Africa's first World Cup just a tantalising 203 days away twelve teams where looking to book their ticket to South Africa 2010 through the lottery of the playoff´s and they didnt dissapoint with plenty of intresting talking points.
Algeria are going to the world cup in South Africa after a twenty four year absence. They managed to overcome rivals Egypt in a nervy encounter in the neutral venue of Sudan. The one off match was called when Egypt managed to draw exactly on level with the Algerians in the last game of qualification forcing this suddent death play off match. Tensions where high in the early exchanges of the match with three yellow cards dished out as players fought with their own nerves for the most pressured of matches.
But it was after 40 minutes that the deadlock was broken when defender Antar Yahia scored a fantastic volley from a tight angle to send the Algerians into delirium, and was marked with similar reaction across Europe as Algerian emigrants celebrated with full vigour across the continent at the full time whistle. The hero of the hour was young keeper Fawzi Chaouchi who denyed The Pharaohs attack time and time again. The victory was important for coach Rabah Saadane who was at the helm when he guided the Fennics to the World cup back in 1984.
Over to Europe and a faltering Portuguese side took on Bosnia-Hercegovina. Portugal had struggled in the group phases having just pipped Sweden for the play off place. But with talesmanic captain and the worlds most expensive player Christiano Ronaldo out injured many had tipped Portugal to be dumped out of the world cup by a Bosnia side who impressed many in qualification.
However it was the Portuguese who won out with two hard fought 1-0 victories over both legs. Jose Raul Meireles goal insured that the reigning World Player of the year will be at South Africa 2010. A world player of the year has never lifted the World Cup in the same year, could Ronaldo be the first? We will have to see.
Former European champions Greece booked their place to South Africa thanks to a soletary goal from Dimitris Salpigidis the Panathinaikos hitman struck in the 31st minute to round off a slick passing move to much delight from his team mates. The greeks have now qualified for their first world cup since 1994, coach Otto Rehhagel was understandably happy for his side. "I'm proud of my players. They put all of their heart and soul into today's match."
One of the shocks of the qualifying came when Slovenia overcame the much favoured Russians to reach South Africa on away goals. The Slovenians lost in Moscow in the first leg 2-1 but Zlatko Dedic's goal was enough to see off the Russians and lead Slovakia to only their second World Cup. This means the likes of Premiership stars Andrei Arshavin, Yuri Zhirkov and Roman Pavlyuchenko will be watching the action on TV.
Finally the most controversal game was in Paris as France beat Ireland 2-1 on aggregate with a highly debateable winner from William Gallas.
Ireland looked confident coming into the crunch tie, and struck on the 31st minute through captain Robbie Keane. Against the odds Ireland weathered the French onslaught to take the game to extra time. But it was in extra time when the match really got intresting.The French scored a controversal winner through William Gallas however in the build up to the goal French striker Thierry Henry handled the ball just before crossing to Gallas. The Goal was given by Swedish referee Martin Hansson to much anger by the Irish side, who protested vermently with the official. But the goal was given and so France where granted safe passage to the World cup in South Africa.
The Irish where certainly hard done by with the goal, with the British press now branding Henry a cheat for his misdemenour which is being dubbed as "the hand of Frog" by some quaters of the press. But such incidents make football the most beautiful of sports, highly controversal decisions which can create such debate amongst fans, and pundits alike. The French where lucky to qualify for this World cup, however i feel that they will be found out in this years competition.
In Africa and Algeria are going to the world cup in South Africa after a twenty four year absence. They managed to overcome rivals Egypt in a nervy encounter in the neutral venue of Sudan. The one off match was called when Egypt managed to draw exactly on level with the Algerians in the last game of qualification forcing this suddent death play off match. Tensions where high in the early exchanges of the match with three yellow cards dished out as players fought with their own nerves for the most pressured of matches.
But it was after 40 minutes that the deadlock was broken when defender Antar Yahia scored a fantastic volley from a tight angle to send the Algerians into delirium, and was marked with similar reaction across Europe as Algerian emigrants celebrated with full vigour across the continent at the full time whistle. The hero of the hour was young keeper Fawzi Chaouchi who denyed The Pharaohs attack time and time again. The victory was important for coach Rabah Saadane who was at the helm when he guided the Fennics to the World cup back in 1984.
Finally Uruguay grabbed the final place for South Africa 2010 with a 2-1 aggregate victory over Costa Rica. They managed to avoid defeat at home meaning they won through to the world cup. Coach Oscar Tabarez was philosophical about the result."There is a lot to improve on. We'll do so and we'll have the World Cup to prove it. I'm very happy, mostly for the kids. The ones who are younger than eight-years-old have never seen this and now they can live it."
This leaves all places booked up for South Africa, and with the groups drawn in a matter of weeks excitement for the first World cup in Africa is sure to be at it´s peak soon. The question is your team involved?
