World Cup Corner

Pavel Nedved, Juventus midfielder and former European Footballer of the Year, will return to help Czech Republic in in this month’s FIFA World Cup play-off against Norway after a 16-month absence. Nedved hurt his knee and retired from international football after the Czechs lost 1-0 to eventual champions Greece in the Euro 2004 semi-finals.

Karel Brueckner has also called up Monaco midfielder Jaroslav Plasil, who is coming back from a foot injury. He told the reporters:

“We have a strong team and with Nedved we are even stronger. I welcome the fact that the team once again can show its quality and that it widens the potential lineup of our midfield.”

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Coach Jose Pekerman called Chelsea striker Hernan Crespo in Argentina’s squad for the friendly match against England in Geneva on 12 November. Javier Zanetti, Javier Saviola and Julio Cruz also return to the international fold.

Argentina will play Qatar four days later, on 16 November.

Argentina squad:
Roberto Abbondanzieri (Boca Juniors), Leonardo Franco (Atletico Madrid);

Roberto Ayala (Valencia), Diego Placente (Celta Vigo), Javier Zanetti, Walter Samuel (both Inter Milan), Martin Demichelis (Bayern Munich), Gabriel Milito (Real Zaragoza), Fabricio Coloccini (Deportivo Coruna);

Sebastian Battaglia (Boca Juniors), Juan Roman Riquelme, Juan Pablo Sorin (both Villarreal), Esteban Cambiasso (Inter Milan), Luis Gonzalez (Porto), Mario Santana (Palermo), Daniel Bilos (Boca Juniors), Maxi Rodriguez (Atletico Madrid);

Hernan Crespo (Chelsea), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Carlos Tevez (Corinthians), Javier Saviola (Sevilla), Julio Ricardo Cruz (Inter Milan).

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Australia play Uruguay in Montevideo on 12 November before hosting the South Americans in Sydney on 16 November. The winners of the play-off will advance to the FIFA World Cup finals in Germany. It is the last time Australia will attempt to qualify for the FIFA World Cup through Oceania, with them joining the Asian confederation for the 2010 qualifiers.

The Australian soccer federation reported that they are satisfied with the security arrangements for the World Cup playoff in Uruguay after previously expressing concern. Australia had threatened to walk off the pitch in next month’s first leg in Montevideo if there was a repeat of the crowd trouble that marred their previous visit four years ago when the players were jostled and spat at.

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What do Zinedine Zidane (France), Luis Figo (Portugal), Alvaro Recoba (Uruguay), Russell Latapy (Trinidad and Tobago) and Sami Al Jaber (Saudi Arabia)? They all made one of the toughest decisions a player can make - retire from international football; but after that they all come out of retirement to help their countries once more.

FIFAworldcup.com has a must read article about a few players who were persuaded to come out of retirement to help their countries’ bids for a finals place during Germany 2006 qualifying.

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Beside play-offs for the FIFA World Cup 2006 there will also be played some friendly matches in October and November. Some matches still need to be confirmed.

October 23, 2005:
Madagascar - Mauritius 2:0

October 25, 2005:
Oman - Syria 0:0

October 26, 2005:
Mexico - Uruguay 3:1
Bahrain - Panama 5:0

October 30, 2005:
Puerto Rico - Guadeloupe 1:3

November 9, 2005:
France - Costa Rica 3:2

November 11, 2005:
Tunisia - Congo 2:2 (Suspended)
Paraguay - Togo 4:2
Iran - Rep. of Macedonia 1:2

November 12, 2005:
Netherlands - Italy 1:3
South Korea - Sweden 2:2
Argentina - England 2:3
Scotland - USA 1:1
France - Germany 0:0
Portugal - Croatia 2:0
U.A.E. - Brazil 0:8
Romania - Ivory Coast 1:2
Liechtenstein - Rep. of Macedonia 1:2

November 13, 2005:
China - Serbia & Montenegro 0:2
Iran - Togo 2:0
Paraguay - Rep. of Macedonia 1:0
Ecuador - Poland 0:3

November 15, 2005:
Northern Ireland - Portugal

November 16, 2005:
Cyprus - Wales
Japan - Angola
South Korea - Serbia & Montenegro
Jordan - Georgia
Syria - United Arab Emirates
Egypt - Tunisia
Ivory Coast - Italy

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On November 12 two international matches are due to be played on the same evening in the same country. In Bern Switzerland is playing against Turkey in their World Cup qualifying first-leg play-off the same night as Argentina is playing a friendly match against England in Geneva.

Because of two matches will be played on the same evening there are some concerns about security in Switzerland.

Related articles:
Crespo back in Argentina squad
Argentina fix date for friendly with England

Can Australia avenge their heartbreaking loss to Uruguay four years ago and qualify for next year’s World Cup? They beat Uruguay 1-0 in the opening leg in Melbourne four years ago and then they lose the second leg 3-0 in South America.

The two teams were once again drawn together to decide one of the last available places at the World Cup 2006. The first leg of their playoff will be held at Montevideo on November 12 with the return match in Sydney four days later.

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Play-off matches to be played on November 12 and 16:

Spain - Slovakia
Switzerland - Turkey
Norway - Czech Republic

The other global play-offs see Australia take on two-time World Cup winners Uruguay while Bahrain play Trinidad & Tobago.

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Qualification for the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany is almost over.

There are just five more places for the finals in Germany which will start on June 9. Play-offs will be played on 12 and 16 November.

EUROPE
Read our previous post.

SOUTH AMERICA
Uruguay go into a two-legged play-off with Australia.

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Six European teams were confirmed to take part in the European qualifying play-offs for the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany.

The Czech Republic, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland and Turkey joined Norway – who had already secured second place. The European zone play-off draw will take place on October 14, with the two-legged ties played on 12 and 16 November.

Three seeded teams in the draw - Czech Republic, Spain and Turkey - will be paired with one of the unseeded trio of Norway, Switzerland and Slovakia. The seedings are based on the teams positions on the September’s FIFA world rankings.

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