nguemo and killen book world cup spot

David Friel
A TOTAL of 15 Celtic players were involved in international games at the weekend as Landry NGuemo and Chris Killen booked places at the 2010 World Cup.

Celtic midfielder NGuemo started as Cameroon beat Morocco 2-0 to qualify for next summer’s tournament. Goals from Pierre Web’o and Samuel Eto’o sealed the victory.

Killen was also in dreamland as he helped New Zealand to a 1-0 win over Bahrain in a tense play-off in Auckland. Rory Fallon’s goal proved sufficient for the All Whites as Bahrain missed a second-half penalty.

Joined by ex-Celt Michael McGlinchey in the New Zealand starting line-up, Killen smashed a volley off the bar as the Kiwis tried to kill the game but it mattered little as they held on to reach the World Cup for the first time in 28 years.

While Killen and NGuemo were celebrating, it was a frustrating night for Aiden McGeady, whose Republic of Ireland side lost 1-0 to France in their Dublin play-off.

The Celtic winger came on as a second-half substitute as Nicolas Anelka’s deflected shot outfoxed Shay Given to give the French a slender advantage. Robbie Keane, Glenn  Whelan and Liam Lawrence had good chances for Ireland, but France survived.

Georgios Samaras, meanwhile, played 90 minutes for Greece in their 0-0 play-off draw with Ukraine in Athens. The Celtic striker was a constant danger in a tight 90 minutes but Greece will now have to score an away goal to qualify.

In the Asian Cup, Celtic midfielder Zheng Zhi missed a penalty for China but his side still managed to beat Lebanon 2-0 in Beirut.

Niall McGinn once again starred for Northern Ireland in their 1-0 friendly defeat against Serbia.

Up against the likes of Nemanja Vidic, McGinn was a constant menace on the right wing and earned his second successive Man of the Match award for the Irish. Paddy McCourt also enjoyed an impressive cameo appearance late on.

Celtic’s Scotland contingent were on duty in Wales. Scott Brown and Shaun Maloney were injured, but Stephen McManus, Gary Caldwell, Barry Robson and Danny Fox all featured in the 3-0 defeat in Cardiff.

Hoops left-back Fox was making his international debut and didn’t have the most enjoyable experience, but it hasn’t put him off the idea of trying to carve out a long career with Scotland.

He said: “I’m proud to have won my first Scotland cap but bitterly disappointed it ended the way it did. I've got to concentrate on club level now and try to stay in the international squad."

In the Under-21 European Championships, Paul Caddis captained Scotland and Jason Marr was on the bench as Billy Stark’s men beat Azerbaijan 4-0 to go top of Group 10.

In Group 2, Celtic winger Graham Carey scored in the Republic of Ireland's 1-1 draw in Georgia. Cillian Sheridan, on loan at Plymouth, claimed the assist.