The Independent - United Kingdom
BY PHIL SHAW
EUROPE
France qualify automatically as holders. The nine group winners qualify for the finals. The nine runners-up play off home and away for a place in the finals (see draw below)
Group One
RUSSIA ARE assured of at least a play-off, which is the stage where they fell to Italy ahead of France 98. Results suggest they may be no better equipped to flourish in the finals than they did at USA 94. Their stuttering progress, including narrow scrapes against the Faroe Islands and Luxembourg, has made many nostalgic for the days when the Soviet Union regularly went the distance in the European Championships.
But, crucially, Russia took four points from Yugoslavia, whose turmoil - they are now under a managerial trio that includes Dejan Savicevic after shedding two coaches during the campaign - has also been exploited by Slovenia. Ironically, Slovenia was part of Communist Yugoslavia. Despite having skiing as a national sport, Slovenia performed creditably at Euro 2000, and with Benfica`s Zlatko Zahovic pulling the strings they need only to beat the Faroes at home to take a top-two spot.
GROUP ONE
P W D L F A Pts
Russia 9 6 2 1 14 5 20
Slovenia 9 4 5 0 14 9 17
Yugoslavia 9 4 4 1 16 6 16
Switzerland 9 4 2 3 18 8 14
Faroe Islands 9 2 1 6 6 20 7
Luxembourg 9 0 0 9 2 22 0
Results: Switzerland 0 Russia 1; Faroe Islands 2 Slovenia 2; Luxembourg 0 Yugoslavia 2; Switzerland 5 Faroe Islands 1; Luxembourg 1 Slovenia 2; Russia 3 Luxembourg 0; Slovenia 2 Switzerland 2; Luxembourg 0 Faroe Islands 2; Russia 1 Slovenia 1; Yugoslavia 1 Switzerland 1; Russia 1 Faroe Islands 0; Switzerland 5 Luxembourg 0; Slovenia 1 Yugoslavia 1; Yugoslavia 0 Russia 1; Russia 1 Yugoslavia 1; Faroe Islands 0 Switzerland 1; Slovenia 2 Luxembourg 0; Faroe Islands 0 Yugoslavia 6; Luxembourg 1 Russia 2; Switzerland 0 Slovenia 1;Yugoslavia 2 Faroe Islands 0; Switzerland 1 Yugoslavia 2; Slovenia 2 Russia 1; Faroe Islands 1 Luxembourg 0; Yugoslavia 1 Slovenia 1; Luxembourg 0 Switzerland 3; Faroe Islands 0 Russia 3.
Remaining fixtures: Saturday: Yugoslavia v Luxembourg; Russia v Switzerland; Slovenia v Faroe Islands.
Group Two
THE NETHERLANDS` failure to secure even a play-off has echoes of when they reached the final in 1974 and `78 only to miss out on the next two tournaments. It also highlights the importance of at least splitting the points against your chief rivals; the Dutch picked up a paltry two out of 12 against Portugal and Ireland.
Portugal, recovering well from their shattering defeat by France in the Euro 2000 semi-finals, have combined the free-scoring streak expected of a side containing Luis Figo and Nuno Gomes with a defence disciplined enough to concede only a single goal in 180 minutes in Rotterdam and Dublin.
The Irish have enjoyed their best campaign since Mick McCarthy succeeded Jack Charlton, but unless Estonia can deliver an upset in Lisbon they again face a play-off. This time, moreover, the away leg looks certain to be a politically sensitive affair in an Islamic state.
GROUP TWO
P W D L F A Pts
Portugal 9 6 3 0 28 7 21
Rep of Ireland 9 6 3 0 19 5 21
Netherlands 9 5 2 2 26 9 17
Estonia 9 2 2 5 10 21 8
Cyprus 9 2 2 5 13 27 8
Andorra 9 0 0 9 5 32 0
Results: Estonia 1 Andorra 0; Andorra 2 Cyprus 3; Netherlands 2 Republic of Ireland 2; Estonia 1 Portugal 3; Portugal 1 Republic of Ireland 1; Andorra 1 Estonia 2; Cyprus 0 Netherlands 4; Republic of Ireland 2 Estonia 0; Netherlands 0 Portugal 2; Cyprus 5 Andorra 0; Portugal 3 Andorra 0; Andorra 0 Netherlands 5; Cyprus 0 Republic of Ireland 4; Portugal 2 Netherlands 2; Cyprus 2 Estonia 2; Andorra 0 Republic of Ireland 3; Estonia 2 Netherlands 4; Republic of Ireland 1 Portugal 1; Estonia 0 Republic of Ireland 2; Portugal 6 Cyprus 0; Estonia 2 Cyprus 2; Andorra 1 Portugal 7; Republic of Ireland 1 Netherlands 0; Cyprus 1 Portugal 3; Netherlands 5 Estonia 0.
Remaining fixtures: Saturday: Netherlands v Andorra; Portugal v Estonia; Republic of Ireland v Cyprus.
Group Three
DEPENDING ON events in Prague, where the Czech Republic meet Bulgaria in what is effectively a play-off for a play-off, Denmark may need only a point at home to Iceland to qualify. Since they exited Euro 2000 with a 100 per cent record - of defeats - Thomas Sorensen has inherited Peter Schmeichel`s mantle (and, reputedly, his modesty). Other Premiership players like Thomas Gravesen, Per Frandsen and Jesper Gronkjaer have contributed to an unbeaten group record, a home draw with Northern Ireland their only blip.
The same can hardly be said of the Czechs. The core of the team who lit up Euro 96, Pavel Nedved, Jan Koller, Karel Poborsky, Jiri Novotny, Pavel Srnicek et al, is still there, supplemented by the precocious Tomas Rosicky. Yet they drew, implausibly, in Malta before losing in Copenhagen and Reykjavik. A repeat of the jittery display in the 3-2 home win over Malta could let in Bulgaria.
GROUP THREE
P W D L F A Pts
Denmark 9 5 4 0 16 6 19
Bulgaria 9 5 2 2 16 9 17
Czech Rep 9 5 2 2 14 8 17
Iceland 9 4 1 4 14 14 13
N Ireland 9 2 2 5 10 12 8
Malta 9 0 1 8 4 23 1
Results: Northern Ireland 1 Malta 0; Bulgaria 0 Czech Republic 1; Iceland 1 Denmark 2; Bulgaria 3 Malta 0; Northern Ireland 1 Denmark 1; Czech Republic 4 Iceland 0; Iceland 1 Northern Ireland 0; Denmark 1 Bulgaria 1; Malta 0 Czech Republic 0; Northern Ireland 0 Czech Republic 1; Bulgaria 2 Iceland 1; Malta 0 Denmark 5; Czech Republic 0 Denmark 0; Bulgaria 4 Northern Ireland 3; Malta 1 Iceland 4; Denmark 2 Czech Republic 1; Iceland 3 Malta 0; Northern Ireland 0 Bulgaria 1; Czech Republic 3 Northern Ireland 1; Denmark 2 Malta 1; Iceland 1 Bulgaria 1; Denmark 1 Northern Ireland 1; Iceland 3 Czech Republic 1; Malta 0 Bulgaria 2; Bulgaria 0 Denmark 2; Czech Republic 3 Malta 2; Northern Ireland 3 Iceland 0.
Remaining fixtures: Saturday: Czech Republic v Bulgaria; Denmark v Iceland; Malta v Northern Ireland.
Group Four
IT`S ALL over including the shouting here. Sweden`s fantastic fightback to win in Turkey, after trailing 1-0 with three minutes remaining, confirmed top spot and left the stunned hosts facing a play-off.
The Swedes reached Euro 2000 with similar swagger, helping Kevin Keegan`s England by beating Poland in the process. Although they flopped in the finals, Henrik Larsson`s return to full fitness has given a side now coached jointly by Lars Lagerback and Tommy Soderberg the same fillip it provided for Celtic. Despite Larsson`s god-like status in Scotland, his relative lack of international goals had provoked criticism at home. All was forgiven when he equalised in Istanbul and set up a sixth successive qualifying victory.
In the Turks` previous home fixture, against Macedonia, they were 2-0 down and needed a hat-trick by the Aston Villa defender Alpay Ozalan to draw 3-3.
GROUP FOUR
P W D L F A Pts
Sweden (Q) 9 7 2 0 17 3 23
Turkey 9 5 3 1 15 8 18
Slovakia 9 4 2 3 11 9 14
Macedonia 9 1 4 4 11 13 7
Moldova 9 1 3 5 6 17 6
Azerbaijan 9 1 2 6 4 14 5
Results: Turkey 2 Moldova 0; Azerbaijan 0 Sweden 1; Slovakia 2 Macedonia 0; Macedonia 3 Azerbaijan 0; Sweden 1 Turkey 1; Moldova 0 Slovakia 1; Slovakia 0 Sweden 0; Azerbaijan 0 Turkey 1; Moldova 0 Macedonia 0; Sweden 1 Macedonia 0; Turkey 1 Slovakia 1; Azerbaijan 0 Moldova 0; Moldova 0 Sweden 2; Slovakia 3 Azerbaijan 1; Macedonia 1 Turkey 2; Turkey 3 Azerbaijan 0; Macedonia 2 Moldova 2; Sweden 2 Slovakia 0; Turkey 3 Macedonia 3; Sweden 6 Moldova 0; Azerbaijan 2 Slovakia 0; Macedonia 1 Sweden 2; Moldova 2 Azerbaijan 0; Slovakia 0 Turkey 1; Turkey 1 Sweden 2; Slovakia 4 Moldova 2; Azerbaijan 1 Macedonia 1.
Remaining fixtures: Sunday: Macedonia v Slovakia; Moldova v Turkey; Sweden v Azerbaijan.
Group Five
POLAND, third in the 1974 and 82 World Cups, sat out the last three tournaments but went through with two games to spare this time. During this cheering renaissance, Jerzy Engel`s side overhauled the record of 12 unbeaten games set by Lato, Lubanski, Szarmach, Deyna et al 26 years ago. They finally bowed 4-1 in Belarus after qualifying, when Jerzy Dudek, now Liverpool`s keeper, had a rare off-night.
Norway, who were expected to challenge after reaching the last two finals, have endured a torrid time, failing to win until the ninth attempt. Their victims were Wales, whose draws in Warsaw and Kiev hinted, maddeningly, at the potential in Mark Hughes` squad. The last chance of a Welsh victory comes against Belarus, who need to take the points in Cardiff and trust that Poland prevail at home to Ukraine if they are to deny their fellow former Soviet republic a play-off place.
GROUP FIVE
P W D L F A Pts
Poland (Q) 9 6 2 1 20 10 20
Ukraine 9 4 4 1 12 7 16
Belarus 9 4 3 2 12 10 15
Norway 9 1 4 4 8 13 7
Wales 9 0 6 3 9 12 6
Armenia 9 0 5 4 6 15 5
Results: Norway 0 Armenia 0; Belarus 2 Wales 1; Ukraine 1 Poland 3; Wales 1 Norway 1; Armenia 2 Ukraine 3; Poland 3 Belarus 1; Poland 0 Wales 0; Norway 0 Ukraine 1; Belarus 2 Armenia 1; Ukraine 0 Belarus 0; Norway 2 Poland 3; Armenia 2 Wales 2; Poland 4 Armenia 0; Wales 1 Ukraine 1; Belarus 2 Norway 1; Armenia 0 Belarus 0; Ukraine 0 Norway 0; Wales 1 Poland 2; Norway 1 Belarus 1; Armenia 1 Poland 1; Ukraine 1 Wales 1; Belarus 0 Ukraine 2; Wales 0 Armenia 0; Poland 3 Norway 0; Ukraine 3 Armenia 0; Belarus 4 Poland 1; Norway 3 Wales 2.
Remaining fixtures: Saturday: Armenia v Norway; Poland v Ukraine; Wales v Belarus.
Group Six
WHO SAYS Scotland are out? All they need to sneak a play-off is the biggest win of Craig Brown`s eight-year reign (and their best since 1969) against Latvia, plus a Belgian victory in Croatia. Belgium are assured a top-two finish, the turning point in their own and Scotland`s campaign having come when Marc Wilmots inspired their 10 men to equalise in stoppage time at Hampden Park.
Those calling for Brown`s head might reflect on the fine line between success and failure, particularly for a small country. The Scots came within a whisker of leading Belgium 3-0 and blew late chances to beat Croatia away, failing for the second qualifying series running in the critical aim of beating their main rivals.
Saturday in Zagreb is a must-win game for the Croats, who came third at France 98, though neither they nor Robert Waseige`s team look equipped to cause a stir nine months hence.
GROUP SIX
P W D L F A Pts
Belgium 7 5 2 0 25 5 17
Croatia 7 4 3 0 14 2 15
Scotland 7 3 3 1 10 5 12
Latvia 7 1 1 5 4 14 4
San Marino 8 0 1 7 3 30 1
Results: Belgium 0 Croatia 0; Latvia 0 Scotland 1; Latvia 0 Belgium 4; San Marino 0 Scotland 2; Croatia 1 Scotland 1; San Marino 0 Latvia 1; Belgium 10 San Marino 1; Croatia 4 Latvia 1; Scotland 2 Belgium 2; Scotland 4 San Marino 0; Latvia 1 San Marino 1; Croatia 4 San Marino 0; Belgium 3 Latvia 1; Latvia 0 Croatia 1; San Marino 1 Belgium 4; Scotland 0 Croatia 0; San Marino 0 Croatia 4; Belgium 2 Scotland 0.
Remaining fixtures: Saturday: Croatia v Belgium; Scotland v Latvia.
Group Seven
THIS IS no time to be talking about battles in Tel Aviv, but Israel`s match with Austria, which goes ahead despite security concerns, promises to be quite a confrontation.
An Israeli win would take them level with Austria and claim a play-off berth on goal difference. Reaching the finals for the first time since 1970 would be a triumph for a country whose political status has forced them to play qualifiers in every continent. A coup, too, for coach Richard Moller Nielsen, since Israel have struggled to attract worthwhile visitors since the Palestinian Intifada. Austria won the first meeting, however, and apart from a 4-0 aberration in Spain, have been near-impregnable.
Spain put Euro 2000 behind them to win the group in classic style, beating their challengers at home and drawing away. Jose Camacho`s problem, like all Spain coaches, will lie in living up to expectations next year.
GROUP SEVEN
P W D L F A Pts
Spain (Q) 8 6 2 0 21 4 20
Austria 7 4 2 1 9 7 14
Israel 7 3 2 2 10 6 11
Bosnia-Herz 7 1 2 4 7 12 5
Liechtenstein 7 0 0 7 0 18 0
Results: Bosnia 1 Spain 2; Israel 2 Liechtenstein 0; Liechtenstein 0 Austria 1; Spain 2 Israel 0; Israel 3 Bosnia 1; Austria 1 Spain 1; Bosnia 1 Austria 1; Spain 5 Liechtenstein 0; Liechtenstein 0 Bosnia 3; Austria 2 Israel 1; Austria 2 Liechtenstein 0; Spain 4 Bosnia 1; Liechtenstein 0 Israel 3; Israel 1 Spain 1; Bosnia 0 Israel 0; Spain 4 Austria 0; Liechtenstein 0 Spain 2; Austria 2 Bosnia 0.
Remaining fixtures: Sunday: Israel v Austria; Bosnia v Liechtenstein.
Group Eight
ITALY`S FAILURE to do better than draw 0-0 in Lithuania, who had leaked 12 goals in their previous three home games, unexpectedly took the qualification issue to the final day.
Romania, in Gheorghe Hagi`s second match as coach, will snatch first place if they beat Georgia and the Euro 2000 finalists suffer an unimaginable defeat by Hungary. Italy have a superior goal difference, predictable given that the awesome defensive unit of Fabio Cannavaro, Alessandro Nesta and Paolo Maldini remains intact and that Giovanni Trapattoni chooses in attack from Alessandro Del Piero, Christian Vieri, Francesco Totti, Marco Delvecchio and Filippo Inzaghi.
Having beaten their chief rivals twice, the Azzurri will be aggrieved indeed if they end up in the play-offs. That will be due in part to the new-look Romania, the Hagi generation having at last made way for prodigies like Alan Stoica.
GROUP EIGHT
P W D L F A Pts
Italy 7 5 2 0 15 3 17
Romania 7 5 0 2 9 6 15
Georgia 7 3 0 4 11 11 9
Hungary 7 2 2 3 14 12 8
Lithuania 8 0 2 6 3 20 2
Results: Romania 1 Lithuania 0; Hungary 2 Italy 2; Lithuania 0 Georgia 4; Italy 3 Romania 0; Lithuania 1 Hungary 6; Italy 2 Georgia 0; Hungary 1 Lithuania 1; Romania 0 Italy 2; Georgia 0 Romania 2; Italy 4 Lithuania 0; Romania 2 Hungary 0; Georgia 1 Italy 2; Lithuania 1 Romania 2; Hungary 4 Georgia 1; Georgia 3 Hungary 0; Lithuania 0 Italy 0; Georgia 2 Lithuania 0; Hungary 0 Romania 2.
Remaining fixtures: Saturday: Italy v Hungary; Romania v Georgia.
Group Nine
ENGLAND EXPECTS. Whether the jingoistic response to the epic 5- 1 rout of Germany has encouraged it to expect too much remains to be seen. But even without Michael Owen it seems inconceivable that, having done the hard part, Sven Goran Eriksson`s `world beaters` will let the prize evade them by failing to beat Greece.
The win in Athens was one of five in succession with which the Swede retrieved the lost cause left to him by Kevin Keegan and Howard Wilkinson of one point out of six. Greece`s new manager, Otto Rehhagel, pledges more `fighting spirit` than the Germans. They could hardly show less, and it will be revealing, against Finland`s largely English-based side, to see if Rudi Voller has healed Germany`s psychological scars.
Even if England labour to victory, as against Albania, it would take a freakish goal glut in Gelsenkirchen to deny them. Germany expects, too, but only a play-off.
GROUP NINE
P W D L F A Pts
England 7 5 1 1 14 4 16
Germany 7 5 1 1 14 10 16
Finland 7 3 2 2 12 7 11
Greece 7 2 0 5 5 15 6
Albania 8 1 0 7 5 14 3
Results: Finland 2 Albania 1; Germany 2 Greece 0; Greece 1 Finland 0; England 0 Germany 1; Albania 2 Greece 0; Finland 0 England 0; England 2 Finland 1; Germany 2 Albania 1; Albania 1 England 3; Greece 2 Germany 4; Greece 1 Albania 0; Finland 2 Germany 2; Greece 0 England 2; Albania 0 Germany 2; Germany 1 England 5; Albania 0 Finland 2; England 2 Albania 0; Finland 5 Greece 1.
Remaining fixtures: Saturday: Germany v Finland; England v Greece.
Play-offs
First named team plays first leg at home. First legs to be played on 10/11 November, second legs on 14/15 November. Group One runner-up v Group Eight runner-up
Group Seven runner-up v Group Four runner-up (Turkey) Group Five runner-up v Group Nine runner-up Group Six runner-up v Group Three runner-up Group Two runner-up v Asian play-off winner
CONCACAF
The three top teams in the final round qualify for the finals.
COSTA RICA, a name seared into the Scottish psyche after Italia 90, are already through, ensuring Paulo Wanchope plays The Orient. Jamaica seem set to emulate Dwight Yorke`s Trinidad & Tobago in missing out, leaving three teams pursuing two spots. The fact that Mexico finish against Honduras, Brazil`s Copa America conquerors, offers the United States` best hope. Bruce Arena`s team have lost three in a row but have the easiest run- in, their last match being a repeat of the trip to Port of Spain, Trinidad, 11 years ago, when they had to win and did... joining Costa Rica in the finals.
LEAGUE TABLE
P W D L F A Pts
Costa Rica (Q) 8 6 1 1 16 7 19
Honduras 8 4 2 2 17 13 14
Mexico 8 4 1 3 13 9 13
United States 8 4 1 3 9 7 13
Jamaica 8 2 2 4 6 11 8
Trinidad & Tobago 8 0 1 7 4 18 1
Results: Jamaica 1 Trinidad & Tobago 0; United States 2 Mexico 0; Costa Rica 2 Honduras 2; Mexico 4 Jamaica 0; Honduras 1 United States 2; Costa Rica 3 Trinidad & Tobago 0; Trinidad & Tobago 1 Mexico 1; United States 1 Costa Rica 0; Jamaica 1 Honduras 1; Mexico 1 Costa Rica 2; Jamaica 0 United States 0; Trinidad & Tobago 2 Honduras 4; Honduras 3 Mexico 1; United States 2 Trinidad & Tobago 0; Costa Rica 2 Jamaica 1; Trinidad & Tobago 1 Jamaica 2; Mexico 1 United States 0; Honduras 2 Costa Rica 3; United States 2 Honduras 3; Trinidad & Tobago 0 Costa Rica 2; Jamaica 1 Mexico 2; Honduras 1 Jamaica 0; Costa Rica 2 United States 0; Mexico 3 Trinidad & Tobago 0.
Remaining fixtures: Sunday: Honduras v Trinidad & Tobago; Costa Rica v Mexico; United States v Jamaica. 11 Nov: Mexico v Honduras; Jamaica v Costa Rica; Trinidad & Tobago v United States.
SOUTH AMERICA
The first four teams qualify directly for the finals. The fifth- placed team will compete in a home-and-away play-off against Australia, winner of the Oceania competition. The play-off winner qualifies for the finals.
A WORLD CUP without Brazil? During the 10-team, 90-match league, from which four South American nations will advance automatically, there have been moments when it seemed the five-time winners might be absent next summer.
They have lost to Paraguay, Chile, Uruguay, Argentina and, most humiliatingly, Ecuador. Wanderley Luxemburgo was replaced as coach by Luiz Felipe Scolari, while Rivaldo`s `10 per cent commitment` was condemned by Gerson of the great 1970 team. And yet Brazil finish against the bottom three and should now qualify, albeit without honour or style.
Argentina, with Juan Sebastian Veron their midfield heartbeat, cruised home with four games left, which will make their selection and attitude against Paraguay and Uruguay, two of the four contenders to join them, especially interesting. Uruguay, the first world champions, parted with coach Daniel Passarella, Argentina`s winning captain of 1978, during the campaign and have arguably the toughest run-in.
The best the new South American champions, Colombia, can hope for appears to be fifth place and a play-off against Australia. In contrast, Ecuador, with its population of 11 million and dearth of World Cup pedigree (one play-off in 1965), have shamed several traditional powers and may soon be celebrating a first-ever finals place.
LEAGUE TABLE
P W D L F A Pts
Argentina (Q) 15 12 2 1 37 12 38
Paraguay 15 9 2 4 26 14 29
Ecuador 15 8 2 5 17 18 26
Brazil 15 7 3 5 25 14 24
Uruguay 15 7 3 5 16 10 24
Colombia 15 5 5 5 12 13 20
Peru 15 4 3 8 13 19 15
Bolivia 15 3 5 7 16 26 14
Chile 15 3 2 10 14 22 11
Venezuela 15 3 1 11 12 40 10
Remaining fixtures: Saturday: Bolivia v Ecuador; Venezuela v Peru. Sunday: Uruguay v Colombia; Brazil v Chile; Paraguay v Argentina. 7 Nov: Argentina v Peru; Bolivia v Brazil; Ecuador v Uruguay; Colombia v Chile; Venezuela v Paraguay. 14 Nov: Uruguay v Argentina; Brazil v Venezuela; Paraguay v Colombia; Chile v Ecuador; Peru v Bolivia.
AFRICA
Cameroon, Nigeria, Senegal, Tunisia and South Africa have all qualified for the finals after winning their groups
AN AFRICAN campaign tarnished by tragedy has already concluded, with Senegal, Cameroon, Nigeria, Tunisia and South Africa claiming the five places in next summer`s finals. The Senegalese are the only first- time qualifiers, having edged in ahead of Morocco.
Cameroon and Tunisia went through with ease, as did South Africa after the expulsion of the much-fancied Guinea, although their progress was marred by the deaths of 13 spectators at the match with Zimbabwe in Harare following a stampede to escape police tear-gas.
Nigeria, often tipped as the continent`s first global power, looked set to miss out when war-torn Liberia, wearing kit donated by George Weah, reached the last two matches needing four points. Ghana, the enigma of African football, then took a hand, winning 2-1 in Liberia before fielding an under-strength side in Nigeria, who won 3-0 to ruin Weah`s dream.
FINAL GROUP A
P W D L F A Pts
Cameroon (Q) 8 6 1 1 14 4 19
Angola 8 3 4 1 11 9 13
Zambia 8 3 2 3 14 11 11
Togo 8 2 3 3 10 13 9
Libya 8 0 2 6 7 19 2
FINAL GROUP B
P W D L F A Pts
Nigeria (Q) 8 5 1 2 15 3 16
Liberia 8 5 0 3 10 8 15
Sudan 8 4 0 4 8 10 12
Ghana 8 3 2 3 10 9 11
Sierra Leone 8 1 1 6 2 15 4
FINAL GROUP C
P W D L F A Pts
Senegal (Q) 8 4 3 1 14 2 15
Morocco 8 4 3 1 8 3 15
Egypt 8 3 4 1 16 7 13
Algeria 8 2 2 4 11 14 8
Namibia 8 0 2 6 3 26 2
FINAL GROUP D
P W D L F A Pts
Tunisia (Q) 8 6 2 0 23 4 20
Ivory Coast 8 4 3 1 18 8 15
Congo DR 8 3 1 4 7 16 10
Madagascar 8 2 0 6 5 15 6
Congo 8 1 2 5 5 15 5
FINAL GROUP E
P W D L F A Pts
South Africa (Q) 6 5 1 0 10 3 16
Zimbabwe 6 4 0 2 7 5 12
Burkina Faso 6 1 2 3 7 8 5
Malawi 6 0 1 5 4 12 1
Withdrawn: Guinea
OCEANIA
Australia, winners of play-off between the first-placed teams in Group One and Group Two, go through to home and away play-off against fifth-placed team in South America. First leg in Australia. (Dates for two ties have yet to be determined, but must be played by 25 November)
IT WAS always going to be an Australia-New Zealand final for the right to tackle South America`s fifth-placed country in a play-off for a place in Japan/South Korea, and so it proved. Even without such big names as Kewell, Viduka and Bosnich, an Australian side who overwhelmed American Samoa 31-0, Tonga 22-0 and Samoa 11-0 in amassing a pre-qualifying record of F66, A0 were too strong for an All Whites team coached by a Liverpudlian, Ken Dugdale, winning 2-0 and 4-1. With their Leeds-based attackers on board, Frank Farina`s team could well atone for the Socceroos` France 98 play-off disappointment against Iran.
FINAL GROUP ONE
P W D L F A Pts
Australia 4 4 0 0 66 0 12
Fiji 4 3 0 1 27 4 9
Tonga 4 2 0 2 7 30 6
Samoa 4 1 0 3 9 18 3
American Samoa 4 0 0 4 0 57 0
FINAL GROUP TWO
P W D L F A Pts
New Zealand 4 4 0 0 19 1 12
Tahiti 4 3 0 1 14 6 9
Solomon Islands 4 2 0 2 17 10 6
Vanuatu 4 1 0 3 11 21 3
Cook Islands 4 0 0 4 2 25 0
Play-off result (two legs) (Wellington, NZ): New Zealand 0 Australia 2; (Sydney): Australia 4 New Zealand 1.
ASIA
The winners of the two groups qualify for the finals. The two runners- up compete in a play-off on a home-and-away basis on 25 and 31 October to qualify for the play-off against the runner-up of Europe Group Two. Japan and Korea qualify automatically as hosts
REFLECTING THE high stakes, the coaches of half the 10 countries contesting the second phase in Asia have either resigned or been sacked. Group A is finely balanced, with Saudi Arabia leading, although low-scoring Iran, a game in hand and facing Peter Withe`s toiling Thailand on Friday, could still pip them at the post.
Iraq, who encounter the top two within eight days next month, now have only an outside chance of earning second place and a play-off for the right to contest a 2002 berth with the runners-up from Europe`s Group Two - very probably the Republic of Ireland.
China, under the former United States and Mexico manager, the Serb Bora Milutinovic, and featuring Crystal Palace`s Fan Zhiyi, are on course to reach their first-ever finals from Group B. Victory over Qatar next month would confirm qualification for the planet`s most populous nation, whatever any other results.
GROUP A
P W D L F A Pts
Saudi Arabia 6 3 2 1 11 6 11
Iran 5 2 3 0 6 3 9
Iraq 6 2 1 3 7 6 7
Bahrain 6 1 3 2 4 7 6
Thailand 5 0 3 2 3 9 3
Remaining fixtures: Friday: Iran v Thailand; Iraq v Saudi Arabia. 12 Oct: Iran v Iraq. 13 Oct: Thailand v Bahrain. 19 Oct: Bahrain v Iran; Saudi Arabia v Thailand.
GROUP B
P W D L F A Pts
China 5 4 1 0 9 1 13
Qatar 6 2 3 1 9 5 9
Uzbekistan 6 2 1 3 10 10 7
UAE 6 2 1 3 6 8 7
Oman 5 0 2 3 1 11 2
Remaining fixtures: Tomorrow: Qatar v United Arab Emirates. Sunday: China v Oman. 13 Oct: Oman v Uzbekistan; China v Qatar. 19 Oct: United Arab Emirates v Oman; Uzbekistan v China.
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