Is there a thread on this? Seem to remember a continuous one for previous campaigns.
Anyways, all the confederations are entering the closing stages. Some unusual teams going to be in South Africa, it seems, including the possibility of some more new teams (there's never been a World Cup yet without a debutante team)
Qualified already are -
South Africa
Japan
Australia
South Korea
Holland
North Korea
Brazil
Ghana
England
Spain
Paraguay
North Korea last played in 1966, South Africa last played in 2002 and all the others were in Germany.
In Africa, the Ivory Coast are all but through. Cameroon beat Gabon last week; Gabon, who've never qualified, had been two points clear. Egypt host Algeria on the last day, with the winner probably taking all. Algeria go through if it's a draw; they haven't featured since 1986.
In Asia, Bahrain beat Saudi Arabia in a play-off and meet New Zealand in another play-off next month. Saudi Arabia made it 2-1 on aggregate in the 91st minute of the second leg only for Bahrain to equalise in the 94th minute. Bahrain have never qualified, New Zealand played in 1982.
In North and Central America, Mexico recovered from their bad start - three defeats in four - and are nearly through along with the US. Honduras (last qualified in 1982) are in the third spot a point ahead of Costa Rica; both have to play America. Third qualifies; fourth gets into a play-off against South America.
In South America, Argentina are only in the play-off spot (having won their first three games) and have to play Peru at home (should win) and then Uruguay away, where anything could happen. Argentina last didn't qualify in 1970. Venezuela, the only team from South America never to have qualified, are at home to already qualified Paraguay and away to already qualified Brazil; they're a point off the play-off and two off automatic qualification.
Finally, in Europe, Latvia - who've never qualified - are just one goal behind Greece in the race for a play-off spot; Greece v Latvia is next up. Portugal could sneak a play-off spot as they're home to Malta and Hungary, by far the easiest run-in; Sweden could miss out if they lose in Denmark. A draw in Slovenia will see Slovakia qualify for the first time ever. Russia host Germany next month with the winners probably qualifying automatically. If Bosnia & Herzegovina, who've never qualified, win in Estonia, they'll confirm a play-off spot. If France beat the Faroes at home, they'll confirm their play-off spot. If Brian Kerr manages the unthinkable, France would play Austria, with defeat sending them out altogher.
Top scorer in the whole World Cup so far is Osea Vakatalesau of Fiji with 12, albeit with 6 against Tuvalu.
I'd love it if Gabon if got through. David Cousin is one of my favourite strikers of all time.
It'd be great to see the likes of Latvia and Slovakia make it. Latvia were rather unlucky in Euro 2004. Beaten 2-1 by Czech Rep after leading 1-0 at half-time and then drew 0-0 with Germany when they had two desent penalty shouts turned down, iirc.
New Zealand were a horrible side to watch at the Confed Cup.
Extratime.ie
Yo te quiero, mi querida. Sin tus besos, yo soy nada.
Abri o portão de ouro, da maquina do tempo.
Mi mamá me hizo guapo, listo y antimadridista.
It's awesome that North Korea are there, it sets up so many possibilities............will they win the thing (via North Korean TV)...will they have their own verison of effents....and what happens if they draw thew USA
South Korea v North Korea final is a certainty.
That would be brilliant. Remember Iran v USA in 98(?), hillarious stuff.Originally Posted by bennocelt
Are you actually serious and do you mean Daniel Cousin?
Yeah, Daniel Cousin.
Extratime.ie
Yo te quiero, mi querida. Sin tus besos, yo soy nada.
Abri o portão de ouro, da maquina do tempo.
Mi mamá me hizo guapo, listo y antimadridista.
what about my cousin Kevin... he's very good at subbuteo.
Serbia v France group looks interesting, could be a Bosnia / Serbia / Croatia / Slovenija play-off.
The match to watch will be Russia v Germany on a winters night in the Luzniki. I think the old Lenin stadium could witness another Red October... I fancy the Russians to sneak it and put the Germans into the playoffs.
Please tell me some of you guys watched Argentina last night????
Drama of the sort your highest paid Hollywood hacks couldn't write!
A nervous start, a debut goal, a tropical storm, a last minute equaliser, a country and a legend on the brink of destruction, a 35 year old forgotten striker, Diego doing a Klinnsman!! UNREAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Certainly did, I thought the Peruvians had made it 2-2 when the guy punted it right from kick off.
That was some effort!! Delighted for Diego. I see them losing on Wed but Bielsa doing them a favour against Ecuador. Argentina-Honduras play-off.
Just heard an amazing Stat.
Germany have never lost an away world cup qualifying match. They have only ever lost 2 matches in all world cup qualifying.
Russia lost their first ever home world cup qualifying and that is including when they were USSR too.
In Trap we trust
Wow.
Was it Portugal and the North who beat Germany?
Pretty sure one of the two was the english in 2001 ?
Oh yeah.
The North beat them in euro 84 qualifying apparently. Must be getting mixed up with that.
We beat them both home and away in that series. Deutschlands angstgegner
Honduras qualify for the first time since 1982... in quite dramatic fashion too, with Costa Rica beating the US 2-0 in the first half, then Bradley scores for USA, then they're down to 10 men after they use their 3 subs and Onyewu stretchered off. Ticos time wasting, 5 minutes of injury time, all they had to do was hold off the last corner kick. You know what happens with about 20 seconds left injury time, USA scores it's 2-2. Honduras are in, Ticos to play Uruguay in the playoff.
"Jacques Santini...will be greeted in every dugout of the country by "one-nil, one-nil" - Clive Tyldsley, 89th minute of France-England June 13, 2004.
"Ooooohhhh Nooooooo" Bobby Robson 91st minute.
Of the 23 already confirmed for 2010 17 are back from 2006.
Considering there are 200ish countries entering, the same countries are qualifying year in year out, is International football becoming as staid and predictable as club football?
I don't think that's fair.
First off, we've never had a World Cup with no debutantes, and Slovakia have ensured that'll continue. That's an impressive stat.
Secondly, four years is too short a time-span to judge international trends; a team will last for four years. Look at those countries who haven't made it - Sweden, Belgium, Poland, Bulgaria, Croatia, Turkey, Cech Republic - some decent teams not going to South Africa. All bar Bulgaria and the Czechs were at the 2002 World Cup, for example. International football will ebb and flow, as we nkow ourselves, but it'll do so over a longer time span than four years.
Well Concaf is going to be USA, Mexico & 1 other
South America is going to be Brazil, Argentina & 2/3 Others plus Paraguay have now been 3 times in a row I think
Asia will be Japan, Australia, South Korea & 1/2 Others
Europe will probably be France, Italy, Spain, England, Germany, Holland, Portugal (over half our allocation right there) Since it went to 32 teams only Holland & Portugal have missed the finals from that group
Africa is probably the most open, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Nigeria & Egypt are probably the big 5 but you will always get a couple of other well drilled teams with 1 or 2 names coming to the fore like Togo & Senegal have done recently.
But the point is that with the number of teams entering basically I would say a minimum of 50% of the places are pretty much sewn up before qualifaction even starts.
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