|
|
|
| November 16, 2005 | Wednesday | Shawwal 13, 1426 |
Agony, ecstasy beckon for World Cup hopefuls
LONDON, Nov 15: More than a year of World Cup qualifying draws to a dramatic close on Wednesday when the last five countries book their places at the 2006 finals in Germany. Spain are the envy of all the other teams with playoff second leg ties after Saturday’s crushing 5-1 win over Slovakia almost certainly earned them a place on soccer’s biggest stage.
Switzerland will fancy their chances after a 2-0 home win over Turkey but face an intimidating time in Istanbul, while the Czech Republic will have home advantage as they look to build on a 1-0 win in Norway.
The inter-continental games are finely balanced after Uruguay edged Australia 1-0 in Montevideo and Trinidad & Tobago were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Bahrain.
Success on Wednesday will mean a place in the Dec 9 draw in Leipzig.
Spain will assume their name is already printed for that 32-team draw after playmaker Luis Garcia, who plays for European champions Liverpool, struck a hat trick in Madrid.
Goalkeeper Iker Casillas has urged his team mates not to ease up in Bratislava, but also acknowledged he has never conceded four goals in a match for Spain.
Turkey are in better shape to turn their game around against Switzerland, who will be walking into a cauldron of home-team support at Fenerbahce’s ground.
The Turks, who reached the 2002 semifinals, will also have three midfielders available again — Emre Belozoglu, Hamit Altintop and Yildiray Basturk.
The Czechs will be without captain Tomas Galasek through suspension but their deserved victory on Saturday and the return of midfielder Pavel Nedved from a self-imposed exile should see them through.
Norway will be counting on their good away form — unbeaten this year — to turn the match around.
Australia face a tricky task in overturning their first-leg defeat and making their first World Cup appearance since 1974.
Uruguay will be without injured striker Diego Forlan, the Spanish league’s top scorer last season with Villarreal, but their playmaker Alvaro Recoba remains a real threat.
Bahrain, looking to join fellow Middle East nations Saudi Arabia and Iran at the finals, have the clear advantage of an away goal before their game in Manama against Trinidad and Tobago. The winners will make history as neither country have played at the World Cup finals before.—Agencies
|
|
|
|
