The team was struggling to reach the 2002 World Cup with just five matches of the qualification competition remaining.

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Lancashire cricket manager Mike Watkinson confirmed that Flintoff may well bowl in the team's remaining two matches of the qualification campaign.

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Sunderland's victory -- the club's second since January 23 -- dented sixth-placed Everton's hopes of European qualification, leaving David Moyes' team two points behind Tottenham having played two more matches.

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Yet after winning their opening four Group E matches - beating Malawi, Guinea and main rivals Burkina Faso home and away - qualification had never been in doubt.

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