Antti Niemi: had vital saves as Finland surprised Switzerland

World Cup round-up

PORTUGAL are to protest to FIFA over the controversial red carding of Rui Costa in Saturday's World Cup draw with Germany in Berlin. French referee Marc Batta dismissed Costa after giving him his second yellow card for wasting time when he was being substituted in 76 minutes.

Portugal had badly needed to win to keep alive their hopes of qualifying, but the match ended in a 1-1 draw. Portuguese Federation president Gilberto Madail said: ''The player was already leaving the pitch and didn't say a word to the referee. Just because he wasn't walking quite fast enough he got a second yellow card.''

The Portuguese dominated the match and were leading from a goal by Pedro Barbosa in 71 minutes but, following Costa's expulsion, Ulf Kirsten equalised.

Germany and Portugal are now on 16 points, one point behind Group 9 leaders Ukraine, but Portugal have played one more game than the Germans.

Berti Vogts' men now need only five points from their remaining games against Armenia and Albania to qualify. However, they now have Juergen Kohler suspended after a second yellow card, and Stefan Reuter injured.

Vogts yesterday called in Schalke defenders Olaf Thon and Thomas Linke for Wednesday's qualifier against Armenia in Dortmund. Borussia Dortmund striker Lars Ricken also joins the squad. For the eighth game in a row Jurgen Klinsmann failed to score, but he is still certain to gain his 100th cap on Wednesday.

It was a poor performance by the Germans and Vogts said: ''We should qualify, but I did not like what I saw.''

Still, it was Germany's seventeenth match without defeat.

Holland opened the champagne after a 3-1 win over Belgium in Group 7 virtually guaranteed their place. Jaap Stam, Patrick Kluivert, and Dennis Bergkamp got the goals.

Dutch coach Guus Hiddink said: ''The mood in the dressing room afterwards was euphoric. We had ordered champagne before the match.''

Rangers goalkeeper Antti Niemi helped Finland put a serious dent in Switzerland's hopes of qualifying from Group 3. The Finns won 2-1 in Switzerland, where the home side were jeered from the field.

Jari Litmanen and Antti Sumiala scored Finland's goals. Switzerland's goal from Adrian Kunz came in the last minute.

Niemi had a brilliant game in the Finns' goal, making several vital saves.

Finland, who have never qualified for the finals, are now second behind Norway, who secured their place in France by beating

Azerbaijan 1-0.

The battle for second place, which could lead to qualification through play-offs, is now very tight.

Finland have a two-point lead over third-placed Hungary, with the Swiss a further point behind.

The Finns have played one game more than their two rivals but Switzerland face a very

difficult test in their next game in Norway on Wednesday, the same day that Hungary face Azerbaijan.

Zvonimir Boban kept alive Croatia's hopes of qualifying by scoring the winning goal in the

3-2 victory over Bosnia in Group 1.

Croatia are third on 12 points, one point behind both Greece and second-placed

Denmark.