Uzbekistan,Guatemala,Bahrain may qualify, and Nigeria not!

[Sideeq X]

There is an inbalance in the qualifying route. Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Cameroon and Egypt could miss out yet Uzbekistan, Guatemala, Bahrain etc still have a very good chance. But look at their records in the current qualifiers:

P W D L F A
Uzbekistan 12 6 3 3 23-14
Bahrain 12 5 3 4 19-11
Guatemala 14 6 3 5 19-19
Costa Rica 14 5 4 5 21-21

Look at how many games, against fairly mediocre opposition, that these teams have lost! And look at all the goals conceded! Its possible that Guatemala could lose 8 matches and still qualify!

Uzbekistan play Bahrain in the 'losers' 5th place play off, with the winner playing the 4th (!) North/Central American team, probably Guatemala or Costa Rica. Maybe all of the second placed African teams could of played off against these 5th,6th,7th,8th Asian teams, they surely would beat them.

What do y'all think?

[Martin]

While Asia and CONCACAF aren't that strong in overall depth they do have some good teams particularly Mexico and the US in CONCACAF. But let's be honest here as much as we'd like to think otherwise, Africa doesn't deserve more than 5 teams at the World Cup. Apart from occasional surprises like Cameroon in 1990 and Senegal in 2002, African teams have underachieved at the World Cup. Even today's round of friendlies provides more evidence that African teams are not at the same level as those from Europe or even South America. Apart from that ridiculous Gold Cup featuring 2nd and 3rd choice teams when was the last time an African team beat one from Europe or South America?

What has happened with African football in my opinion is that the better teams have not improved while lesser teams (i.e. Togo, Ivory Coast, Angola, etc.) have thus there is more parity in African football but the better teams still have a long way to go to match the best Europe, South America and even North America has to offer.

[mcal]

There is an inbalance in the qualifying route. Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Cameroon and Egypt could miss out yet Uzbekistan, Guatemala, Bahrain etc still have a very good chance. But look at their records in the current qualifiers:

P W D L F A
Uzbekistan 12 6 3 3 23-14
Bahrain 12 5 3 4 19-11
Guatemala 14 6 3 5 19-19
Costa Rica 14 5 4 5 21-21

Look at how many games, against fairly mediocre opposition, that these teams have lost! And look at all the goals conceded! Its possible that Guatemala could lose 8 matches and still qualify!

Uzbekistan play Bahrain in the 'losers' 5th place play off, with the winner playing the 4th (!) North/Central American team, probably Guatemala or Costa Rica. Maybe all of the second placed African teams could of played off against these 5th,6th,7th,8th Asian teams, they surely would beat them.

What do y'all think?

In what Afirican region/group are those teams playing?

[doctoryinka]

SE WILL QUALIFY FOR WC 2006

[Robbynice]

There is an inbalance in the qualifying route. Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Cameroon and Egypt could miss out yet Uzbekistan, Guatemala, Bahrain etc still have a very good chance. But look at their records in the current qualifiers:

P W D L F A
Uzbekistan 12 6 3 3 23-14
Bahrain 12 5 3 4 19-11
Guatemala 14 6 3 5 19-19
Costa Rica 14 5 4 5 21-21

Look at how many games, against fairly mediocre opposition, that these teams have lost! And look at all the goals conceded! Its possible that Guatemala could lose 8 matches and still qualify!

Uzbekistan play Bahrain in the 'losers' 5th place play off, with the winner playing the 4th (!) North/Central American team, probably Guatemala or Costa Rica. Maybe all of the second placed African teams could of played off against these 5th,6th,7th,8th Asian teams, they surely would beat them.

What do y'all think?

In what Afirican region/group are those teams playing?

I wonder o.