LONDON, 1 September 2005 — The hazy World Cup qualifying picture should become much clearer in Europe over the next week with teams cramming two matches into the space of four tense days.
The race to earn a berth in next year’s finals in Germany is also gathering momentum in the South American, CONCACAF, Oceania and African qualifying sections.
Nowhere will the anticipation be more keenly felt than in Ukraine, who are on the brink of reaching the finals for the first time.
Ukraine are the runaway leaders in European Group Two, with a seven-point advantage over second-placed Turkey and only three matches remaining.
Former European Footballer of the Year Oleg Blokhin, now Ukraine’s coach, knows victory over Georgia in Tbilisi on Saturday will book his team’s ticket to Germany. The home game against Turkey in Kiev next Wednesday can then be marked down as a day for celebration.
Ukrainians have played at World Cups as part of a Soviet Union team. But since the collapse of communism in 1991, Ukraine have failed to qualify for any major international tournament including the European Championship.
Another European team with control of their group are Italy. Coach Marcello Lippi’s side hold a four-point lead over Norway and Slovenia with four games to go in Group Five.
Back-to-back victories in Scotland on Saturday and in Belarus next Wednesday may be enough to seal another appearance in the finals for the triple world champions.
Brazil are also in a strong position in the South American qualifying zone.
The world champions can join group leaders Argentina, who have already clinched their place, in the finals if they defeat Chile in Brasilia on Sunday. Even if Brazil should come unstuck against Chile, they will have another chance to progress when they visit Bolivia on Oct. 8.
Asia’s ‘Big Four’, Japan, Iran, South Korea and Saudi Arabia, have already made sure of their places in the draw for the finals in Leipzig on Dec. 9. But Uzbekistan and Bahrain are poised to play off for the right to face the fourth-best team in the CONCACAF zone.
Uzbekistan host the first leg in Tashkent on Saturday before Bahrain stage the second fixture in Manama next Wednesday.
The top three CONCACAF teams qualify automatically, with Mexico (16 points) and the US (15) in pole position going into back-to-back matches on Saturday and next Wednesday.
Guatemala and Costa Rica are locked together on seven points in joint third position with four matches left.
