Qualification for the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™: Europe
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14 of the 32 World Cup teams are European UEFA, the Football Association of the European continent, will provide 14 participants, almost half of the altogether 32 teams at the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ finals. This is due to the overall size of the Association (52 members), but first and foremost its influence within the world of football. Teams from the “Old World” have gained altogether eight FIFA World Cup™ titles: Italy (1934, 1938, 1982) and Germany (1954, 1974, 1990) three each, and single triumphs for England (1966) and France (1998). System: One of UEFA’s 14 places for the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ has already been allocated: host country Germany qualified directly. The remaining 13 teams will qualify from round-robin play-offs in eight groups: three with seven teams each, and five with six. In the event of top teams finishing equal on points, their head-to-head result is decisive. The last group matches will take place on October 12, 2005. The winners of the eight groups and two runners-up with the most points qualify directly for the FIFA World Cup™ finals. For determining the two best runners-up, the results of the second-placed teams against the respective last-placed in the groups of seven will be discounted. The remaining six second-placed teams will determine the last three European representatives in three play-off matches (home and away matches on November 12 and 16, 2005). The current standings in Europe are as follows: Group 1 (Netherlands, the CzechRepublic, Rumania, Finland, Macedonia, Andorra, Armenia): No other qualifying group in Europe is being so clearly dominated by two teams as Group 1. The Netherlands and the Czech Republic, regulars within the top five on the FIFA world rankings table, are on the verge of ensuring FIFA World Cup™ places. Apart from the group winners, who will probably be determined in the match between the two teams on October 8, 2005, in Prague, even the loser of that match should gain direct qualification as one of the two best second-placed teams. The two favourites have totally dominated till now, with the Netherlands achieving 22 and the Czech Republic 21 of 24 possible points. The Netherlands disappointed when drawing 2-2 in Macedonia, but defeated Romania (2-0) and Finland (4-0) in June; the Czechs lost their opening match in the Netherlands, then embarked on seven wins in a row, most recently with thrashings of Andorra (8-1) and Macedonia (6-1). Romania, currently third, have a slim chance of qualifying. With 16 points and just three remaining games the hopes for the East Europeans are merely theoretical. All other teams (Finland, Macedonia, Armenia and Andorra) have forfeited their ticket to the FIFA World Cup™ in Germany. ________________________________________________________________ Group 2 (Ukraine, Denmark, Turkey, Albania, Greece, Georgia, Kazakhstan): There is a hot battle in Group 2. It’s not Greece, the reigning European champions, Turkey, the 2002 FIFA World Cup™ bronze medallists, or the three-time FIFA World Cup™ participants, Denmark, that dominate this group but – Ukraine! The team of coach Oleg Blochin, that has never qualified for the finals of a major tournament, and missed out to Germany in the FIFA World Cup™ qualifying play-off in November 2001, have been on a winning streak. The squad, inspired by their superstar and avid goalscorer, Andrei Shevchenko (AC Milan), are still undefeated in nine matches and need just one more victory from the remaining games in Georgia, against Turkey and Albania, to win the group and pack for Germany. At the beginning of June the yellow-blues were even successful in the “Lion’s Den”, when they beat the European champions, Greece, 1-0 at Piraeus. This means that from the favourite-trio Greece, Turkey and Denmark, two teams will definitely have to stay at home in the summer of 2006. Albania, Georgiaand Kazakhstan have no chance left. Turkey (9 matches, 16 points) have the easiest run-in and are favourites to grab second place. Greece (9 matches, 15 points) and Denmark (8 matches, 12 points) will have to hope for favours from the other countries. ________________________________________________________________ Group 3 (Portugal, Slovakia, Russia, Latvia, Estonia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg): The European runners-up, Portugal, are single-mindedly heading towards their fourth FIFA World Cup™ finals, following 1966, 1986 and 2002. After eight matches (20 points) the team of coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, who led Brazil to their fifth FIFA World Cup™ triumph three years ago, are still unbeaten. And if the 2004 EURO hosts had avoided an embarrassing 2-2 draw with Liechtenstein, Figo, Deco, Cristiano Ronaldo & co could have confidently booked their FIFA World Cup™ tickets. Pursuers Slovakia (8 matches, 17 points) and Russia (7 matches, 14 points) are still in with a chance of winning the group, but results must change. Russianeed to revise their strategy for the return match with Portugal, after a 7-1 drubbing in the first encounter. The new Russian coach, Yuri Sjemin, 58, his country’s eighth national coach in 13 years, at least began his reign in June with a 2-0 victory over Latvia and recorded a prestigious 2-2 draw four days later in Germany. European Cup participants Latvia (8 matches, 13 points) who still have to play the other three FIFA World Cup™ hopefuls, hold the trump cards. ________________________________________________________________ Group 4 (France, Ireland, Switzerland, Israel, Cyprus, Faroe Islands): Group Four is still very much up for grabs. After almost two thirds of all matches have been played, no fewer than four teams are yet undefeated: Ireland, Switzerland, Israel and France! This is mainly due to the fact that by June 8, nine of the 19 group matches had ended in a draw. A victory, even one against the group’s “no hopers”, Cyprusand Faroes, automatically brought top place. Switzerland achieved that at the beginning of June, and four days later Ireland did likewise, with wins in the Faroe Islands. Ireland (7 matches, 13 points), Switzerland (6 matches, 12 points), Israel (7 matches, 11 points) and the former FIFA World Cup ™and European Cup champions, France (6 matches, 10 points) are running neck and neck. The “Equipe tricolour” have two matches at home against the alleged “dwarfs“, but still have to play in Ireland and Switzerland. The Swiss must play in Ireland on the last day of competition; and even Israel still have a chance provided the team is not crushed in their next away match in Switzerland. Then their schedule shows two matches with the Faroes. This group is very hard to call, but one fact seems certain -- due to the many draws, the runners-up in this group will practically have no chance to qualify directly. ________________________________________________________________ Group 5 (Italy, Norway, Slovenia, Belarussia, Scotland, Moldova): With four competition days left, Italy (6 matches, 13 points) have gained a comfortable lead of four points over their pursuers and are considered the hot favourites to win Group 5, particularly as the three-times FIFA World Cup™ champions have the easiest remaining matches. However, the team of coach Marcello Lippi has been far from superior in the qualification so far. The 0-0 draw in Norway at the beginning of June proved how dependent the “Squadra Azzurra” are on their creative players, Francesco Totti and Alessandro del Piero. When both were missing in Oslo, Lippi reverted to a tactical recipe long since believed to be obsolete: the "Catenaccio", the defence bolt. Italy appeared to abandon all thoughts of attacking play as they entrenched themselves behind a totally defensive strategy. Behind Italy, all teams apart from Moldova still have a chance to achieve the FIFA World Cup™ ticket. Norway and Slovenia (6 matches, 9 points each) are ranked second and third, followed by Belarus (6 matches, 7 points). Even Scotland (6 matches, 6 points) are back in the battle since their first victory (2-0 against Moldova). Under new coach, Walter Smith, 56, who succeeded Berti Vogts at the end of last year, the fans of the “Bravehearts” are now hoping for a major improvement. September 3 could show where their road is leading when Italy visit Glasgow. ________________________________________________________________ Group 6 (England, Poland, Austria, Northern Ireland, Wales, Azerbaijan): A duel for the overall victory is emerging in this group also: Poland (7 matches, 18 points) and England (6 matches, 16 points) will probably determine the winners among themselves. Currently it even appears as if both teams could make it to the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ finals in Germany, because the second-placed in Group 6 has the best points after the Czech Republic (Group 1). England boast most aces as the 1966 FIFA World Cup™ champions will play Poland at home in their last match on October 12. In spite of the surprising point gained against England in Vienna, it will be difficult for Austria as the team of coach Hans Krankl still has to play three away matches, two in England and Poland. The teams of Northern Ireland, Wales and Azerbaijan have already lost the battle with no win so far. ________________________________________________________________ Group 7 (Belgium, Spain, Serbia and Montenegro, Lithuania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, San Marino): Top favourites Spain (7 matches, 13 points) are more or less muddling their way through Group 7. The star ensemble of coach Luis Aragones even avoided a first defeat by a hair’s breadth at home in June. Only a goal from defender Carlos Marchena in overtime prevented Spain from a failure against Bosnia-Herzegovina (final score 1-1) in Valencia. Serbia&Montenegro (6 matches, 12 points) are the team with the best chances of winning the group. The team around defender Mladen Krstajic, from German club Schalke 04, and playmaker Dejan Stankovic, from Inter Milan, have not yet conceded a single goal. The clash in Spain on September 7 could be the decider. Lithuania (6 matches, 9 points), Belgium (6 matches, 8 points) and Bosnia-Herzegovina (6 matches, 7 points) are still in with a chance of second place. San Marino is of no importance. ________________________________________________________________ Group 8 (Sweden, Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Iceland, Malta): Croatia are back to their old, strong playing ways. The team proved that with a 3-1 win over Bulgaria in Sofia, which earned the 1998 FIFA World Cup™ bronze medallists the lead in the group (undefeated with 16 points from 6 matches). Due to the relatively “easy” remaining programme and the fact that their pursuers, Sweden (6 matches, 15 points), have to play in Zagreb on October 8, the team of coach Zlatko Kranjcar is considered the hottest contenders for a direct ticket to Germany. The strong, offensive Swedes around top attackers Fredrik Ljungberg and Zlatan Ibrahimovic have showed extreme goal hunger (23), but still have to come to terms with their 1-0 defeat by Croatia at home in Gothenburg. Hungary (6 matches, 10 points), coached by German record international Lothar Matthaeus, as well as Bulgaria (6 matches, 8 points) should find it difficult to play a decisive part. As expected, Iceland and Malta are without a chance. ________________________________________________________________ |