2005-09-05 - 2006 World Cup Qualifying - Review

• Group 1:  The big story of the night was the Czech Republic not only losing control of their destiny in the group, but also seemingly automatic qualification as one of the best two runners-up. Their 2-0 loss to Romania means that they're now likely to need at least four points from their last three games to make sure that they finish as a runner-up because as both teams have beaten each other goal difference would decide the order of the two teams if they finish level on points. As Romania can only obtain a maximum of 25 points, the Czechs only need to equal it to be guaranteed a playoff place as they have a far superior goal difference in the group. The Netherlands' 1-0 win in Armenia was hardly convincing but no matter as it still gave them the three points they were after. If, as expected, the Netherlands win their games against Andorra and Macedonia at home they'll qualify for the finals as group winners even if they lose against the Czechs in Prague. Marco van Basten, manager of the Netherlands, will still have quite a dilemma though that may still affect the outcome of the group. He'll now have to make a difficult decision whether he goes all-out for a win in Prague risking getting his players injured or sent off, or whether rests his best players in the game against the Czechs to make sure he gets the three points in the final game against Macedonia at home just four days later.
  

• Group 2: The Ukraine, who drew 1-1 in Georgia, stumbled across the line to qualify for their first ever major tournament following Denmark's late, late equaliser in Turkey to make it 2-2. The ironic thing for Turkey is that that stroke of bad luck may yet be their good fortune as they'll meet Ukraine who may well still be intoxicated from their celebrations at the weekend. A win for Turkey in Ukraine and in their final game away to Albania will mean that they'll qualify for the playoffs unless Greece can beat the Danes in Denmark.

• Group 3: No real surprises with both Portugal and Russia winning against lowly opposition (6-0 v Luxembourg and 2-0 v Liechtenstein respectively). The crunch games on Wednesday will see Portugal visit Russia and Slovakia visiting Latvia. Portugal can afford to lose in Russia as they should win their remaining matches to qualify comfortably.

• Group 4: Amazingly after nine games between the top four sides, no side has taken points of the other with all games having finished in draws. Israel again came from behind to stun the Swiss by drawing 1-1. With three rounds of matches left the top four places are still to be decided. Israel are one point behind the Switzerland, Ireland and France, but would seem in a very strong position to qualify for the playoffs as their two remaining matches are home and away against the Faroe Islands. The other three sides still have to play each other with both France and Switzerland having to visit Switzerland, and France still have to go to Switzerland in between.

• Group 5: Scotland's brave display against Italy that almost saw them beating the Italians seems to have been too little too late as Norway scored a late winner to beat Slovenia. The Italians still have a couple of tricky games as they visit Belarus on Wednesday and host Slovenia in October, but they should just win the group ahead of Norway. Slovenia will have now to hope that Norway drop points at home to Scotland or Moldova, or away to Belarus in their last game.

• Group 6: England laboured to a 1-0 win in Wales and Poland narrowly beat Austria 3-2, but both results keep the two well on target for automatic qualification as group winners or runners-up. England should be too good for Northern Ireland and Poland should prevail against Wales at home so that a final day match between the two will decide the group winner.

• Group 7: Serbia and Montenegro kept their remarkable run of qualifiers going without conceding a goal to keep the pressure on Spain by beating Lithuania 2-0. If they manage to keep the run going beyond Wednesday when they visit Spain, they'll surely qualify as group winners, confining Spain to the playoffs. Spain will need a win to make sure their destiny is back in their hands.

• Group 8: Croatia had a nervous wait before they took control of their match away to Iceland, having trailed at half-time, but their 3-1 win keeps the pressure on Sweden who also left it until the second half to take control of their match at home to Bulgaria (3-0).

• Group 1: Senegal kept their chances of winning the group alive as they ran out 1-0 winners away to Zambia, but Togo remain in control of their own destiny after beating Liberia 3-0 at home. Togo now only need a draw in their final game away to Congo to qualify for their first ever World Cup finals.

• Group 2: As predicted, South Africa had a tough time in Burkina Faso and it's onw impossible for them to qualify. Even if they win their final game at home to the Democratic Republic of Congo and Ghana lose, they'd still finish below Ghana due to the record between the two nations (Ghana having won both at home and away). Only the Democratic Republic of Congo have a chance if they beat South Africa by a few goals and Ghana lose their game in Cape Verde. Ghana only need a draw to qualify for their first finals.

• Group 3: In one of the most exciting qualifying games in recent years, Cameroon took the spoils to edge Côte d'Ivoire 3-2 in a real thriller. Didier Drogba twice clawed his team back level but ultimately their defensive frailties mean that Cameroon have the edge and need a win in their final game to qualify for their fifth successive finals. If they only manage a draw Côte d'Ivoire can still take the group if they beat Sudan away.
  

• Group 4: Both Angola, 3-0 winners at home to Gabon, and Nigeria, 5-2 winners away to Algeria, stayed jointly at the top of the group, but crucially Angola have the better head-to-head record that will see them qualify if they match Nigeria's result in their final match. An away match to Rwanda would seem like a big test for Angola to qualify, but if they do the Nigerians only have themselves to blame for some of their lacklustre performances to date.

• Group 5: Both Tunisia, 2-0 winners away to Kenya, and Morroco, 1-0 winners at home to Botswana kept their heads to set up a final day thriller that will see one of the two miss out on the finals in Germany. Perhaps crucially the 2004 African Nations Cup winners will play host to Morroco in that game so should be favourites to make it.

• The US scored two second half goals to against Mexico to qualify for their fifth successive finals. Mexico should qualify on Wednesday when they meet Panama at home. Costa Rica took a big step towards qualification by winning 3-1 away to Panama and Trinidad and Tobago edged Guatemala in a five-goal thriller (3-2) to keep their hopes alive. To keep the momentum going they'll need to win away to Costa Rica on Wednesday. The Ticos will however, go into the match as favourites and could open up a six point gap if Guatemala fail to beat the United States at home. If Guatemala do manage a win the final certain qualification place will go down to the wire when Costa Rica visit Guatemala in the final game.

• Uzbekistan narrowly beat Bahrain 1-0 and will have a nervous time at it when the two sides meet again on Wednesday this time in Bahrain. The winner will likely meet Costa Rica/Guatemala or Trinidad and Tobago for the right to a place at the finals.

• As expected Australia was far too good for the Solomon Islands and could have easily scored more than seven times. Only the biggest upset in football history can save the Solomons in their return game on Tuesday.

• As expected Brazil eased through to the finals win a 5-0 win over Chile in Brasilia. They looked very worthy of the favourites tag for the finals themselves as they dispatched four great goals in the opening 30 minutes. Both Ecuador, 3-1 winners away to Bolivia, and Paraguay, 1-0 winners at home to Argentina strengthened their positions in the group and look favourites to take the last two certain qualification places. Uruguay kept their nerve as Colombia fought back from 2-0 down to 2-2, only to see Uruguay score the final goal of the match to win 3-2. It would seem now that the playoff place will be between Uruguay, Colombia, Chile and Venezuela, who ended Peru's hopes with a 4-1 home win. Paraguay may yet be displaced if they don't pick up any points from their final two matches away to Venezuela and at home to Colombia. It may even go down to goal difference, in which case Colombia would have the best chance of all the teams in the mix as their goal difference is only beaten by the likes of Argentina and Brazil.
  

2005-09-06 - Question about Cameroon

2005-09-06 - Re: Question about Cameroon

2005-09-07 - Untitled Comment