2010 World Cup Qualifying Draw

[dog town]

Re: 2010 World Cup Qualifying Draw

I totally agree though I think you mean Neill not Kennedy.

No Kennedy is going back to be with his wife. Reported in the paper today. Makes it hard with so many front line striking options not available. Not helping is the fact that Bresciano sat on the bench. He might not be world class with a dead ball but he has to give better service than Wilkshire.

[The Coon Dog]

Re: 2010 World Cup Qualifying Draw

Grella suspended too for the Qatar clash as he picked up another yellow card v Iraq.

[LostDoggy]

Re: 2010 World Cup Qualifying Draw

No Kennedy is going back to be with his wife. Reported in the paper today. Makes it hard with so many front line striking options not available. Not helping is the fact that Bresciano sat on the bench. He might not be world class with a dead ball but he has to give better service than Wilkshire.

Its both actually.

http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/socceroos/neill-to-miss-qatar-game-120451/#article1

If we adopt a defensive approach again in Qatar with no strikers we will lose.

[The Coon Dog]

Re: 2010 World Cup Qualifying Draw

Socceroos advance to final stage

AUSTRALIA have won through to the final stage of Asian World Cup qualifying, with two Brett Emerton goals and one to Harry Kewell sealing a gutsy 3-1 victory over Qatar.

Emerton scored once in each half to bury the Qataris, while Kewell iced the result on 74 minutes to put Pim Verbeek's side a step closer to the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.

Qatar scored a late consolation goal through Khalfan Ibrahim in the 89th minute.

The Socceroos are now three points clear of both Qatar and Iraq, who beat China 2-1 in Tianjin to join Qatar on seven points, with one match remaining.

But with the top two advancing to the next qualifying stage and Qatar and Iraq to play each other next week, Australia will go through regardless of their final match against China next Sunday in Sydney.

For the third match in four outings, the Socceroos owed plenty to goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, who made three important first-half saves to keep his side a goal to the good.

It was Emerton, despatched forward by Verbeek from his customary right-back position, who finished off a nifty move on the edge of the box in the 17th minute, started by Brett Holman, to give his side the lead.

Holman found Mark Bresciano, whose centre across goal was missed by Kewell but finished neatly by Emerton.

The Socceroos were then put under heavy pressure late in the half by Qatar, with striker Sebastian Soria Quintana causing plenty of headaches.

He forced Schwarzer to tip over on 29 minutes, then nearly netted an outrageous goal five minutes before half-time when with his back to goal, swung a delicate shot just wide.

In between Schwarzer denied Fabio Cesar's free-kick - adding to his effort to stop a set-piece from Wezam Rizik early in the match.

Qatar should have equalised just after the break when Talal Al-Bloushi headed over when he should have done better, before Emerton finished off the Qataris with a second on 56 minutes.

Then Kewell smacked home a left-foot volley after a defensive error 16 minutes from time to make Qatar's task impossible, though Khalfan salvaged some respectability for the home side with his late goal.

Verbeek said Iraq's win in China earlier had raised the stakes for his side to chase victory themselves.

"Three teams starting from seven points before this game, we knew we had to win this game," Verbeek said.

"We started very well, then we started to come a little bit under pressure.

"But second half we did very well. The goal was at the perfect time and we played very well until the last second."

Australia will now advance to the next stage of Asian qualifying - two groups of five teams starting in September.

The top two teams in each group will advance to the World Cup finals, while the two third-placed teams play off with the winner to take on the Oceania winner for another spot in South Africa in 2010.

Iraq's win in Tianjin ensured China's elimination but sets up a sudden-death match between Qatar and Iraq in Dubai next week to decide the other qualifier from Group 1.

[The Coon Dog]

Re: 2010 World Cup Qualifying Draw

Australia now progress to round 4.

Round 4 will consist of 10 teams comprising winners & runners up from round 3.

There will be 2 groups, consisting of 5 countries in each group. Winners & runners up qualify for the World Cup.

[hujsh]

Re: 2010 World Cup Qualifying Draw

The first goal was a bit lucky.

Kewell should have got it but missed the ball. Luckily Emerton was there to fix it up.

Bresciano was dangerous in he 1st half

[Mantis]

Re: 2010 World Cup Qualifying Draw

The first goal was a bit lucky.

Kewell should have got it but missed the ball. Luckily Emerton was there to fix it up.

Bresciano was dangerous in he 1st half

Has a habit of doing this.... Mr Bresciano scored a pretty famous goal some 3 years ago in similiar circumstances.

[LostDoggy]

Re: 2010 World Cup Qualifying Draw

Bresciano was dangerous in he 1st half

How he didn't get a run v Iraq still puzzles me.

Good to see start at least one striker in Holman. Was involved in 2 of the goals.

[LostDoggy]

Re: 2010 World Cup Qualifying Draw

Australia now progress to round 4.

Round 4 will consist of 10 teams comprising winners & runners up from round 3.

There will be 2 groups, consisting of 5 countries in each group. Winners & runners up qualify for the World Cup.

Also the two 3rd place teams play off for a chance to play the top Oceania side over 2 legs.

If Australia can't make it to at least 5th best Asian side then there are no excuses.

[The Coon Dog]

Re: 2010 World Cup Qualifying Draw

The teams from Asia that qualified are:

Group 1
Australia & Qatar

Group 2
Japan & Bahrain

Group 3
North Korea & South Korea

Group 4
Saudi Arabia & Uzbekistan

Group 5
Iran & United Arab Emirates

The 10 teams will be split into two round-robin groups of 5, home & away.

Winner & runner up in both groups qualify for the World Cup.

Both 3rd placed teams clash, home & away with the winner then playing the winner of Oceania to see who qualifies for the World Cup.

[dog town]

Re: 2010 World Cup Qualifying Draw

For gods sake lets qualify top 2 and avoid a home and away play off. We will likely cop one of South Korea or Iran in our group. Need to be close to full strength for this section of it.

[LostDoggy]

Re: 2010 World Cup Qualifying Draw

No chance we'll get South Korea

Pot 1
Australia
Korea Republic

Pot 2
Iran
Japan/ Saudi Arabia

Pot 3
Saudi Arabia/ Japan
Bahrain

Pot 4
Uzbekistan
Korea DPR
UAE
Qatar

Each group will have one team from Pots 1, 2 and 3 and two from Pot 4.


Drawn Friday I think

[LostDoggy]

Re: 2010 World Cup Qualifying Draw

Home games on
October 15
April 1
June 10
June 17

[dog town]

Re: 2010 World Cup Qualifying Draw

No chance we'll get South Korea

Pot 1
Australia
Korea Republic

Pot 2
Iran
Japan/ Saudi Arabia

Pot 3
Saudi Arabia/ Japan
Bahrain

Pot 4
Uzbekistan
Korea DPR
UAE
Qatar

Each group will have one team from Pots 1, 2 and 3 and two from Pot 4.


Drawn Friday I think

Yeah sorry for some reason I thought Japan was the team we couldn't get. I would probably prefer it the way it is. We have shown we can hold Japan out and they struggle with our taller strikers (as do most Asian countries). South Korea have always struck me as being quite dangerous. I hope Viduka, Cahill and Kennedy are all available.

[LostDoggy]

Re: 2010 World Cup Qualifying Draw

Jeepers who would have picked Qatar to qualify ahead of Iraq and China.