Much Drama and a Missed Penalty Send New Zealand to World Cup
Quick World Cup qualifier coverage update: If you're watching Ireland vs. France, we have options for partisans on either side, depending on whether you like your coverage with a Gallic accent or a Gaelic one. Our Ireland blog will be doing a liveblog right here (France fans welcome), and our France blog will be hosting an open thread, where you leave your thoughts in the comments. (Ireland fans welcome. But be nice.)
Now let's talk about New Zealand.
New Zealand has long been known for their rugby. For their football, though? Not so much. The country's last World Cup was in 1982.
But a goal by New Zealand's Rory Fallon (video here), and this missed penalty by Bahrain's Sayed Adnan means the drought is over. And also that New Zealand becomes the first country to ever make the World Cup without having beaten a team with a national population of over 1 million.
It's the World Cup 2010 qualification finale in Africa this weekend, with three spots at the big show still up for grabs. South Africa are qualified as hosts. Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire join them having already won Groups D and E respectively.
With 23 nations already qualified for World Cup 2010, there are just nine places in South Africa still up for grabs. Three of those will be decided when African qualifying concludes tomorrow. But that's a separate post. The six other qualifiers will be decided by playoffs, starting tomorrow.
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