FOOTBALL - 2010 World Cup: CONCACAF fourth-placed team to play S'Americans in play-off

[Karl]

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><SPAN class=TopStory>CONCACAF fourth-placed team to play S'Americans in play-off</SPAN>
<SPAN class=Subheadline>FOOTBALL - 2010 World Cup</SPAN></TD></TR><TR><TD>AP
Thursday, December 07, 2006
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<P class=StoryText align=justify>ZURICH, Switzerland (AP) - Teams from football's two American confederations will play for a spot at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.<P class=StoryText align=justify>The fifth-placed South American country will be pitted against the fourth-placed nation from CONCACAF, FIFA said yesterday.<P class=StoryText align=justify>FIFA president Sepp Blatter also decided that the Oceania champions will play against Asia's fifth-best team, keeping the number of qualifiers from each region the same as last time.<P class=StoryText align=justify>"South America will have 4 1/2 (places) and North America 3 1/2 and they will have a play-off," Blatter said. "Asia and Oceania will have five together. They will have a play-off in the region."<P class=StoryText align=justify>FIFA later said it was possible that the Oceania champions could play in the latter stages of Asian qualifying instead of a two-leg play-off.<P class=StoryText align=justify>"The mode has yet to be determined," FIFA spokesman Andreas Herren said.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Australia beat Uruguay and Trinidad &amp; Tobago defeated Bahrain in two-leg play-offs to qualify for the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Australia moved from Oceania to the Asian confederation this year.<P class=StoryText align=justify>Thirteen European countries and five African countries will play at the next World Cup. Hosts South Africa automatically qualify.

[Karl]

RE: FOOTBALL - 2010 World Cup: CONCACAF fourth-placed team to play S'Americans in play-off

Interesting!

[Farmah]

RE: FOOTBALL - 2010 World Cup: CONCACAF fourth-placed team to play S'Americans in play-off

It's left to be seen if a CONCACAF team will find it easier to dismiss a Uruguay as oppose to a Bahrain. I think that while the S.American opponent might be more ball savvy (more technical and tactical aware) than the Asian qualifier, it will now be easier in terms of finance and logistics to scout a S Americam team than a team from halfway across the world.

I think this is a plus for CONCACAF's team, and FIFA obliviously might've just thrown us a lifeline.

However, the ball is round! (cliche, cliche)