World Cup 2006 Qualification thread

[Hitro]

Yesterday the first five nations qualified for FIFA's 2006 World Cup in Germany.

From Asia Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and Iran settled the first two spots in their respective qualification groups while Bahrain, Kuwait and also Uzbekistan still have realistic hopes to grab the play-off spot against a North/Central American opponent.

From South America Argentina has qualified with Brazil set to follow soon.
Ecuador, Paraguay, Colombia, Chile and Uruguay are competing for the two remaining direct qualification spots and the playoff against Oceania.

In North/Central America Mexico and the United States will surely qualify. Behind them Costa Rica look like the favourites for the third direct spot but everyone else still has a chance.

In Africa it is very close in all groups and as only the first will qualify it is too early to predict who exactly will be the five African participants.

Oceania will see playoffs between Australia and the Solomon Islands (yeah, not New Zealand...).

In Europe it looks as if Holland and the Czech Republic will both directly qualify from their group as they won almost every game against the other teams and the two best second placed teams will qualify directly along with the first placed ones.
The Ukraine is set to win its group after winning 1-0 in Greece yesterday. Italy also looks quite secured. Beyond that it's too early to tell, although many of the usual suspects will most likely make it in the end.

 

[Lambert Simnel]

In Europe it looks as if Holland and the Czech Republic will both directly qualify from their group as they won almost every game against the other teams and the two best second placed teams will qualify directly along with the first placed ones.

This might apply in the England / Poland group as well, as they both seem able to trash the other teams in the group at will.

The Ukraine is set to win its group after winning 1-0 in Greece yesterday.

Daylight robbery, this one - Ukraine were playing for a draw all game, and Greece were dominating in every way you could think of except scoring. Then they give it away. Oh, well, I guess they used up all of their luck in Euro 2004....

 

[Hitro]

This might apply in the England / Poland group as well, as they both seem able to trash the other teams in the group at will.

Yep. The Sweden/Croatia group is the third contender, I think.

Daylight robbery, this one - Ukraine were playing for a draw all game, and Greece were dominating in every way you could think of except scoring. Then they give it away. Oh, well, I guess they used up all of their luck in Euro 2004....

Yeah, I saw it too. They should have scored at the end of the first half. Well, this way it looks as if Turkey will make it, not the greatest of all prospects...

Sad that Denmark seem to be out.

 

[MCdread]

Greece experienced in first hand what they have done to other teams in the recent past. Tough luck, but that's football.

Portugal is pretty much qualified as well. We only have to beat Liechtenstain, Luxembourg and Latvia at home.

 

[FredLC]

Well, Argentina is in and if anyone is willing to place bets against Brazil, I'll love to take away that money.

As for the two remaning spots, I'd say Paraguay and Equador (with likely it's best squad ever) will be in as well. The last spot is harder, but I hope Uruguay gets it. Always nice to see the celeste in the WC, and they have a decent team, even if they are not doing that well in the qualifying race.

Regards .

 

[Hitro]

I hope for Paraguay if only for Nelson Valdez.

 

[chancellor_dan]

Don't think Denmark are quite out of it yet. They've a game in hand over Turkey and Greece so hopefully they'll nick a play off place.

 

[chancellor_dan]

I also think the Dutch are looking very good and will certainly be contenders in Germany.

 

[pboily]

In North/Central America Mexico and the United States will surely qualify. Behind them Costa Rica look like the favourites for the third direct spot but everyone else still has a chance.

With all due respect, we don't stand a chance in hell. Never have, never will.

 

[ummmm........]

With all due respect, we don't stand a chance in hell. Never have, never will.

Awww. I still love you.

 

[Hitro]

With all due respect, we don't stand a chance in hell. Never have, never will.

Well, you aren't included in '"everyone else", as you've been kicked out long ago.

 

[willemvanoranje]

I also think the Dutch are looking very good and will certainly be contenders in Germany.

it´s been some times since we had a good qualifier.. not lose against Chez Republic and we´re through I´d say.. not expecting any failures against the small ones...

 

[pboily]

Well, you aren't included in '"everyone else", as you've been kicked out long ago.

In 1924, to be exact; at least that's the way it feels. When you can't even keep up with tiny Trinidad & Tobago...

 

[Marla_Singer]

Among the 205 FIFA members, 198 are participating to the World Cup qualifying rounds. This make of the FIFA World Cup the most international competition (outside the Olympic). The 7 FIFA members who haven't participated to the qualifying round are Bhutan, Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, the Philippines, Djibouti and Puerto Rico.

As it is today, 6 teams are already qualified for the World Cup. Those teams are :

• 
  Germany (as host)
• 
  Argentina
• 
  Iran
• 
  Japan
• 
  Saudi Arabia
• 
  South Korea

Already eliminated teams​

Africa :
Algeria, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Central Africa, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Erythrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Rwanda, Sao Tome & Principe, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda.

Asia :
Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, Guam, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kirghizstan, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Macao, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tadjikistan, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, Yemen.

Europe :
Andorra, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Faroe Islands, Iceland, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Northern Ireland, San Marino, Wales.

North America :
Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Dutch Indies, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Canada, Cuba, Dominique, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Caiman Islands, US Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Montserrat, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Vincent & Grenadines, Saint Lucia, Salvador, Suriname, Turks & Caicos.

Oceania :
American Samoa, Cook Islands, Fiji, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tahiti, Tonga, Vanuatu.

South America :
- none -

Still running team*​

Africa : (5 remaining seats)
Angola, Burkina, Cameroon, Cape Verde, DR Congo, Egypt, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Togo, Tunisia, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Asia : (0.5 remaining seats)
Bahrain, Uzbekistan.

Europe : (13 remaining seats)
Albania, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldavia, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Scotland, Serbia & Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine.

North America : (3.5 remaining seats)
Costa Rica, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Trinité & Tobago, United States.

Oceania : (0.5 remaining seats)
Australia, Solomon Islands.

South America : (4.5 remaining seats)
Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Equator, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela.


*(not yet mathematically eliminated or qualified)

 

[downtown]

i thought the defending champ automatically qualified as well?

 

[classical_hero]

i thought the defending champ automatically qualified as well?

Not any more.

 

[Marla_Singer]

There will be one qualified between Bahrain, the Solomon Islands, Uzbekhistan and Australia. Well if Aussies couldn't make it this time...

 

[Dell19]

Uzbekhistan in their first world cup?

 

[Marla_Singer]

Uzbekhistan in their first world cup?

Well yeah, I guess they could make it easily against the Solomon Islands in the Asia/Oceania playoff.

 

[Dell19]

I think Australia will probably qualify this time since they have a decent manager.