As it's exactly one year to go before the 2006 World Cup kicks off in Germany, we might as well have a thread going. Years previously played on brackets. Winning year in bold.


Angola (first time)
Argentina (1930,1934,1958,1962,1966,1974,1978,1982,1986,1990,1994,1998,2002)
Australia (1974)
Brazil (1930,1934,1938,1950,1954,1958,1962,1966,1970,1974,1978,1982,1986,1990,1994,1998,2002)
Costa Rica (1990,2002)
Croatia (1998,2002)
Czech Republic (first time)
Ecuador (2002)
England (1950,1954,1958,1962,1966,1970,1982,1986,1990,1998,2002)
France (1930,1934,1938,1954,1958,1966,1978,1982,1986,1998,2002)
Germany (1934,1938,1954,1958,1962,1966,1970,1974,1978,1982,1987,1990,1994,1998,2002)
Ghana (first time)
Holland (1934,1938,1974,1978,1990,1994,1998)
Iran (1978,1998)
Italy (1934,1938,1950,1954,1958,1962,1966,1970,1974,1978,1982,1986,1990,1994,1998,2002)
Ivory Coast (first time)
Japan (1998,2002)
Mexico (1930,1950,1954,1958,1962,1966,1970,1978,1986,1994,1998,2002)
Paraguay (1930,1958,1986,1998,2002)
Poland (1938,1974,1978,1982,1986,2002)
Portugal (1966,1986,2002)
Saudi Arabia (1998,2002)
Serbia & Montenegro (first time)
South Korea (1954,1986,1990,1994,2002)
Spain (1950,1962,1966,1978,1982,1986,1990,1994,1998,2002)
Sweden (1934,1938,1950,1958,1970,1974,1978,1994,2002)
Switzerland (1934,1938,1950,1954,1962,1966,1994)
Togo (first time)
Trinidad & Tobago (first time)
Tunisia (1978,1998,2002)
Ukraine (first time)
USA (1930,1934,1950,1990,1994,1998,2002)

The World Cup will feature all past winners of the trophy, bar one; Uruguay.. and we all know what happened to them!

Yesterday's match was an exciting one for us. Entering the World Cup by beating Brazil 3-1 was, I have to admit, great.

I just hope this time we do better than the last time... that was an embarrassing performance on Argentina, to say the least!

Can't wait for next year's World Cup

I hope to be at some of the games. I have friends in Germany that told me to come, and they're trying to organize tickets, although in the first round of ticket draws we fared pretty badly.

There were 80 million requests on 2 million tickets sold in the first round of ticket sales. So we entered in the draw but didn't win any tickets... yet. Another round opens soon, hopefully, we'll have tickets. With two new stadiums built and all of the media hype, Germany is prepared for the games. Hopefully, it will be as exciting as the ones in 2002 were. And there is a chance, although slim, that my country will make the World Cup! Europe group 4, its still wide open!

There is only one way to describe the World Cup... Exciting... However, as a Canadian, it's quite disappointing to note that Canada will probably not be attending the festivities once again and to be quite honest, I'd like to route for my home country for once... I mean, I have my favourites (namely the underdogs) which are most African nations and Ireland (and I am hoping that one day one of these underdogs may win a World Cup title). I also like Paraguay if they make it again.

Does anyone have any idea why Canada has not made it to the World Cup since 1986. Is our national soccer program that bad that we are not making an effort to train our players properly. Not to say that a team like Honduras or Belize are bad, however, it's sad when you cannot beat these teams in qualification games but then beat Mexico in a game that doesn't really count. Something's not right here.

I like soccer a lot, but as I mentioned earlier, my home nation will most likely not be there once again. It would be nice to see the underdog win a championship though. Although I respect those teams from Brazil, Italy, and Argentina, it would be nice to see a different team win for once. France surprised me back in 1998, however, it is a stretch to say that this phenomena will become common in the world cup. Greece won Euro 2004, however, I doubt they will make a large prescence if they make this championship. What do you all think about this?

apathy100

Canada will not be there. They reached the Concacaf semi-final group stages, but finished bottom of their 4-team group. Mexico and the United States are the favourites to qualify from this confederation, and it's likely to be between Costa Rica, Guatemala, Trinidad & Tobago and Panama for the other automatic place, with the 4th-placed team facing an Asian team.

As for Greece, I'd say it's unlikely they will be at Germany 2006. With only three games left, their chances are very slim.

Anyway, if England don't win it, my money's on Argentina or Holland. Both are looking in fine form at the moment.

To give a dark horse for the tournament, I'd say Mexico. Having played 13 qualifying games so far, they've yet to lose and have only conceded 4 goals, scoring 54 goals in the process. Granted, playing against the likes of Dominica, Trinidad & Tobago and St Kitts & Nevis, but they know how to defend as well as score.

All the following will take part in World Cup 2006

Germany
Argentina
Japan
Iran
South Korea
Saudi Arabia
Ukraine
USA
Brazil
Mexico
Angola
Togo
Ghana
Ivory Coast

England will qualify should Holland beat Czech Republic.. and they are 2-0 up at the moment!

England have indeed qualified - however if we continue to play like we did we won't be getting out of the group stages of the finals.

My dark horse ... Ukraine.

Mate, agreed. We have to play better than we have in the last three games. If not, we could go the way of France in WC2002, and that is down! It's on German turf, it's English blood and toil. For England to win a World Cup on German soil is our destiny.

Germany, Germany, we're the famous En-ger-land, and we're off to Germany.

England have qualified and that is that, how they qualified is immaterial.
I'm just glad that England are having a dip now and not in nine months time. It's all about peaking at the right time and let's face it, England can't play any worse than this can they?

My other point is England's strength-in-depth or lack of it. Outside of the first XI there's nothing much to choose from. In future Mr Eriksson can you play the second XI players and give them all each 90 minutes on the park when we play in these 'meaningless' friendlies. These guys hardly have no international experience at all and if England get injuries (which I fear we will) then God help us.

I agree that now we have qualified the previous umpteen games are insignificant.

That said having watched the interview with Sven after the game i did wonder whether he was watching a different channel.

No wonder the substitutions were baffling. (Down to ten men ... we'll take off our only player capable of running with the ball rather than the bean pole centre forward)

England do need to come up with some strategy.

Starter for ten ... how to defend without inviting the opposition to attack.

I'd like to put my money in Ukraine - we all saw what happened with Turkey and Senegal in the last world cup. Both countries had their first time round that year, and they finished 3rd and 4th.
I'm surprised not to see Turkey there now. As I saw them beat Germany 2-0 on Eurosport tonight.

England's lack of depth definitely shows. There are squad players out there that play for their clubs week in, week out, yet never get in the England squad. These players need international experience to cover for injuries. What we find when, for example, Rio Ferdinand and Sol Campbell are both injured, is that there's nobody left to cover for them because they don't have the experience at international level.

Having said that, a dip in form now is better than a dip in form when the World Cup comes along. I still don't think Sven's the man for the job, and never have done. Give it to Sam Allardyce or someone like him, ie, English.

At least an English manager would have the same passion and commitment as the rest of the country.

Play-offs:

Australia vs Uruguay
Bahrain vs Trinidad & Tobago
Norway vs Czech Republic
Spain vs Slovakia
Switzerland vs Turkey

I think Trinidad & Tobago (don't know much about Bahrain), Czech Republic, Spain and hopefully Turkey will win their play-off games, unsure about who'll win between Australia and Uruguay.

England won't win the World Cup, they played crap in their qualifying games, with the exception of the 4-0 win over Northern Ireland. They just about beat weak teams and even lost to a very weak one. Unless they get easy enough fixtures then they might get somewhere. I think it'll be a European team or Brazil that'll be the cause of them put out of the world cup.

>> unsure about who'll win between Australia and Uruguay.

me too, but I'll be there on Nov 16th for the 2nd leg .. got my tickets yesterday (I forgot to book and was on a wait list).

Australia deny Uruguay request for World Cup date change MELBOURNE, Oct 20 (Reuters) - Australia have rejected a request from Uruguay to switch the date of the first leg of their World Cup playoff. The opening leg is scheduled to take place in Montevideo on November 12 and the return match in Sydney four days later, the winner of the tie advancing to next year's World Cup finals in Germany. The Football Federation of Australia (FFA) received a request from Uruguay asking for the Montevideo match be brought forward a day to allow the teams an extra day off for the long trip from South America. The FFA, however, said on Thursday they had denied the request and faxed their decision to the Uruguay Football Association. "Football Federation Australia (has) informed the Uruguay Football Association that it did not agree with their proposal to change the date of the first leg of the 2006 FIFA World Cup playoff between the two countries," a statement from FFA said. FFA said they had denied the request because they had made all of their arrangements based on the November 12 date. The two teams also met in the World Cup playoff for the 2002 finals, when Uruguay beat Australia 3-1 on aggregate. www.yahoo.com.au

This was a curious request, but not unexpected .. we picked home for the 2nd leg, out of a hat! If it was good enough to play 4 days apart 4 years ago, it's good enough this time as well.

Hope the Aussies get their act in order and get through. Earls Court could be empty next summer then.

Aussies are still a chance of getting through.
Lost 1-0 to Uruguay in Montivideo, however we have the home leg to come.
Go AUSSIES!!

Always a chance with a 1-0 scoreline. Can I just say that England put up an amazing performance against one of the World Cup favourites today, by beating Argentina 3-2. Ta

So what will the score have to be in the second leg for Austalia to get through?

I reckon 2-0 should be enough...but Australia have to be careful not to let Uruguay get a goal in - the away goal might cause a few problems.

Fantastic game by England and a nice upset as the Swiss beat the Turks. Bring on the World Cup, should be a riveting affair; though I wish India could get through someday.

Providing Australia win by two clear goals, ie, 2-0, 3-1, etc., they'd be through.

If the game ends 1-0 to Aus, then 30 minutes extra time would be played (where I think the Golden Goal rule applies, whereby the first team to score advances). If it's still level after extra time, then penalties would see who goes through.

A 1-1, 2-2, etc. draw isn't good enough, and would see Uruguay through.

According to this page, which looks official, there's no golden goal in extra time:
http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/releases/en/fwc_regulations_2006_090604_en.pdf

All the bookies have Uruguay as odds-on favourites to win, which is not surprising. Uruguay are ranked #17 in the world, and Australia are ranked #54. Pity we can't play a game of cricket in lieu of extra time, lol

Less than 24 hours to go ..

This page explains all.
http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/public/article/show.asp?articleid=9729&menuItemID=

Good luck , Aussies. The team I've supported all my life (Middlesbrough)have had several Aussie internationals in the side and we currently have Mark Viduka and Mark Schwartzer here and it'd be great to see them in Germany next Summer.

Uruguay are tough, resilient and talented but you've improved too and I think you might just scrape through.

Hope so, Kriv, although it will be a very tough ask... The Uruguayans have declared that is their 'divine right' to beat us. We are hoping they are divinely wrong..

Should see a few line up changes from the Aussies. Expect Cahill and Breciano to get a start.
I also hear that Kewell may push forward and take up a spot next to Viduka. Not sure if that will work, I like Harry on the flanks. He does not seem sharp enough yet to cause to many problems close to goal. If he was fully fit it would be a great idea!

Calling on all Aussies to get behind the team tonight!!