Preview: World Cup Qualifiers, Nov. 19, 2008

November 19th, 2008 | by: Laurie | Comments(1)

Today’s games: A dollop of Oceania, a dose of Asia, a lot of CONCACAF, and…San Marino vs. Czech Republic?

Yes, that’s our token European WC qualifier for the day. (Any others you may see going on are friendlies.)

Here’s a look at the qualifying games taking place today, November 19.

OCEANIA (OFC)

New Zealand vs. Fiji
New Zealand is the top team in Oceania and has already qualified for the home-and-away playoff series with the fifth-place Asian (AFC) team, scheduled for November 2009. Winner goes to World Cup 2010.

Maybe they’ll consider this game a warmup?

ASIA (AFC)
The AFC are currently in the fourth round of qualifying. It’s now down to two groups of five teams. Top two in each group will advance to the World Cup. The two third-place teams will play each other for the right to play against the top Oceania team. Winner goes to South Africa.

Bahrain vs. Australia, Group A
Australia is top of Group A with 6 points in 2 games. Bahrain is struggling with 1 point in two games. It’s still early in the round (five more games to play after this one) but this game is important for both teams.

UAE vs. Iran, Group B
UAE are not having a great qualifying campaign so far, with 0 points in three games. Iran is doing better, with 4 in two games, sitting second in the group on goal differential. Can UAE halt the skid?

Qatar vs. Japan, Group A
These two teams are currently both sitting on 4 points in Group 1, with Japan in second place in the group and Qatar in third based on goal differential. Since second place means automatic qualification, expect this one to be hard-fought.

Saudi Arabia vs. Korea Republic, Group B
Four teams in Group B currently have four points, including these two. Korea Republic is currently top of the group with a +3 goal differential, vs. Saudi Arabia’s +1.

CONCACAF (North and Central America and the Caribbean)
The USA, Costa Rica and El Salvador have already booked their tickets to the next round. Here’s what’s at stake in today’s games:

Suriname vs. Haiti, Group 3
There is not much at stake in this game. Neither Suriname (1 point) nor Haiti (2 points) can qualify for the next round. The winner of this match will finish third in the group and the loser will finish last, so they’re just playing for pride here.

USA vs. Guatemala, Group 1
The USA has already qualified to move onto the next round, and has already beaten Guatemala once, a shock away win. This time around they’re playing in Colorado and Guatemala will be out for revenge. The US let their guard down after qualifying and played some new and inexperienced players against Trinidad and Tobago in their most recent match. The result? T&T over USA 2-1. The US will be trying not to make the same mistake again.

Guatemala has five points vs. 12 for the USA and 8 for T&T. The only way for the Guatemalans to qualify will be to beat the US and to have Cuba beat T&T. Not terribly likely — Cuba currently has three points and a -10 goal differential.

Honduras vs. Mexico, Group 2
Could perennial powerhouse Mexico not even advance out of this round? Not likely, but possible if they’re beaten badly and Jamaica beats Canada. Even with a loss they could advance on goal differential, but if the combined differential of Honduras over Mexico and Jamaica over Canada is more than seven, Mexico would be outta here. More details in the blogger’s favorite resource, Wikipedia.

El Salvador vs. Costa Rica, Group 3
This game is for nothing but bragging rights. Both teams have already qualified for the next round. Costa Rica (currently 15 points) will finish first in the group, regardless, and El Salvador will finish second (10 points.)

Jamaica vs. Canada
Canada is out with two points, but their performance here can determine which of the teams above them go through. Jamaica (7 points) can go through with a win combined with a Honduras loss to Mexico, or if they win and… Oh, this is just too damn complicated. Go check it out in Wikipedia.

Trinidad and Tobago vs. Cuba
T&T currently has eight points, second in the group — three points over Guatemala and five points over Cuba. If T&T wins, they go through to the next round. Cuba can’t go through, but they can play spoiler by knocking out T&T if Guatemala beats the US.

UEFA (Europe)

San Marino vs. Czech Republic

The Wanna-Be-Giant and the Wanna-Be-Anything actually met in The Most Serene Republic of San Marino during Euro 2008 qualifying – no prize for guessing the result of that one. Considering the other big team in the group, zee Germans, rudely beat them 13-0 in front of their home crowd, though, the 3-0 loss to The Artist Formerly Known As Czechoslovakia wasn’t all that bad. But even with Cech & Rosicky out, it’s just a matter of “how many” and “will TMSROSM score”. I vote aye.