Americas to play for World Cup berth

[Naminirt]

<SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 13pt"><SPAN style="COLOR: red">Americas to play for World Cup berth
By: Associated Press</SPAN></SPAN>

6 Dec 2006

ZURICH, Switzerland (AP) -- Teams from soccer's two American confederations will play for a spot at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

The fifth-place South American country will be pitted against the fourth-place nation from CONCACAF, FIFA said Wednesday.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter also decided that the Oceania champion will play against Asia's fifth-best team, keeping the number of qualifiers from each region the same as last time.

"South America will have 4 1/2 (places) and North America 3 1/2 and they will have a playoff," Blatter said. "Asia and Oceania will have five together. They will have a playoff in the region."

Australia beat Uruguay and Trinidad and Tobago defeated Bahrain in two-leg playoffs to qualify for the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Australia moved from Oceania to the Asian confederation this year.

Thirteen European countries and five African countries will play at the next World Cup. Host South Africa automatically qualifies.

[Naminirt]

RE: Americas to play for World Cup berth

Interesting

[GaryD]

RE: Americas to play for World Cup berth

Well, at least we still have the half spot

[OJ]

RE: Americas to play for World Cup berth

The road is getting tougher.. but we finishing second anyway.

[T.K.]

RE: Americas to play for World Cup berth

Maybe Mexico can throw the Concacaf an assist, the sameway Argentina did for Colombia in 94,and finish 4th. That way we can get 4 teams into South Africa. - T.K.

[Lazie]

RE: Americas to play for World Cup berth

After Brazil, Bolivia (because of the highaltitude)and Argentina, and POSSIBLY Colombia, which other team in that group we should fear?

[T.K.]

RE: Americas to play for World Cup berth

Lazie (12/6/2006)After Brazil, Bolivia (because of the highaltitude)and Argentina, and POSSIBLY Colombia, which other team in that group we should fear?

Paraguay and Uruguay would be the other two. If you want altitude Ecuador is damn scary as well.-T.K.

[Naminirt]

RE: Americas to play for World Cup berth

well lazie ecuador is no joke also i would even add paraguay and uraguay ...this is do or die ...

[Zeppo]

RE: Americas to play for World Cup berth

So then it looks like the entire African continent will be competing for just 4 spots, since South Africa automatically qualifies as the host nation.



A real bummer for them....

[Karl]

RE: Americas to play for World Cup berth

T.K. (12/6/2006)

Lazie (12/6/2006)After Brazil, Bolivia (because of the highaltitude)and Argentina, and POSSIBLY Colombia, which other team in that group we should fear?

Paraguay and Uruguay would be the other two. If you want altitude Ecuador is damn scary as well.-T.K.

Well if the aim is not to finish at the top of our group...I would be very disappointed. Ofcourse finishing in the top 3 would mean forget about South American TEAMs until the big dance!

[Za]

RE: Americas to play for World Cup berth

Zeppo Africa has 6 spots the host + 5

[Zeppo]

RE: Americas to play for World Cup berth

Ah, you're right! I didn't notice that.



I had been wondering how that was going to work out and if SA's automatic qualification would take a spot from Africa's five.



But it seems that this time Europe has lost a spot. Ha ha!

[Zeppo]

RE: Americas to play for World Cup berth

OJ (12/6/2006)The road is getting tougher.. but we finishing second anyway.

"In the CONCACAF, Mexico and the USA are clearly ahead of the rest, and so are almost guaranteed their places at the finals."



- Bora Milutinovic

[Hortical]

RE: Americas to play for World Cup berth

Looks like 5 teams from South America meking the trip to Africa