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Africa catches WC fever; Irish, U.S. still in mix

February 16, 2011

By Staff Reporter

The World Cup ball is rolling big time now that Tunisia join Cameroon and South Africa as qualified teams for the greatest show on earth. Tunisia came through with a 3-0 victory over the Democratic Republic of Congo, while the Ivory Coast lost to Congo-Brazzaville.

The player to watch for Tunisia is Zoubier Baya, who lobbed the Congo keeper from 40 yards. Unbeaten Tunisia has a great deal of experience. In fact, the nucleus of their 1998 World Cup team look set to play in Japan/South Korea.

Morocco, in its last qualifying game, needed only a point against Senegal to qualify for the 2002 WC, but Senegal managed a 1-nil triumph to keep Group C undecided. All eyes are on this one as Senegal and Egypt are three points behind Morocco with one game left.

Egypt, with the better goal difference, looks like it has a tougher match, having to travel to Algeria. Nonetheless, Senegal travels to Namibia, where the floodgates could open for a bucket full of goals. For Morocco to go through, both Egypt and Senegal must lose. Given this scenario, it looks like Senegal is the reason why Morocco will not go to the WC. The end of July is the expected kick-off date.

In Group B, Liberia managed to win its last game, at Sierra Leone, despite having to deal with all the hype of George Weah returning to the side. Even Liberia’s president, Charles Talyor, was involved with the former world Footballer of the Year in persuading the national hero to return to play for his country. It’s out of their hands now, thank God, as the only thing standing in the way of Nigeria’s qualification is Ghana and that game is on July 28. It sure looks like the unpredictable and sometimes sublime Nigerians will make it three World Cups in a row. Then again, what an unlikely closing to the George Weah legend if Liberia were to sneak in the back door of South Korea.

USA look good in CONCACAF

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The top three teams from CONCACAF qualify for the World Cup. After Mexico beat the U.S. 1-nil, this result has shed much anticipation in this part of the world. Hopefully we see a rise in attendance for Team USA, who had 24,624 for their 2-nil win against Mexico in an earlier game. The U.S. might not be able to match the 115,000 spectators at Mexico, but Bruce Arena has his Yanks in a strong position.

For now it looks like it is between, the U.S., Costa Rica, Honduras and Mexico. Honduras and Costa Rica have turned out to be the dark horses, while all eyes were on the US of A and Mexico. The next two games will tell the tale as the U.S. meet the dark horses while Mexico meet pussycats Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago. However, with Jamaica at home, the pussycat could indeed grow into the Lion.

Ireland can come out of UEFA

Up to 14 teams will qualify from the UEFA European football world. The nine group winners will qualify with four playoffs for the best runners-up. The ninth nation left in the hat for those last chance playoffs in UEFA will play a leftover Asian team.

The Republic of Ireland’s chance of qualification now seems to rest on a playoff game, even though the Irish are sitting pretty on top of the group. Portugal look favorites to win the group with Ireland vs. Holland said to be the crunch game for the second qualification spot. It seems the Irish support simply cannot talk about winning the group or at least forcing Portugal to win their remaining games in order to win on goal difference. What if Portugal get beat? Even on top of the table, the Irish seem to be up against it to qualify, and even then there’s that playoff game. A tie with Holland may prove Ireland’s ticket to the playoff birth; we owe the Dutch one. Come on, ye Bhoys in Green! Here are the Group 2 standings: Republic of Ireland, 18; Portugal, 15; Holland, 14; Estonia, 7;, Cyprus, 7, and Andorra, 0.

In Group 1 Russia look set to get back on the world stage and that is all good for World Cup soccer. Switzerland has been steady over the last few years and could grab the playoff spot as Slovenia set the pace for second. Yugoslavia, with a match in hand, is capable of coming through also. For now, Russia is the one and only pick from Group 1.

It seems that Denmark has gotten their act together in Group 3. The Danes are one point clear of the dangerous Czech Republic and Bulgaria. Northern Ireland is out of the race and the rebuilding process has already started. While Denmark has some work to do, they are the pick to come out of the Group 3 one way or another with the Czech Republic. But as we know, we cannot write off the Bulgarians.

Group 4 is turning into a two-horse race with Sweden and Henrik Larsson leading the pack. Turkey is pressing but they are letting in too many goals, compared to Sweden. It has got to be Sweden so the world can see the Golden Boot Bhoy, Mr. Larsson himself.

Poland looks really good in Group 5 to make somewhat of a comeback to the Wcorld Cup competition, with Belarus proving to be a real outside bet. Wales and Ryan Giggs failed to impress in this group, which was by no means out of their league. Ukraine is in with a shout, but Poland is an easy choice at this point for World Cup qualification.

In Group 6 Scotland will be there right to the wire with Croatia and Belgium. It is those last games that may see Croatia have an edge, with the ability to adapt to any kind of game.

Big-time favorites to watch playing is Spain on top of Group 7. The unpredictable and skillful Austrians are looking good to compete for first and second, but Spain has got to be the call for qualification.

Italy looks home and dry in Group 8, with only Romania posing any kind of threat. Germany looks a concrete winner of Group 9, with a revived England knocking on the door.

CONMEBOL tests Brazil

Four teams will qualify from the CONMEBOL Section of the 2002 World Cup, with the fifth team to meet the playoff team from the Oceania section. At the moment, Brazil are struggling to find form, but what is a World Cup without the kingpins of soccer. Argentina would have a few words to say about this, as they are clear favorites to qualify from this one tough group. Paraguay and Ecuador are holding their own with the greats, while Colombia will be expected to win their remaining games. Uruguay will not be to easily pushed aside and they have proved the hardest team to score against. Argentina and Brazil are obvious choices to be at the World Cup, with Paraguay becoming a force to be reckoned with. Ecuador is all out at the moment and must keep more composure in the closing stages.

Oceania too easy

Australia scored 72 goals and let in one in their qualifying games, but the flying kangaroos will need Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka when it comes to Japan and Korea.

Asia awaits fever

The Asian Football Confederation has not quite kicked in, but the hosts, Japan and the Korea Republic, gain automatic qualification, as do, of course, the 1998 winners, France. There are two groups in Asia and the winner from each will qualify. The runners up play off to meet a European side for World Cup participation. Group 1 with Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Thailand looks like a tougher challenge than Group 2, with China, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan.

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