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World Cup 2010 Playoffs: Twelve Teams, Six World Cup Places
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The final six World Cup 2010 places all get decided today, with the second legs of the four European playoffs and the CONMEBOL vs CONCACAF game, plus the special Algeria vs Egypt single game playoff for the final African qualifying spot.
It’s all very very tight. The winners of these six ties get the the glory, the losers learn firsthand the meaning of the word “nearly”. By the end of play we’ll know who the 32 World Cup 2010 qualifiers are. Feel free to lick your lips.
Below is a quick summary of what’s happening:
EUROPEAN PLAYOFFS:
France (1) vs (0) Ireland
Nicolas Anelka’s goal at Croke Park gives France a 1-0 lead and an away goal. Apparently there were was some sort of scuffle when Lassana Diarra said something to Keith Andrews at the final whistle, but I’m struggling to care too much about that to be honest. All that matters is that Ireland have a big task ahead of them at Stade de France.
Bosnia and Herzegovina (0) vs (1) Portugal
No C-Ron? No matter. Portugal won 1-0 at home with a header from Porto defender Bruno Alves. Bosnia were desparately unlucky with the Dzeko and Muslimovic crossbar then post combo. This isn’t over, but it’s advantage Portugal.
Ukraine (0) vs (0) Greece
Greece had ball in net, but it was ruled out for offside. Correctly I think, as though Theo Gekas was onside from Dimitrios Salpigidis’s pass, he was offside when Salpigidis was originally played through. Goalless in Athens, so second leg at the Donbass Arena in Donetsk is wide open.
Slovenia (1) vs (2) Russia
Two teams that only very narrowly missed out on qualifying automatically. Russia – wearing a snazzy looking new kit, ribbed for your footballing pleasure – took a two goal lead thanks to Diniyar Bilyaletdinov. Slovenia pulled one back in the 88th minute thanks to Nejc Pečnik. Much much more than a consolation goal, Pečnik’s close range header halved Slovenia’s deficit and netted them a crucial away goal. A 1-0 win in the Ljudski vrt stadium (yes, I had to look that up) would send Slovenia to World Cup 2010.
CONMEBOL vs CONCACAF
Uruguay (1) vs (0) Costa Rica
I’d suspected that maybe Uruguay would struggle on Costa Rica’s artificial turf. They actually may have, as I didn’t see the whole game, but la celestse came away from San José with a 1-0 thanks to defender Diego Luna Diego Lugano’s moment of calm as the ball was bouncing around the box. Uruguay with a 1-0 lead at at a packed Centenario? I don’t like Costa Rica’s chances.
AFRICAN PLAYOFF
Algeria vs Egypt (in Sudan)
Egypt beat Algeria 2-0 in their final African qualifying Group C game on Saturday, putting the two teams level on both points and goal difference and forcing this drama-waiting-to-happen-one-game playoff. Sudan will provide a neutral venue for the game. For more on this clash of North African rivals, read the post from Saturday.
Bannon, Just to be clear, I’m saying the goal was correctly disallowed for offside.
Anelka’s goal was pure class, and it’s quite interesting, although obvious to determine the reasons for, to see what joy can do for a player’s ability and confidence. The man has been caught on camera smiling this season more than in his entire career, and his form reflects that. Anelka est le meilleur!
Posted from 
United States
hi Daryl – sorry! – I’ve gotten a lot of feedback on that one. I’m a bit sensitive apparently. Nice post, by the way. 
Posted from 
Canada
Hmm, not sure ‘pure class’ can apply to a deflection off a centre backs leg….
Posted from United States
Slovenia very nearly equalised after their first goal too, a great save from Akinfeev and could easily have been 2-2. Slovenia were generally expected to be easy pickings for Russia, but are proving anything but. They could easily qualify, but I’m going for a 1-1 second leg to send Russia through.
Posted from 
United Kingdom
http://www.marca.com/2009/11/16/futbol/seleccion/1258385669.html
Marca released what they say will be the pots for the 2010 World Cup. Looks about right!
Details: If Ireland beat France, they will be in Pot 2, and the Netherlands moves to Pot 1. If Costa Rica beats Uruguay, Pots 3 and 4 will be redone. Likely, New Zealand will be moved to Pot 3.
They also mention that the group of death for a top seed would be: Netherlands/Portugal, Ivory Coast, and U.S.A.vvEasy group: Slovakia, Egypt/Algeria, New Zealand…
Great article! Will be watching France V Ireland on Wednesday. Think Ireland still has a chance, wouldn’t write us off just yet!!! we’re @ 6/1 with the bookies to qualify
Diego Luna plays for the Uruguayan national team? He was great in Y Tu Mama Tambien!
Damn it Nolan! Meant Diego Lugano obviously, but I remember when typing the name thinking “don’t type Diego Luna, don’t type Diego Luna.” Which apparently caused me to type Diego Luna.
Here in England we’ll get to watch the second half of Algeria v. Egypt followed by France v. Ireland.
I’m quite excited to see the African playoff, it sounds intense!
As for France – Ireland, personally I suspect that there’ll be a lot of passion and running around from the Irish, followed by a goal for France which will end the contest, but we shall see.
I would love to see the Bosnia – Portugal game…I must confess to hoping Bosnia win, although since Ronaldo won’t be playing there’ll be no chance of seeing him burst into tears which is a pity!
Posted from United Kingdom
Half time score was 1-0 to Algeria. Second half just kicked off.
Ukraine vs Greece is approaching halftime with Greece leading 1-0. That’s an away goal too, so Ukraine will need to score two to go through.
Dam! I was excpecting Egypt to take charge of this game, just got back from school and I see Algeria is Leading. Greece is probably going through too.
FIFA has a free video feed of Egypt vs Algeria here:
http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/news/newsid=1135950.html#watch+algeria+egypt+live
Only downside is that (for me at least) it only works in Internet Explorer.
Im watching it in sopcast from the myp2p.eu site. Its a good feed I guess, but Egypt is controling the match and they still can’t score!
Egypt out Algeria in
FIFA World Cup South Africa 2010 draw
http://malawi.worldcupblog.org/team-news/fifa-world-cup-south-africa-2010-draw.html
Posted from United States
YES! YES! YES!
WE DID IT!
henry is a cheat. FIFA are cheats. FIFA change the rules at the last minute then henry handles it twice to get france through.Gutted.
Congrats Slovenia, Greece, Algeria!
Congrats to Ireland too: you have done what was honestly possible.
@Portugal
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Hi Daryl, you might have a point about the Greek goal being incorrectly counted offside – but if you watch the slow-motion, the defender sees the flag, and pulls up, allowing the crossed pass. I think he was fully in a position to intercept. So its kind of a moot point.
Posted from
Canada