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.

27 Booked, 5 More Up For Grabs

France over Cyprus 4-0 to win Group 4. Switzerland earns 0-0 draw at Ireland to earn the crucial point and send them to the home and home playoff phase. Sweden earns one of the top second place slots after 3-1 win over Iceland as Croatia wins group England over Poland 2-1 to win Group 6. Both nations had already qualified over the weekend. Poland gets automatic qualification as one of the two top 2nd placers.

Serbia wins Group 7 after 1-0 win over Bosnia. Spain rolls San Marino 6-0 to earn playoff space in the home and home playoffs Turkey wins at Albania 1-0 clinching second place. Hot finishing Denmark and sputtering Greece both won their final matches but come up short. Slovakia advances to the playoff after uninspiring 0-0 draw with Russia,based on goal difference.

So there are 3 more European spots up for grabs. The six nations involved will be: Switzerland, Spain, Norway, Slovakia, Czech Republic and Turkey. The draw for these three matchups is October 14. The games will be played on November 12 and 16.

Bahrain advances to the playoff with either Trinidad/Tobago or Guatemala after goalless draw with Uzbeks (advancing on away goal rule after 1-1 draw away last week).

Four First Timers From Africa

The dust is settling for the qualifying rounds, just one day remains (Wednesday before the home-and-home playoffs are settled for the sides that will contest those early next month.
We do know the following: First timers are getting their shot, as 4 African nations will make their initial trip to the Finals, as will Ukraine.

24 teams have already qualified:

* Tunisia, Cote D'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Togo, Angola, and Ghana are in. Morocco ends up as the only African team without a loss in qualifying (going 5 wins and 5 draws) and get nothing but a seat watching the World Cup Finals next year after kicking in own goal v Tunisia and sealing their fate on Saturday. Cameroon missed a penalty (off crossbar) in injury time, handing their qualification jersey to Ivory Coast. Japan/Korea quarterfinalist Senegal, perennial Nigeria and 2010 host South Africa all out of the festivities as well.

* USA, Mexico and Costa Rica are in. Weak CONCACAF group will probably land a ridiculous 4 berths, with Trinidad & Tobago or Guatemala to go to playoff with Bahrain or Uzbekistan for a spot in the Finals. THAT needs to be fixed next time around. Neither of these four nations deserve a spot in the Finals.

* Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and Iran are in. Japan, Korea and Iran deserve the ticket. Saudis are likely to be fodder again, just like in 2002.

* Argentina, Brasil, Paraguay and Ecuador are in. The drama now shifts to see which of Uruguay (22 pts), Colombia (21 pts) or Chile (21 pts) are going to get the fifth place slot and play Australia in the home-and home playoff. Uruguay plays across the Plata at Argentina, Colombia at Paraguay, and Chile hosts Ecuador on Wednesday. For the record, Colombia is a plus 7 in goal differential, but Uruguay is a minus 6 and Chile is a minus 4.

* Germany (host), Ukraine, Netherlands, Poland, England, Croatia, Italy and Portugal are in.

GROUP 1: Red-hot Netherlands has won the group. Czech Republic need a win at Finland to secure at least the playoff. If they fail to win, Romania gets the playoff spot.

GROUP 2: Ukraine has won the group. Turkey will reach the playoff with a win at Albania. If they lose or tie, and Denmark beats Kazakhstan (which they should easily), Denmark gets the playoff spot. Greeks are but done, and have themselves to blame, scoring just 14 goals in 11 matches so far.

GROUP 3: Portugal wins the group, coming back from a shocker 1-0 home deficit to Leichtenstein on Saturday to win 2-1. Slovakia and Russia play Wednesday for the playoff spot, but that game is in Slovakia and a tie favors the hosts.

GROUP 4: Israel, believe it or not lead the group with 18 points but have played all their matches, Amazingly, Israel, Switzerland and France have each not LOST a match yet. However, Ireland must beat Switzerland on Wednesday to leapfrog them and Israel and guarantee at least a place in the playoff. France hosts Cyprus and should win, and claim the group spot in the Finals. Israel is hoping for France to lose to Cyprus, and have Switzerland and Ireland draw, giving them at least a playoff. Not likely. Still a group entirely up for grabs.

GROUP 5: Much more settled here, as Italy wins the group. Norway clinches second place and playoff, thanks to Scotland's shocking home loss to Belarus on Saturday.

GROUP 6. Poland and England have both qualified as England has enough points to at least clinch one the top two second place finishes, which is good for auto qualification. Poland wins group with a win or tie at England Wednesday.

GROUP 7: Interesting group here, as Spain as practically clinched a playoff spot with a certain win on Wednesday at San Marino. Spain though can win the group if Bosnia (yes, that Bosnia) can find a way to defeat Serbia, who has allowed just one goal in 9 matches so far. Bosnia would then earn the playoff spot leaving the Serbs out in the cold. Not likely, but would make a great movie...

GROUP 8: Croatia has at least clinched one of the two top second places. Sweden has at least climched the playoff. A Sweden win v Iceland and Croatia loss to Hungary would give the Swedes the group championship.

8 spots are still up for grabs, 6 of the them will be from Europe. Playoffs likely to involve Turkey, Slovakia, Ireland, Spain, Czech Republic, Norway and a random draw will pair the team up for home and home playoff.

More after Wednesday as three more spots are claimed, likely Serbia, France, and Sweden.

Welcome to 90 Minutes of Hell

Welcome Football Fans!

I have never been a big player of the 'beautiful game' but have been a crazed fan since the 1978 World Cup in Argentina. I have travelled to the last four major Championships (World Cups in '98 and '02 and Euro in '00 and '04), and can't wait for Germany 2006!

I welcome your responses, posts and opinions on the World Cup qualifying proceedings, and your own ideas and thoughts of what the World Cup Finals are all about. I will also be keeping this site alive with live reports from my own trip to the first half of the Finals in Germany!

Enjoy 90 minutes of hell...