Nine leaders Ukraine, but Portugal have played one more game than the European champions. Germany need to win their last two home games, against Armenia on Wednesday in Dortmund and against Albania next month, to make sure of a trip to France next year.