Oct 15 2009

Final Day of WC Qualifiers (mostly)

Wow, what an exciting finish to the 2010 World Cup qualifying.  Coming down to the wire Argentina advances with a much needed win 1-0 over Uruguay.  The US comes back to draw against Costa Rica in stoppage time 2-2 and Honduras beats El Salvador 1-0 to advance.  Africa still has one set of matches left in November and there are also of course the playoff matches for the last spots.  If you haven’t been following the qualifying action here are the teams that are in (underlined are group winners) and those that still have a chance to get in:

  • CONCACAF (N America): United States, Mexico, Honduras
    Still Alive: Costa Rica (will play Uruguay in a 2 leg playoff for final spot in the Americas)
  • CONMEBOL (S America): Brazil, Paraguay, Chile, Argentina
    Still Alive: Uruguay (will play Costa Rica in a 2 leg playoff for final spot in the Americas)
  • UEFA (Europe): Denmark, Switzerland, Slovakia, Germany, Spain, England, Serbia, Italy, Netherlands
    Still Alive: Portugal, Greece, Slovenia, Russia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Ukraine, France and Republic of Ireland (will compete in 2 leg playoffs for final four spots – random draws for matchups TBA Oct 19)
  • Africa: South Africa (hosts), Ghana, Ivory Coast
    Still Alive**: Cameroon, Gabon, Tunisia, Nigeria, Algeria, Egypt (vying for final 3 spots in Africa)
    **Africa still has one set of matches to play in November
  • Asia: Australia, Japan, Korea Republic (South), Korea DPR (North)
    Still alive: Bahrain (will compete in a 2 leg playoff with New Zealand)
  • Oceania: New Zealand will play in a 2 leg playoff with Bahrain for the last Asia/Oceania spot
  • Outside looking in. . . – 2006 WC teams that will not be attending 2010 South Africa – Sweden, Czech Republic, Croatia, Poland, Ecuador, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Angola, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago

Definitely looking forward to next summer . . .should be another exciting cup.