World Cup 2006 finalists becoming clear

Note: countries in blue have already qualified for Germany 2006; countries in purple are on the verge; countries in red are still in the hunt. Africa (5 spots clinched) Qualifying play wrapped up this weekend in dramatic fashion as several countries will be making their first-ever visit to the World Cup finals. As expected, Ghana secured its spot with a 4-0 win over Cape Verde, and Togo likewise sealed its bid with a come-from-behind 3-2 win, thus eliminating 2002 quarter-finalist Senegal. Also forced to look ahead early to 2010, after four straight visits to the WC finals, is Cameroon, which could only manage an agonizing 1-1 tie against Egypt--agonizing because of a missed stoppage-time penalty that would have sent them through to Germany. That left the door open for yet another first-time qualifier, Cote d'Ivoire. Another continental giant, Nigeria, will also be staying home next summer as Angola managed an 80th-minute goal to beat Rwanda and thus win the group. Finally, Tunisia twice came from behind to earn Africa's fifth place in Germany with a 2-2 home tie against second-place Morocco, who would have advanced with the win. Europe (8 spots clinched / 6 remaining) With victories on Saturday, Italy, Portugal, and the Netherlands joined Germany and Ukraine as qualifiers for the 2006 finals. Even though their group winner won't be known until Wednesday, England and Poland have also qualified, as the loser of their showdown for top spot is still assured of being one of the best two second-place teams. By defeating Sweden, Croatia likewise secured its place in Germany, although Sweden still might steal the group win with a home win against Iceland. Several other pivotal matches will be played on the 12th to determine not only the remaining group winners but also the important second-place spots, which earn a place in last-chance head-to-head playoffs. Serbia-Montenegro can win Group 7 with a win or tie against visiting Bosnia-Herzegovina; meanwhile, an expected win at San Marino would secure second-place for Spain, who must hope for a Bosnian win to leapfrog Serbia into first place. Even more unsettled is Group 4, which has four teams still in the hunt for the first two places. A 1-1 tie between Switzerland and France leaves Israel atop Group 4, but that's not likely to last as France should still win the group with an expected home win over Cyprus--unless Switzerland also manages a victory on the road at Ireland. An Ireland win wouldn't likely be good enough to beat out France, but it would put the Irish into the second-place playoffs. A tie in that pivotal match wouldn't help the Irish, but it would put the Swiss in the second-place playoffs. With no games left to play, Israel's only hope (despite having not lost a single of its ten matches) is that Cyprus somehow defeats France. The other battles for second-place include:

• Group 1: the Czech Republic needs to win at Finland; otherwise Romania get the spot
• Group 2: Turkey, Denmark, and Greece all still have a chance, but the Turks currently have the edge
• Group 3: Slovakia and Russia face each other in Bratislava; Russia needs to win, Slovakia only needs a tie
• Group 5: Norway has already clinched second place

Asia (4 spots clinched / one-half spot remaining) Japan, Iran, South Korea, and Saudi Arabia are in. Uzbekistan and Bahrain tied their first game, so its winner-take-all on Wednesday in Bahrain for the special play-off spot against the fourth-place team from North and Central America (either Guatemala or Trinidad and Tobago). North and Central America (3 spots clinched / one-half spot remaining) Costa Rica's 3-0 home win over an already-qualified USA clinched their spot in Germany alongside the Americans and Mexico. That only leaves the fourth-place battle between Trinidad-and-Tobago and Guatemala, the winner advancing to a final play-off against the Uzebekistan-Bahrain winner. T&T now holds the advantage, after a crucial road victory over Panama. Guatemala now must beat Costa Rica on Wednesday and hope that T&T does not beat Mexico; both fourth-place hopefuls will be at home. South America and Oceania (4 spots clinched/ 1 spot remaining) Surprising Ecuador and Paraguay did indeed secure their spots on Saturday to join Argentina and Brazil in Germany next summer. That just leaves the battle for fifth-place and a consequent play-off against Oceania champion Australia. The spot is Uruguay's with a win on Wednesday at home against Argentina. Anything less than a win, though, opens the door for either Colombia (on the road at Paraguay) or perhaps Chile (at home to Ecuador) to steal the spot.