The Hindu : Sport : South Korea and Iran book World Cup berths

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jun 10, 2005

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South Korea and Iran book World Cup berths

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: The qualifiers are beginning to get spotted for the World Cup 2006 in Germany. The four Asian participants have been identified — Japan, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Korea Republic. Asia can have the fifth berth too but that depends on the play off between the zone's fifth team and the fourth placed of the CONCACAF region. The other team to ensure a berth is Argentina in the South American zone. Elsewhere the qualification phase has gone past the half way stage and interesting times are ahead.

The latest standings in each zone: Asia (4 qualifiers + fifth placed to play CONCACAF fourth placed): Qualified (with one match to go for each): Saudi Arabia 5 matches - 11 points, Korea Republic 5 m 10 pts; Iran 5 m 13 pts; Japan 5 m 12 pts.

The matches that decided the qualification of each team: Japan bt Korea DPR 2-0; Iran bt Bahrain 1-0; Korea bt Kuwait 4-0; Saudi Arabia bt Uzbekistan 3-0. Bahrain (5 m 4 pts) could have a play off with either Kuwait (5 m 4 pts) or Uzbekistan (5 m 2pts) and the winner earns the right to meet the Concacaf opponent.

Europe (14 qualifiers including host Germany): format: eight group winners + two best second placed teams + three from remaining six second placed teams: Current leaders: Group I: Netherlands 8 matches 22 points; Czech 8 m 21 pts; Romania 9 m 16 pts; Gr II: Ukraine 9 m 23 pts; Turkey 9 m 16 pts; Greece 9 m 15 pts; Denmark 8 m 12 pts; Gr III; Portugal 8 m 20 pts; Slovakia 8 m 17 pts; Russia 7 m 14 pts; Latvia 8 m 13 pts; Gr IV: Ireland 7 m 13 pts; Switzerland 6 m 12 pts; Israel 7 m 11 pts; France 6 m 10 pts; Gr V: Iraly 6 m 13 pts Norway 6 m 9 pts; Slovenia 6 m 9 pts; Belarus 6 m 7 pts; Scotland 6 m 6 pts; Gr VIL Poland 7 m 18 pts; England 6 m 16 pts; Austria 6 m 11 pts; Gr VII: Spain 7 m 13 pts; Serbia and Montenegro 6 m 12 pts; Grr VIII: Croatia 6 m 16 pts; Sweden 6 m 15 pts; Hungary 6 m 10 pts

Africa (5 qualifiers): format: all Group winners: Gr I: Togo 7 matches 16 points; Senegal 7m 14 pts; Zambia 7 m 13 pts; Gr II: South Africa 7 m 15 pts; Congo 7 m 12 pts; Ghana 7 m 12 pts; Gr III: Cote d`Ivoire 7 m 16 pts; Cameroon 7 m 14 pts; Egypt 7 m 13 pts; Gr IV: Angola 7 m 14 pts; Nigeria 7 m 14 pts; Zimbabwe 7 m 11 pts; Gr V: Morocco 7 m 15 pts; Guinea 7 m 11 pts; Tunisia 6 m 11 pts.

North Central America and Carribean zone (CONCACAF) (three qualifiers + fourth to fight with fifth team of Asian zone): format: final phase of six-team group league: Mexico 5 matches 13 points; USA 5 m 12 pts; Costa Rica 5 m 7 pts; Guatemala 5 m 4 pts.

Oceania: winner of Solomon Islands and Australia to have play off with 5th placed S. America zone)

South America (4 qualifiers plus fifth placed plays Oceania group winner): format: one group home and away league of 10 teams: Argentina 15 matches 31 points; Brazil 15 m 27 pts; Ecuador 15 m 23 pts; Paraguay 15 m 22 pts; Colombia 15 m 20 pts; Chile 15 m 20 pts; Uruguay 15 m 18 pts (Peru, Venezuela and Bolivia placed in that order).

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