Draw Results for Final Five

There are five spots remaining for Germany 2006 with the games on November 12 and 16. Here is the result of the draw for the three remaining European places.

Spain v Slovakia
The Espanols should have enough to win, but the defensive minded Slovaks are looking for their first World Cup and will do whatever they can to thwart the perennial underachievers. Personally, Spain NEEDS to make the Finals as they need to atone for their unfair loss to South Korea in the quarters in 2002. I call it Spain on 2-0 aggregate

Turkey v Switzerland
Turks are in for some unknown, and their fans may not exactly blend in when they travel to Switzerland, but they should have enough to disappoint the Swiss Army. Too strong offensively but weak in the back gives the Turks are shaky but effective win on a predicted 5-3 aggregate.

Czech Republic v Norway
Norway will host the first leg, with the story being the irresistible force (Czechs scoring 35 goals in 12 matches), and Norway being the immovable (7 goals allowed in 10 games). Norway can't score and probably won't against the Czechs, who will be without star Jan Koller until the Finals...Assuming they get there. They will, on 3-0 aggregate.....

Two other home-and-home playoffs decide the final two spots:

Bahrain v Trinidad & Tobago
Previous posts on this site has shown the disdain for the merits of these two nations footballing prowess. It is a sad story to see one of these two make it, and see Denmark, Greece, Romania, Cameroon, Senegal and Nigeria all on the sidelines. I don't really care either way, but the Trinidados look to be playing the better football and should emerge from a brutal home-and-home playoff over 5 days and a 24 hour journey. Give it to Trinidad 3-2 getting through on aggregate.

Australia v Uruguay
The Socceroos return the scene of the crime against Uruguay, the nation that knocked them out of the 2002 Finals with a resounding 3-0 win in Montevideo. This time, the Aussies are coached by Guus Hiddink and start in Montevideo. Also the story will be different too, as the Aussies will return to the site of their last World Cup appearance (Germany 1974). Aussies gain some revenge a trip back to the Finals with a 3-1 aggregate victory.

I will report back with some final analysis just before the games.