World Cup 2010 qualifying - THE FINAL PUSH!

[Panda]

Asian 4th round, Group 2:

SAUDI ARABIA 0-0 NORTH KOREA

NORTH KOREA qualify for the World Cup

As vastariner alluded to, North Korea qualify for the finals for the first time since 1966, when they reached the quarter-finals (and led Portugal 3-0 in the quarter-finals before losing 5-3). They got the point they needed in Riyadh. In a slightly amusing twist of fate, their qualification eliminates Iran, who are the second finalists from 2006 to go out, after Angola. Saudi Arabia must beat Bahrain, then New Zealand in the play-offs if they are to reach their 5th consecutive finals.

1. South Korea (Q) 8-16 (+8)
2. North Korea (Q) 8-12 (+2)
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3. Saudi Arabia (P) 8-12 (0)
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4. Iran 8-11 (+1)
5. UAE 8-1 (-11)

[Panda]

QUALIFIERS SO FAR:

HOSTS
SOUTH AFRICA

EUROPE
NETHERLANDS

ASIA
AUSTRALIA
JAPAN
NORTH KOREA
SOUTH KOREA

[Shireblogger]

Jun 17, 2009 23:39:55 GMT 1 Panda said:

NORTH KOREA qualify for the World Cup

1. South Korea (Q) 8-16 (+8)
2. North Korea (Q) 8-12 (+2)

So, we have the first two "serious" journalistic themes of the World Cup already sorted:-
1. South Africa - security, 20 years after apartheid, AIDS, etc. etc.
2. Korea North & South - compare & contrast, capitalism vs communism, etc. etc.

I suspect the North Korean team will be totally unprepared for the media frenzy which will greet them. They'll be chaperoned everywhere by minders, but will still be overwhelmed by the number of journalists that track their every move.

[Paddy]

random thinking here:

I thought that the current trophy holders went through like the host as a secure place, I know Italy are in the pool with NI atm, but I'm sure in contests gone by, the trophy holders and hosts were the first 2 teams to secure entry into finals?

[suedehead]

Jun 18, 2009 10:05:14 GMT 1 Paddy said:

random thinking here:

I thought that the current trophy holders went through like the host as a secure place, I know Italy are in the pool with NI atm, but I'm sure in contests gone by, the trophy holders and hosts were the first 2 teams to secure entry into finals?

Not any more. This will be the second tournament where the holders have had to go through the qualifiers.

[Paddy]

Ah, so i hadn't been dreaming it up.

[Panda]

Today's results from Africa...

African 3rd round, Group A:

GABON P-P CAMEROON

MOROCCO 0-0 TOGO

Gabon are 2 points clear, despite their game against Cameroon being called off due to the state funeral of late President Omar Bongo. The game has been rescheduled for September.

1. Gabon 2-6 (+5)
2. Togo 3-4 (-2)
3. Morocco 3-2 (-1)
4. Cameroon 2-1 (-1)

[Panda]

African 3rd round, Group B:

KENYA 2-1 MOZAMBIQUE

TUNISIA 0-0 NIGERIA

Tunisia shared a goalless draw with Nigeria to remain top of the group. Kenya picked up their first win to keep their hopes alive.

1. Tunisia 3-7 (+3)
2. Nigeria 3-5 (+3)
3. Kenya 3-3 (-3)
4. Mozambique 3-1 (-3)

[Panda]

African 3rd round, Group C:

EGYPT P-P RWANDA

ZAMBIA 0-2 ALGERIA

Algeria pick up a valuable 3 points in Zambia to go 3 points clear at the top of the group. Egypt will play Rwanda in 2 weeks' time. The match has been delayed due to Egypt's participation in the Confederations Cup.

1. Algeria 3-7 (+4)
2. Zambia 3-4 (-1)
3. Rwanda 2-1 (-1)
4. Egypt 2-1 (-2)

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African 3rd round, Group D:

SUDAN 0-2 GHANA

Ghana keep up their winning start and go 6 points clear at the top. Mali play Benin on Sunday.

1. Ghana 3-9 (+5)
2. Benin 2-3 (0)
3. Mali 2-1 (-2)
4. Sudan 3-1 (-3)

[Panda]

African 3rd round, Group E:

BURKINA FASO 2-3 IVORY COAST

Didier Drogba scored the winner in a 5-goal thriller as the Ivory Coast gain the upper hand in Group E. Guinea and Malawi meet on Sunday in a must-win game for both sides.

1. Ivory Coast 3-9 (+7)
2. Burkina Faso 3-6 (+2)
3. Guinea 2-0 (-3)
4. Malawi 2-0 (-6)

[Panda]

Sunday's results from Africa...

African 3rd round, Group D:

MALI 3-1 BENIN

Mali pick up their first win but are still 5 points behind Ghana.

1. Ghana 3-9 (+5)
2. Mali 3-4 (0)
3. Benin 3-3 (-2)
4. Sudan 3-1 (-3)

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African 3rd round, Group E:

GUINEA 2-1 MALAWI

Guinea win the battle of the teams with no points to keep their slim qualification hopes alive.

1. Ivory Coast 3-9 (+7)
2. Burkina Faso 3-6 (+2)
3. Guinea 3-3 (-2)
4. Malawi 3-0 (-7)

[Panda]

This month's only World Cup match...

African 3rd round, Group C:

EGYPT 3-0 RWANDA

Egypt put themselves back in the hunt for 1st place after a comfortable win in a match delayed by 2 weeks due to Egypt's Confederations Cup participation.

1. Algeria 3-7 (+4)
2. Egypt 3-4 (+1)
3. Zambia 3-4 (-1)
4. Rwanda 3-1 (-4)


Next World Cup matches: 12th August

[Maximo Mark]

How come so many African flags are red, yellow and green?

[Robin]

They are the Pan-African colours along with black. Each colour has a seperate meaning which I cannot remember off the top of my head! Though green may represent the fertility of the land and red I think represents blood.

[Panda]

5 matches played in Europe tonight...

European Group 3:

SLOVENIA 5-0 SAN MARINO

Slovenia keep themslves part of the bunch finish that looks like occurring in Group 3.

1. Slovakia 6-15 (+11)
2. Northern Ireland 7-13 (+6)
3. Slovenia 7-11 (+6)
4. Poland 6-10 (+11)
5. Czech Republic 6-8 (+2)
6. San Marino 8-0 (-36)

[Panda]

European Group 4:

AZERBAIJAN 0-2 GERMANY

Germany go 4 points clear of Russia, though they've played a game more and still have to play each other in Russia.

1. Germany 7-19 (+16)
2. Russia 6-15 (+9)
3. Finland 6-10 (-2)
4. Wales 7-9 (-2)
5. Azerbaijan 6-1 (-7)
6. Liechtenstein 6-1 (-14)

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European Group 6:

BELARUS 1-3 CROATIA

Croatia close the gap on England to 7 points. A victory for England over Croatia (or in any of their 3 remaining games) will see them win the group. England could, in theory, qualify before that game but that would require Croatia losing at home to Belarus and Ukraine losing to Andorra a few days before.

1. England 7-21 (+22)
2. Croatia 7-14 (+8)
3. Ukraine 6-11 (+3)
4. Belarus 6-9 (+5)
5. Kazakhstan 7-3 (-15)
6. Andorra 7-0 (-23)

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European Group 7:

FAROE ISLANDS 0-1 FRANCE

As they always seem to do against the minnows, France edge to a narrow victory (at least in terms of the scoreline). The win seems them move to within 5 points of leaders Serbia, with a game in hand.

1. Serbia 7-18 (+10)
2. France 6-13 (+2)
3. Lithuania 7-9 (0)
4. Austria 6-7 (-2)
5. Romania 6-7 (-3)
6. Faroe Islands 6-1 (-7)