Sport - Football

Spain, Switzerland on course

LONDON: Spain, the Czech Republic and Switzerland are in good shape heading into Wednesday's second-leg playoffs for World Cup berths.

Spain goes to Bratislava with a 5-1 lead over Slovakia. The Czechs are up 1-0 going to Norway, and Switzerland leads 2-0 going to Turkey.

However, two other playoff games are up for grabs. Australia is back in Sydney trailing Uruguay 1-0, and Bahrain is in the Middle East after a 1-1 draw in Trinidad and Tobago.

The survivors on Wednesday will fill the final five places in the 32-team tournament next summer in Germany.

Best chance

Australia hasn't been in the World Cup since 1974, and this may be the Socceroos' best chance in a decade.

Both teams arrived in Sydney on Monday. Uruguay arrived without injured striker Diego Forlan, who is expected to miss the game with a leg injury.

Looking for every advantage, Australia flew home on a charter equipped with massage and video facilities, two doctors, and a physiotherapist. Uruguay flew a charter to Chile, and then took commercial flights to Sydney.

``I think it worked perfectly, the whole trip went unbelievably smoothly,'' said John O'Neill, Football Federation Australia chief executive.

The Australians also have a successful coach on their side. Dutchman Guus Hiddink steered the Netherlands and South Korea to the last two World Cup semifinals. — AP

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