Funny how we're more objective about even their chances of qualifying than our own...
Would make up for our own likely disappointment if that shower were also missing.
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Funny how we're more objective about even their chances of qualifying than our own...
Would make up for our own likely disappointment if that shower were also missing.
A few more games in African today - Tunisia are in the final 10 despite not playing, a win for Ivory Coast in Tanzania tomorrow would see them through to the next phase too. Zambia only drew at home to Sudan so Ghana will jump above them if they win at Lesotho tomorrow, though Lesotho have drawn their 2 home games in the group. If Ghana win they'd just need a point at home to Zambia to get through. Congo lost at home to Burkina Faso, when a draw would have qualified them, a win at Niger in the last game would still get them through. A draw for Nigeria at home to Malawi would also see them progress to the final round. Libya, including Eamon Zayed in their squad, had a win against Togo which leaves them 3 points ahead of Cameroon, with a game more played. Depending on how Cameroon v DR Congo goes tomorrow Libya may only need a point away at Cameroon to go through. Uganda beat Angola which eliminates them but leaves Uganda top of the group but Senegal play at Liberia tomorrow.Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
It looks like most of the big names will get through to the final 10 - Morocco are the biggest team gone so far.
Ethiopia 2-1 up on South Africa with five minutes to go; that'd see them qualify for the play-offs with a match to go.
Ivory Coast are the first team there after beating Tanzania 4-2. Egypt 1-0 up on Mozambique with 5 to go too; that'd see them through.
Yeah a few things resolved today:Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
Countries definitely qualified for the last 10 are:
Ethiopia, Tunisia, Ivory Coast, Egypt and Algeria
The other 5 will be decided in September
Ghana v Zambia - Ghana need just a point a defeat would see Zambia through
Congo or Burkina Faso - as explained before Burkina Faso need to win at home to Gabon and hope Congo fail to win in Niger
Nigeria v Malawi - Nigeria just need to draw, a win sees Malawi through
Cameroon v Libya - Cameroon need to win, otherwise Libya go through
Senegal v Uganda - Senegal just need a draw, a Uganda win would put them through.
Hard to see any of Ghana, Nigeria or Senegal failing to get the draw they need. Cameroon may have it tougher against Libya though.
No Bafana Bafana. We may be facing a World Cup with the appalling vista of absolutely no vuvuzelas anywhere. One of football's finest traditions is dying :(
Final day of the Asian Groups on Tuesday. Looking at Korea v Iran - if this match is drawn Korea will qualify and Iran would qualify if Uzbekistan fail to beat Qatar by 4 or more (Uzbekistan have only scored 6 goals in 7 games in the group)!
Australia will join Japan at the WC if they win at home to Iraq, if Jordan beat Oman at home they will leap-frog them into the playoff against either Iran or Uzbekistan.
Gas that four of the five remaining groups in Africa will be decided by winner-takes-all games.
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/prelimi...660/index.html
ethiopia not through yet.....
Bloody heck.
There's already been three games awarded 3-0 in the African groups so far; Burkino Faso have probably been knocked out as a result (they're one point behind Congo - drew 0-0 with them in the first round, but forfeited 3-0 on account of an ineligible player)
Still, you'd imagine Ethiopia would be able to beat the Central African Republic (three points so far) in the last round if necessary.
Was it just me or did anyone else hear the story about Zimbabwe and their not having enough players for a match? I don't know if it was poor translation from me, but I am certain they said there was some issue with tickets and visas. Maybe money too. Seanie must have cleaned them out!
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blogs/...143713844.htmlQuote:
Originally Posted by Spudulika
Ethiopia in trouble?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22930519
Sensational own goal ends South Africa's World Cup dream
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUcAV...layer_embeddedQuote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
That's impressive!
Australia have 14 minutes to score against Iraq, or else they could well get dumped down to the play-offs. 0-0 at present, which means an Oman win against Jordan would see Oman qualify and Australia play off against Iran or Uzbekistan.
1-0 Australia; 83 minutes. :(
Will that mean they'll qualify automatically?
Yeah - they're through to Brazil.Quote:
Originally Posted by DeLorean
Oman and Jordan have a shoot-out for 3rd place in the group - which leads to a playoff against 3rd in the other group (Uzbekistan or Iran) the winner of which plays the 5th placed South American team.
Massive goal so. Wouldn't mind drawing the Aussies in Brazil :)
europe sucks!Quote:
Originally Posted by jc_gufc
Would have preferred they didn't.
Given Australia's not in Asia. And denies another team from there a rightful place.
And yes, know they're part of that federation...
Qatar 1-0 away to Uzbekistan while South Korea and Iran are 0-0 at half time. Means it's the play-off for Uzbekistan, but still hope for automatic qualification if they can turn their game around.
Meh. They played in Asia till 1982 anyway, and even then they tended to have Israel or Taipei, neither of whom are Oceania. Not a major issue really.Quote:
Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy
I don't mind that they've qualified as I'd have more interest in their games than Oman's. I do mind that they qualify by winning three games out of eight against mostly minnows, whereas we lost out last time because we couldn't top a group with the World Cup holders or beat the runners-up in a playoff.
Iran 1-0 up in South Korea. So Uzbekistan now need 7 goals in the last 25 minutes to overtake South Korea on goal difference and qualify.
Equaliser for Uzbekistan. Just 6 more to go now!
I'm guessing the standard between Uzbekistan & Kazakhstan is pretty similiar although there is nearly 100 places between them in the FIFA rankings.
They're also similiar Geographically.
Wouldn't the Kazaks have a better chance of qualifying for the WC if they played in Asia? Why did they switch?
It didn't work out too well for them the last time. Kazakhs, by all accounts, identify as European and want to play their football here.Quote:
Originally Posted by JGKyne
I'd say so, though it's hard to tell really. Last time Kazakhstan were in Asia (2002), they were knocked out by Iraq, but fairly matched them in the groups. In 1998, they got to the final round, finishing joint-bottom with Uzbekistan. I'd say both have improved since then. That's guesswork really though.Quote:
Originally Posted by JGKyne
3-1 Uzbekistan now. 4 more needed! Or 2 and a Korea equaliser. I'd say Korea and Iran are happy with what they have though.
4-1 now. Looking all in vain though. Though they just need a South Korea equaliser now; I think I mis-counted earlier.
5-1! "Just" two short of Korea now, who have lost.
Though wiki has them in second and qualified, presumably on head-to-head? I thought it was GD that counted first?
Edit - has to be a wiki error; they drew and lost to Korea.
Edit edit - 5-1 result now. Wiki now saying Uzbekistan have qualified, but I still think it's wrong?
Judging by the reactions after the match it would have come down to GD (otherwise Korea would have already officially qualified before today) - had Uzbekistan won 7-1 they'd have jumped above Korea.
There was obviously a lot of tension on the benches as instead of a handshake Carlos Quiros (manager of Iran) he was just shouting abuse at the Koreans. I'd imagine he expected Korea to settle for the 1-0 loss which would have seen them both through, unless Uzbekistan managed the 7-1 win, but Korea really pushed for an equaliser and very nearly did with a header in the 93 minute, that would have dropped Iran into the playoffs.
Yeah, wiki's changed. Korea and Iran through.
I'm going to go out on a limb here and say they're probably a better team now than in 2002.Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
Just thinking back to September when we played Kazakhstan & Oman. The Kazakhs looked a better side than Oman, who are still in the hunt to qualify at least until 7pm this evening.
Well yeah but would they be a better team if they hadn't left Asia?
Fair point.
And however much we begrudge the Aussies, they probably did it the harder way.
Well it looks like the winner of Oceania (New Zealand) will have to face either Mexico or Honduras for a place in the World Cup. I'd imagine it's easier to win one of the 5 spots in Asia.
Jordan 1-0 Oman. So Jordan v Uzbekistan in the play-offs for the right to play the 5th place in South America (currently Uruguay)
That's a good point. I never thought of that...Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin
Some craic, serious bricking going in during injury time. Cahill not impressed to be subbed off, until the sub scored the winning goal.Quote:
Originally Posted by pineapple stu
http://i.imgur.com/Sh2YvV7l.jpg
Quote:
Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy
The Aussies played some good football the last two world cups, so I am glad they will be at the party next year:)