FIFA WORLD CUP

I think now we should do a bit of a recap. 3 years have passed since the 2006 fifa world cup in Germany,  with one world cup gone, a four year campaign begins to qualify for the next. Last week we saw some what of a conclusion with all 32 spots for the finals.

The qualifiers were intense, brilliant and full of controversy.  We shall look over the Asian teams:

Australia: Cruising through the group stages, Australia was put in the final stages against Japan, Bahrain, Qatar and Uzbekistan. Dominating most matches and doing enough in the others Australia was the only side from this group to go through undefeated.

Japan: Matched in the same group as Australia, Japan was clearly the second best team. Having only lost one of its matches (to Australia) Japan finished 5 points clear of the next challenger bahrain.

Korea Republic: This country has excelled during the fifa world cup in the past, and qualifying was no different this time. Topping group 2 and finishing undefeated, Korea republic are looking to progress past the group stages at next years world cup.

Korea DPR: Finished second to Korea republic, DPR, whom hosted the world cup in 2002  are ready for the 2010 fifa world cup

New Zealand: Topping the oceania region, New Zealand had the change to play off against Bahrain. Beating them 1-0 at home New Zealand qualified for the world cup for the first time in two decades.

So now with the all the qualifications done and dusted the 32 teams to have qualified for the fifa world cup in South Africa 2010 are:

Africa

• South Africa (host nation)
• Algeria
• Cameroon
• Ivory Coast
• Ghana
• Nigeria

Americas

• Honduras
• Mexico
• USA

South America

• Argentina
• Brazil
• Chile
• Paraguay
• Uruguay

Asia

• Australia
• Japan
• North Korea
• South Korea

Oceania

• New Zealand

Europe

• Denmark
• England
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Italy
• Netherlands
• Portugal
• Serbia
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Switzerland

Over 200 teams entered the qualification stages to reach the fifa world cup finals, and now we have reached the final 32.

Slovenia defeated Russia 1-0 and ended Guus Hiddink’s chance of a fairytale world cup campaign like that of 4 years ago when he took Australia to the quarter finals. Russia had more of the opportunities but were never able to get themselves in the right frame of mind for the game. They finished with 9 players and wasted their opportunities. Just before half time Walter Bisra crossed a ball through to a pack of players with Slatko Dedic connecting and finding the back of the net.

Slovenia will go through to their second ever fifa world cup.

In the other game Portugal defeated Bosnia-Herzegovnia 1-0 even without their most important player Cristiano Ronaldo. Bosnia came out strong, but showing their experience Portugal remained focused and never wavered.

This weeks games has seen France, Portugal, Greece and Slovenia secure the last 4 spots for the 2010 fifa world cup in South Africa.

With an upset by Mozambique, Nigeria were able to claim a position at next years 2010 FIFA world cup in South Africa, Cameroon also secured their spot in the finals of the world cup by beating Morocco 2-0.With these Cameroon and Nigeria of to South Africa that leaves 1 spot left from Africa. 4 of the 5 spots have been claimed and the final position is to be played off.

Egypt needed to beat Algeria 2-0 to force a playoff for the final position in Africa’s allotment, and that they did. Next week they face a rematch which will decide who makes it through. Things are heating up and it’s sure to be a fantastic match.

For the first time since 1982, New Zealand are headed to the FIFA world cup. In front of a capacity crowd at Wellington’s Westpac Stadium, the all white’s thrilled the home crowed with a euphoric 1-0 win. On the cusp of half time, striker Rory Fallon headed the sole goal of the game to send the crowd into overdrive.

It didn’t start all to plan for New Zealand with Bahrain getting two corners and New Zealand defender Ben Sigmund receiving a yellow card in the opening 5 minutes.  The striker Chris Killeen almost broke the complete paralyzation in 19o minute where she emitted a delicious salute of left-foot of the edge of the area of penalty beyond the keep-nets of Barém but she came back outside of the transversal bar. Soon after midfielder of Bertos attack, making its felt of the presence with a number of advanced functionings in the defense, emitted only free-retrocedes wide of Jaffar’ left-hand post of s. All the Whites’ the keep-nets Paston were in the hand in the half hour to dive low its left and to deny an instantaneous salute in the front of the objective for Bahrain’ s Jaycee John. Jaffar produced then a magnificent consequence excepto of a heading of goalbound for Fallon. But that one was all in goes in 45th minute where, of one I sing of Bertos, rose of Fallon more highly in the area of six-yard to emit a powerful heading beyond Jaffar. In the counterbalance of the game all the Whites’ the halftime linking was deserved, with Bertos and Tony Lochhead that side’ supplies to the majority of the bite in the rest; booties of attack of s. The drama intensified in 50th minute where the Larrionda arbitrator sharpened to the point of the penalty after Lochhead made dirty Abdulla Ismaeel Omar. However, the combination of a poor stroke of Sayed Mohamed Adnan and a diving perfect-chronometered for Paston its right kept all the whites in the front part.

The historic win sent New Zealand into party mode after a well deserved win. Congratulations to New Zealand and good luck in the finals!

What a time it must be for either of these two sides. I remember four years ago, watching on nervously as Australia qualified for the fifa world cup and the sheer euphoria that surrounded the country.

This weekend either Bahrain or New Zealand will be on top of the world after qualifying for the 2010 Fifa world cup to be held in South Africa. The equation is as follows.

A nil all draw and the match will go into extra time, if there is still no result at the end of this time the game will go into penalty shootout.

A scored draw eg. 1-1 and Bahrain will qualify for the world cup based on the away game rule ( queue terrible memories of Australia vs Iran at the MCG)

And lastly a win to either side will see them progress to the fifia world cup finals.

Good luck to both New Zealand and Bahrain and let’s hope for a great match!