World Cup Corner

FIFA overturned last month’s Uzbekistan’s 1-0 victory over Bahrain after a bizarre refereeing error from Japanese official Toshimitsu Yoshida.

Replay of the controversial Asian World Cup play off qualifier will be played on Saturday in Tashkent - Uzbekistan. The second leg will be played in Manama on Wednesday. The winners will face the team that finishes fourth in the CONCACAF zone final group in a two-legged playoff in November to decide who qualifies for the World Cup finals in Germany next year.

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1. Argentina (31 points)
2. Brazil (30)
3. Ecuador (26)
4. Paraguay (25)
5. Uruguay (21)
6. Colombia (20)
7. Chile (20)
8. Venezuela (18)
9. Peru (15)
10. Bolivia (13)

Ecuador need a point at home to Uruguay on Saturday to ensure their place at the 2006 World Cup finals. Paraguay can also qualify if they win or draw in Venezuela and other results go their way.

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Jay-Jay Okocha will miss Saturday’s World Cup qualifier against Zimbabwe due to a groin injury. Bolton Wanderers midfielder sustained the injury in his club’s 2-1 defeat by Wigan Athletic in the English Premier League on Sunday.

Nigeria must win Saturday’s game and hope Group Four leaders Angola fail to beat Rwanda in Kigali if they are to qualify for next year’s World Cup finals in Germany. Although both Nigeria and Angola have same 18 points, the southern Africans have a superior head-to-head record.

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Liverpool winger Harry Kewell returns to Australian team in friendly match against Jamaica. The game will be played in London on Sunday and it will be Australia’s last before their World Cup play-off against yet unknown South American team next month.

The 27 year old has played only 28 minutes for Liverpool’s reserves this season following surgery in June after he was controversially selected to start last season’s Champions League final but limped off early in the first half.

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Czech Republic striker Jan Koller will miss the remainder of his country’s 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. He will be absent when the Czechs complete their Group 1 campaign with matches against the Netherlands and Finland and would also be unavailable for the November play-offs if Karel Bruckner’s men finish in the second place.

Koller damaged his knee during club side Borussia Dortmund’s 1-1 draw with Mainz in the German Bundesliga and the 32 year old will have to rest for about six-months.

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On the last weekend of qualifying will be known which 5 teams from Africa will go to 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany.

In each of the five groups there are still two teams who entertain hopes of reaching the finals - a total of ten countries then with massive expectations weighing on their shoulders as the final countdown looms.

Games to be played in African Zone:

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David David Trezeguet (Juventus) will miss the next double header. After pulling a thing muscle during 2:0 win over Inter Milan this weekend, he will not be able to play agains Switzerland and Cyprus. His club’s doctors ordered him to rest for between 7 and 10 days.

Trezeguet’s absence will be a big handicap for Frances coach Raymond Domenech, who is already without Thierry Henry. He is struggling to shake off a groin injury.

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England face Austria at Old Trafford in Manchester on Saturday before playing Group 6 leader Poland following Wednesday.

England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson recalled back defender Campbell and Smith in a midfield role, although his usual position is as a striker.

Newcastle striker Michael Owen will join up with the England squad on Tuesday. The 25 year old missed his club’s 0-0 Premiership draw at Portsmouth on Saturday after suffering a dead leg in a training ground collision.

Because Rooney must sit out England’s next World Cup qualifying group tie, after picking up his second booking of the campaign in Northern Ireland, Liverpool forward Peter Crouch is in pole position to partner Michael Owen against Austria.

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FIFA is happy with first results of tests on a modified ball design to improve goal-line technology. Initials trials in competition had gone very well.

The goal-line technology uses the intelligent ball with a microchip embedded inside it that relays a signal via sensors placed around the play-field to alert match officials if the ball crosses the line.

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