My Fifa World Cup(Warning 56k users) - 19th June - TOG v SWE, UZB v CRO, NED v NIG

[DJ Ager]

Introduction

In this thread I will the story, will be about the World Cup, and it has been randomly drawn, and I have also done qualifiers, where the groups were also randomly drawn, according to Fifa rules. Some of the qualifying results will be made up, but others have been played. Well, I say "I have", I am in the process of finishing qualifying and I meant to finish them before the real World Cup finished and do my WC in time with the real thing too. As I have not finished them, I thought I could start doing reports on each of the last months of qualifiers. I hope you enjoy. Once the qualifiers, I'll give a spreadsheet of the qualifiers. It may take a while to finish this story due to homework and exams.

World Cup Qualifying Draw

Africa

Group 1
Nigeria
Zambia
Guinea
Zimbabwe
Malawi
Botswana

Group 2
Ghana
Cameroon
Egypt
Uganda
Benin
Algeria

Group 3
Cote d'Ivoire
Congo DR
South Africa
Rwanda
Liberia
Libya

Group 4
Togo
Morocco
Tunisia
Burkina Faso
Congo
Gabon

Group 5
Senegal
Mali
Kenya
Angola
Cape Verde Islands
Sudan

Asia

Third Stage

Group 1
Japan
China PR
Iran
Bahrain

Group 2
Uzbekistan
Korea Republic
Saudi Arabia
U.A.E

Europe

Group 1
Switzerland
Ukraine
Portugal
Lithuania
Russia
Liechtenstien
Kazhakstan

Group 2
Sweden
Scotland
Finland
Belgium
Hungary
Azerbaijan
Andorra

Group 3
Austria
Turkey
Poland
Latvia
Albania
Northern Ireland
Luxembourg

Group 4
Serbia & Montenegro
England
Ireland
Norway
Cyprus
Faroe Islands

Group 5
Denmark
Greece
Italy
Iceland
Georgia
Malta

Group 6
Spain
Israel
Slovenia
Bulgaria
Belarus
Moldova

Group 7
Czech Republic
Netherlands
Wales
Slovakia
Estonia
San Marino

Group 8
Croatia
Bosnia-Herzegovina
France
Romania
Armenia
FYR Macedonia

North America

3rd Stage

Mexico
Guatemala
Trinidad and Tobago
USA
Costa Rica
Honduras

Oceania

Fiji
Tahiti
New Zealand
Australia
Solomon Islands
Vanuatu

-------------------------------------------------------------

June 2005

Nigeria and Japan secure place in Finals

Nigeria became the first team to secure their place in the finals after a 0-0 draw at home to Guinea. That result, plus their previous 3-0 win over Botswana away secured their place in the World Cup finals. Ironically, it was the first points they had dropped.

Meanwhile, in Group B, starting the match level on points, Ghana gained a crucial 2-0 win in Yaounde over Cameroon, to put them in pole position with two matches to play. Over in Group C, Congo DR came from 2-0 down to rescue a 2-2 draw, but Cote d'Ivoire still hold a narrow 1 point lead after they both drew. Also in that group Rwanda came from 2-0 down at half time against South Africa, to win late on 3-2. Tunisia World Cup dreams look all but over in Group D, as they lost 3-2 at home to Togo, despite a second half come back in Tunis, as they slipped to 3rd behind Morocco and Togo, Togo with a 2 point lead over Morocco and a 5 point lead over Tunisia. Group E is still very open, with 5 sides still in with a chance of qualification. Mali, who registered two wins, are level with Senegal, who beat Cape Verde Islands and threw away a two goal lead to draw against Angola. Kenya are three points behind them, with a game in hand along with Senegal.

In Asia, Japan also secured their World Cup place, with a 2-0 win over China in Group A. China after good start to the group, this month lost to both Japan and Bahrain, and only a two point gap between, China, Iran and Bahrain. In Group B, Uzbekistan surprisingly head the group on goal difference, level on points with Korea Republic, with Saudi Arabia a point behind them, despite two wins over Korea Rep,3-1, and Uzbekistan,1-0.

In Europe, Group 1, Switzerland increased their lead to a surprising 9 points, although 2nd placed Ukraine have two games in hand. This was thanks to a 3-2 win away in Russia and 3-0 success at home to Liechtenstien. Russia's World Cup is moreless over after that defeat and another in Kiev against Ukraine, going down 3-1. Portugal, despite two wins over Kazakhstan and Lithuania, still look struggling to make the finals in 3rd, 10 points off top, thanks to a surprisingly bad start.

Scotland look a good bet to reach the finals, after two wins and drawing level on points with Sweden in Group 2. A McFadden hattrick away in Stockholm, secured a shock 3-2 win over Sweden, and they also gained a 2-1 victory at home to Finland. In Group C, Northern Ireland fell to late defeats to Turkey and Albania at home. Austria top the group by 2 points.

Serbia and Montenegro drew level on points with England in Group D, who didn't play, after a 4-0 win away to Faroe Islands. Ireland kept their extremely slim hopes alive, with a 3-1 win against Norway and a 3-0 win against Faroe Islands. Meanwhile, in Group E, Denmark top the group, and Italy are a surprise 4 points off them after a shock defeat in Iceland 1-0, thanks to a Heidar Helgason strike.

Wales are holding their own in a very tough group, after they came from 2-0 behind in Prague, to draw 2-2 with Czech Republic. Netherlands won 2-1 in Bratislava against Slovakia, to keep level on points with Czech Republic with a game in hand. Croatia beat Romania 2-1 to top the group, with France behind by 2 points after their 3-0 over Armenia.

Guatemala lost their unbeaten record in North American qualifying after two defeats to Trinidad and Tobabgo and Mexico. The later top the group, despite a defeat to Costa Rica. It was their oppenents first win, and the Costa Ricans drew later on with USA 2-2. USA also gained their first win over Honduras, who lost both their matches this month. It was a good two matches for Trinidad & Tobago, with wins over Guatemala and Honduras. It was especially good for Swindon Town's Ricky Shakes who scored 3 out of their 4 goals this month.

Finally in South America, World Cup winners Brazil had an awful month, losing 3-2 to Paraguay, then 2-1 away to bitter rivals Argentina, to slip to the play off place. Santa Cruz scored a hatrick against Brazil in their shock win and Paraguay top the group due to that win and another over Bolivia. Ecuador are point behind them after a surprise 1-0 win over Argentina, and a 3-0 one over Colombia. Argentina look pretty secure in third place inside the automatic qualification places by 4 points. After that, it is very tight, Uruguay occupying the final automatic place above Brazil by one point, then Brazil in the play off place on goal difference, level on points with Peru and Chile.

Photos:
1st-Nigeria qualify
2nd-Japan qualify
3rd- Montage(top left, Helgusson stuns Italy, top right, Robinson scores equalizer in Prague, bottom left, McFadden and Scotland celebrate another goal in their remarkable 3-2 win over Sweden, bottom right, Santa Cruz gets his hatrick as Paraguay Cruz past Brazil)

Here's the tables

[Left_Hander]

Nice start. Are you playing as everybody? Are there only German stadiums in the game? Sorry for so many questions.

Good luck,
Leftie

[Bilal91]

good luck mate...lets see how this turns out...

[Yorkshire_No1]

Interesting so far. Good luck with it

[DJ Ager]

Originally Posted by Left_Hander

Nice start. Are you playing as everybody? Are there only German stadiums in the game? Sorry for so many questions.

Good luck,
Leftie

I usually play one half each for each team when I play a game. There aren't just German stadiums, and I try to use a stadium which is most similar to the real life national stadium.

Thanks for all the support by the way.

If you want to know how your country is fairing and their results you can ask.

[tobes]

Australia? i wanan no how the Footballroos are going

[DJ Ager]

They just got through by the skin of their teeth. Cahill got a late winner against Solomon Islands to put them through to a play off in Sep 2005 with Fiji, who drew with New Zealand to secure their place. Tahiti were going through after a 1-1 draw with Vanuatu, until Australia's late winner, and missed out on goal difference

AUS 2-0 NZL
AUS 0-0 TAH
AUS 0-3 FIJ
VAN 0-0 AUS
SOL 0-1 AUS

[tobes]

phew looking good though DJ Ager

[hassan]

You playing this on FIFA 06?

[DJ Ager]

EA Sports 2006 Fifa World Cup on PC

[DJ Ager]

Preview of August

This month there are hardly any qualifiers. The only match in Africa's zone is in Group 5 where Senegal are at home to Kenya. It is crucial as it is both teams's games in hand. Kenya need it to keep with the pace, and Senegal need to gain a crucial advatage over Mali.

The main action is in the Asian zone. In Group A, japan, already qualified, are at home to Bahrain, who need to win to qualify as of their poor goal difference. Iran are at home to China, a crunch match, Iran need to win to qualify automatically, China need to avoid defeat in Tehran. Both are assured of at least a play off place if Bahrain fail to win.

In Group B, it is just as tight, all apart from UAE, who play Saudi Arabia, are certain of a play off place. Korea play Uzbekistan, level on points.

If Korea win and Saudi win, KOR + KSA qualify
If Uzbekistan win and Saudi win, UZB + KSA qualify
If Korea win and Saudi draw, KOR + KSA or UZB (on goal difference)qualify
If Uzbekistan win and Saudi draw, UZB + KSA or KOR (on goal difference)qualify
If Korea and Uzbekistan draw and Saudi Arabia, KOR + UZB
Saudi lose, KOR + UZB

In Europe, Group 1 has two games, Ukraine in Lithuania and Switzerland hosting minnows Kazakhstan. Ukraine have two games in hand on their oppenents in the group and will look to strengthen their play off place and put pressure on Switzerland at the top. A Lithuania win will keep the group open and keep their own second placed ambitions still alive. It is mathmatically for Switzerland to secure their place in the finals, but is highly unlikely that will happen. In Group 2 the only match is between Andorra and Hungary, and that likely away win would keep their fledgeling hopes of a play off still alive. Just two matches in Group 3, where Latvia host Poland, hoping to challenge Austria at the top of the group. Both will hope Austria slip in Albania, who want to keep themselves in the mix. The only other European match is in Group 4, England's group, wher minnows Faroe Islands take on Cyprus in Torshavn.

In North America, Costa Rica will want to record a win against Honduras to try to repair their bad start and put themselves in the qualification places. Mexico will hope to assert their usual top place in the group with a win in the Port of Spain against T&T, who will want to help keep themselves in the qualification places. Guatemala like Mexico and T&T are looking to strengthen and help to keep hold of their qualification places, and USA will look to try to break into the auto places. It is impossible for USA or Costa Rica to break into the automatic places this month, but they will not want to drift further away.

[DJ Ager]

Iran, Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan secure places in Germany-

Korea forced to play off with Bahrain, China crash out

There was high drama in both groups in the Asian Zone. in Group 1, the goals started with Japan taking the lead in Yokahama against Bahrain. With China drawing at half time against Iran 0-0, China were going through, and Iran in play off. However, things were to change. In Japan, Saleem equalized with a one on one after half time. Next, Iran hero Ali Daei, headed in an corner after 71 minutes. Still China had at least a play off place, until news filtered through from Japan of a late winner of Bahrain, Saleem scoring in the 88th minute to secure a play off place, and send China crashing out. Iran qualified automatically.

Drama was just as high in Group B. Saad Salem, of already out UAE, scored a early stunner to give them a shock lead in Riyadh. Park Ji Sung then scored in Seoul for Korea Republic against Uzbekistan, and at half time Korea and Uzbekistan were going through. This remained until Al Jaber scored in the 63rd minute and in the 83rd minute to send the Saudis through. Uzbekistan had to score or face a play off with Bahrain. Just when it seemed this was the case, in the 91st minute, a half cleared ball was hammered in on the edge of the area by Bikenov, went low and into the Korean net to send Uzbekistan to a surprise first ever World Cup finals for the former USSR country.

It was not so dramatic in the continental zones, but it was still as important. Kenya managed a shock win thanks to a Dennis Oliech winner in Senegal, and this leaves the group, extremely tight. Senegal are top on goal difference, Mali 2nd, Kenya 3rd, but all three are all level on 15 points.

In Europe, in Group 1, Switzerland are one win away from a place in the finals after they thrashed Kazakhstan at home 6-0. It was a much rougher ride for Ukraine away in Lithuania. Jankauskas gave the home side in the 1st half, and while Ukraine huffed and puffed, it seemed they would not score in the 2nd half. However, Rebrov and Voronin scored injury time winners to stun Lithuania 2-1. Hungary beat Andorra 4-0 in Group 2. Group 3 is still tight. Maciej Zurawski scored a late belter to beat Latvia 2-1, and Skela scored a late equalizer for Albania against Austria, 1-1, to leave them with just a points advatage over Poland, who have a game in hand. Meanwhile in Group 4, Okkas rescued a late point for Cyprus against Faroe Islands, 2-2.

Over in North America, Wanchope scored two to give Costa Rica a vital win over Honduras. T&T managed to come back from 2-0 down to rescue a vital point against Mexico. Guatemala lept back up to the top of the group, after a 3-2 win over USA, thanks to a Ruiz double, and USA have now a lot of work to do to get back in the qualifying places and no qualification would be unthinkable.

DJ Ager
PlanetCricket Reporters

Photos:
-Saleem and Bahrain celebate their 88th minute winner to book a play off place,
-Daei scores the header to secure their place in Germany
-chinese fans despair
-Al Jaber late double seals Saudi Arabia's place in Germany
-Daei scores the header to secure their place in Germany
-Final tables

[DJ Ager]

What do you think so far?

I'm into the last three months with the climax of the groups, then the play offs.

[w3lshrugby]

I think its great, just hope Wales get through

[DJ Ager]

Being a bit Welsh and proud of it, I hope so too

Doing well in a tough group