World Cup Qualification - Brazil 2014

[just some bloke]

South Korea can consider themselves bloody lucky to have qualified. They lost 1-0 at home to Iran (who go through as group winners), but Uzbekistan's 5-1 win over Qatar was just shy of what was needed to overturn the Korean's superior goal difference.

Uzbekistan now face Oman or Jordan in the play-off to determine who meets the South American 5th place side for a ticket to Brazil.

[St. Brynjar]

Uzbekistan very unlucky, wouldn't have expected South Korea to muck up at home to anyone in Asia. Probably them vs. Uruguay/Venezuela.

[just some bloke]

Uzbekistan very unlucky, wouldn't have expected South Korea to muck up at home to anyone in Asia. Probably them vs. Uruguay/Venezuela.

Japan have been top dogs in Asia for some time now. I see them as the only Asian team with any kind of chance of getting out of the group stages in Brazil. Depends of course on how the group draw plays out though.

[Ark Royal]

US laboured to a 1-0 win against Honduras and now probably only need one more win to qualify.

[stealthpapes]

Last stage of African qualifying sees 5 2 legged playoffs between

A Ethiopia
B Cape Verde
C Ivory Coast
D Ghana
E Burkina Faso
F Nigeria
G Egypt
H Algeria
I Cameroon
J Senegal

Cape Verde islands are tiny, have a population of under half a million and the teams nickname is the Blue Sharks. I want them to qualify.

Asian qualification down to a play off between Jordan and Uzbekistan for the right to play (probably) Uruguay. Second leg this week. Australia, Japan, South Korea and Iran already through.

I reckon we'll get the first qualifiers from UEFA tomorrow.

[St. Brynjar]

Awful campaigns for South Africa and Tunisia. Tunisia were beaten at home and subsequently knocked out by 82nd-ranked Cape Verde, but not as bad as South Africa who finished below 139th ranked Ethiopia, 90 places below them at the start of the qualification.

[stealthpapes]

South Africa have been pish for a while now.

Cape Verde are actually 36th now. They've been a decent Africa team for a year or two - AfCoN last time round - and are now above Tunisia in FIFA's eyes.

[southbank1871]

Isn't Nani from Cape Verde Islands?

[stealthpapes]

Isn't Nani from Cape Verde Islands?

Yeah, and Patrick Vieira apparently.

[just some bloke]

There could be a big shock coming up in the North America group. Honduras beat Mexico away the other day to dump Mexico into fourth place. Whereas fourth place still gets you a spot against New Zealand for a place in the finals, the Mexicans won't fancy that. They've now won just one game in seven and lie just a point ahead of Panama.

They've three games to turn it around but these are away to in-form USA and Costa Rica, and home to the aforementioned Panamanians. Meanwhile Honduras have an easy run-in with two games at fortress Tegucigalpa to look forward to.

Mexico not qualifying for the World Cup is kind of unthinkable given their fortuitous location, but it really could happen.

[stealthpapes]

fortress Tegucigalpa

This made me

[just some bloke]

Can't wait to watch USA - Mexico tonight as I'll miss the England game through being at work. Should be a cracker.

[Kitsondinho]

Jordan beat Uzbekistan 9-8 on pens to qualify for a pasting from the 5th place South American team.

[just some bloke]

Jordan beat Uzbekistan 9-8 on pens to qualify for a pasting from the 5th place South American team.

Gotta be gutted for the Uzbeks really. They're a decent side who I thought did enough over the qualification tournament to earn at least a play-off.

[stealthpapes]

They did earn a play off spot.

[just some bloke]

:?

They did earn a play off spot.

I meant with Uruguay or whoever.

[stealthpapes]

They've come close a couple of times now, haven't they?

[Sanguine]

Luxembourg 3-2 NoROFLtheROFLn IROFLeLOLand

[LUX]

first home WC win since 1972

[just some bloke]

first home WC win since 1972

So the last time Luxembourg managed to win at home in the World Cup was before I was born?

Christ, that must depressing for any fans they might have. Even more so for any footballer with talent who has the misfortune to be born there.