DJ Ager
International Cricketer
Introduction
In this thread I will the story, will be about the World Cup, and it has been randomly drawn, and I have also done qualifiers, where the groups were also randomly drawn, according to Fifa rules. Some of the qualifying results will be made up, but others have been played. Well, I say "I have", I am in the process of finishing qualifying and I meant to finish them before the real World Cup finished and do my WC in time with the real thing too. As I have not finished them, I thought I could start doing reports on each of the last months of qualifiers. I hope you enjoy. Once the qualifiers, I'll give a spreadsheet of the qualifiers. It may take a while to finish this story due to homework and exams.
World Cup Qualifying Draw
Africa
Group 1
Nigeria
Zambia
Guinea
Zimbabwe
Malawi
Botswana
Group 2
Ghana
Cameroon
Egypt
Uganda
Benin
Algeria
Group 3
Cote d'Ivoire
Congo DR
South Africa
Rwanda
Liberia
Libya
Group 4
Togo
Morocco
Tunisia
Burkina Faso
Congo
Gabon
Group 5
Senegal
Mali
Kenya
Angola
Cape Verde Islands
Sudan
Asia
Third Stage
Group 1
Japan
China PR
Iran
Bahrain
Group 2
Uzbekistan
Korea Republic
Saudi Arabia
U.A.E
Europe
Group 1
Switzerland
Ukraine
Portugal
Lithuania
Russia
Liechtenstien
Kazhakstan
Group 2
Sweden
Scotland
Finland
Belgium
Hungary
Azerbaijan
Andorra
Group 3
Austria
Turkey
Poland
Latvia
Albania
Northern Ireland
Luxembourg
Group 4
Serbia & Montenegro
England
Ireland
Norway
Cyprus
Faroe Islands
Group 5
Denmark
Greece
Italy
Iceland
Georgia
Malta
Group 6
Spain
Israel
Slovenia
Bulgaria
Belarus
Moldova
Group 7
Czech Republic
Netherlands
Wales
Slovakia
Estonia
San Marino
Group 8
Croatia
Bosnia-Herzegovina
France
Romania
Armenia
FYR Macedonia
North America
3rd Stage
Mexico
Guatemala
Trinidad and Tobago
USA
Costa Rica
Honduras
Oceania
Fiji
Tahiti
New Zealand
Australia
Solomon Islands
Vanuatu
-------------------------------------------------------------
June 2005
Nigeria and Japan secure place in Finals
Nigeria became the first team to secure their place in the finals after a 0-0 draw at home to Guinea. That result, plus their previous 3-0 win over Botswana away secured their place in the World Cup finals. Ironically, it was the first points they had dropped.
Meanwhile, in Group B, starting the match level on points, Ghana gained a crucial 2-0 win in Yaounde over Cameroon, to put them in pole position with two matches to play. Over in Group C, Congo DR came from 2-0 down to rescue a 2-2 draw, but Cote d'Ivoire still hold a narrow 1 point lead after they both drew. Also in that group Rwanda came from 2-0 down at half time against South Africa, to win late on 3-2. Tunisia World Cup dreams look all but over in Group D, as they lost 3-2 at home to Togo, despite a second half come back in Tunis, as they slipped to 3rd behind Morocco and Togo, Togo with a 2 point lead over Morocco and a 5 point lead over Tunisia. Group E is still very open, with 5 sides still in with a chance of qualification. Mali, who registered two wins, are level with Senegal, who beat Cape Verde Islands and threw away a two goal lead to draw against Angola. Kenya are three points behind them, with a game in hand along with Senegal.
In Asia, Japan also secured their World Cup place, with a 2-0 win over China in Group A. China after good start to the group, this month lost to both Japan and Bahrain, and only a two point gap between, China, Iran and Bahrain. In Group B, Uzbekistan surprisingly head the group on goal difference, level on points with Korea Republic, with Saudi Arabia a point behind them, despite two wins over Korea Rep,3-1, and Uzbekistan,1-0.
In Europe, Group 1, Switzerland increased their lead to a surprising 9 points, although 2nd placed Ukraine have two games in hand. This was thanks to a 3-2 win away in Russia and 3-0 success at home to Liechtenstien. Russia's World Cup is moreless over after that defeat and another in Kiev against Ukraine, going down 3-1. Portugal, despite two wins over Kazakhstan and Lithuania, still look struggling to make the finals in 3rd, 10 points off top, thanks to a surprisingly bad start.
Scotland look a good bet to reach the finals, after two wins and drawing level on points with Sweden in Group 2. A McFadden hattrick away in Stockholm, secured a shock 3-2 win over Sweden, and they also gained a 2-1 victory at home to Finland. In Group C, Northern Ireland fell to late defeats to Turkey and Albania at home. Austria top the group by 2 points.
Serbia and Montenegro drew level on points with England in Group D, who didn't play, after a 4-0 win away to Faroe Islands. Ireland kept their extremely slim hopes alive, with a 3-1 win against Norway and a 3-0 win against Faroe Islands. Meanwhile, in Group E, Denmark top the group, and Italy are a surprise 4 points off them after a shock defeat in Iceland 1-0, thanks to a Heidar Helgason strike.
Wales are holding their own in a very tough group, after they came from 2-0 behind in Prague, to draw 2-2 with Czech Republic. Netherlands won 2-1 in Bratislava against Slovakia, to keep level on points with Czech Republic with a game in hand. Croatia beat Romania 2-1 to top the group, with France behind by 2 points after their 3-0 over Armenia.
Guatemala lost their unbeaten record in North American qualifying after two defeats to Trinidad and Tobabgo and Mexico. The later top the group, despite a defeat to Costa Rica. It was their oppenents first win, and the Costa Ricans drew later on with USA 2-2. USA also gained their first win over Honduras, who lost both their matches this month. It was a good two matches for Trinidad & Tobago, with wins over Guatemala and Honduras. It was especially good for Swindon Town's Ricky Shakes who scored 3 out of their 4 goals this month.
Finally in South America, World Cup winners Brazil had an awful month, losing 3-2 to Paraguay, then 2-1 away to bitter rivals Argentina, to slip to the play off place. Santa Cruz scored a hatrick against Brazil in their shock win and Paraguay top the group due to that win and another over Bolivia. Ecuador are point behind them after a surprise 1-0 win over Argentina, and a 3-0 one over Colombia. Argentina look pretty secure in third place inside the automatic qualification places by 4 points. After that, it is very tight, Uruguay occupying the final automatic place above Brazil by one point, then Brazil in the play off place on goal difference, level on points with Peru and Chile.
Photos:
1st-Nigeria qualify
2nd-Japan qualify
3rd- Montage(top left, Helgusson stuns Italy, top right, Robinson scores equalizer in Prague, bottom left, McFadden and Scotland celebrate another goal in their remarkable 3-2 win over Sweden, bottom right, Santa Cruz gets his hatrick as Paraguay Cruz past Brazil)
Here's the tables
In this thread I will the story, will be about the World Cup, and it has been randomly drawn, and I have also done qualifiers, where the groups were also randomly drawn, according to Fifa rules. Some of the qualifying results will be made up, but others have been played. Well, I say "I have", I am in the process of finishing qualifying and I meant to finish them before the real World Cup finished and do my WC in time with the real thing too. As I have not finished them, I thought I could start doing reports on each of the last months of qualifiers. I hope you enjoy. Once the qualifiers, I'll give a spreadsheet of the qualifiers. It may take a while to finish this story due to homework and exams.
World Cup Qualifying Draw
Africa
Group 1
Nigeria
Zambia
Guinea
Zimbabwe
Malawi
Botswana
Group 2
Ghana
Cameroon
Egypt
Uganda
Benin
Algeria
Group 3
Cote d'Ivoire
Congo DR
South Africa
Rwanda
Liberia
Libya
Group 4
Togo
Morocco
Tunisia
Burkina Faso
Congo
Gabon
Group 5
Senegal
Mali
Kenya
Angola
Cape Verde Islands
Sudan
Asia
Third Stage
Group 1
Japan
China PR
Iran
Bahrain
Group 2
Uzbekistan
Korea Republic
Saudi Arabia
U.A.E
Europe
Group 1
Switzerland
Ukraine
Portugal
Lithuania
Russia
Liechtenstien
Kazhakstan
Group 2
Sweden
Scotland
Finland
Belgium
Hungary
Azerbaijan
Andorra
Group 3
Austria
Turkey
Poland
Latvia
Albania
Northern Ireland
Luxembourg
Group 4
Serbia & Montenegro
England
Ireland
Norway
Cyprus
Faroe Islands
Group 5
Denmark
Greece
Italy
Iceland
Georgia
Malta
Group 6
Spain
Israel
Slovenia
Bulgaria
Belarus
Moldova
Group 7
Czech Republic
Netherlands
Wales
Slovakia
Estonia
San Marino
Group 8
Croatia
Bosnia-Herzegovina
France
Romania
Armenia
FYR Macedonia
North America
3rd Stage
Mexico
Guatemala
Trinidad and Tobago
USA
Costa Rica
Honduras
Oceania
Fiji
Tahiti
New Zealand
Australia
Solomon Islands
Vanuatu
-------------------------------------------------------------
June 2005
Nigeria and Japan secure place in Finals
Nigeria became the first team to secure their place in the finals after a 0-0 draw at home to Guinea. That result, plus their previous 3-0 win over Botswana away secured their place in the World Cup finals. Ironically, it was the first points they had dropped.
Meanwhile, in Group B, starting the match level on points, Ghana gained a crucial 2-0 win in Yaounde over Cameroon, to put them in pole position with two matches to play. Over in Group C, Congo DR came from 2-0 down to rescue a 2-2 draw, but Cote d'Ivoire still hold a narrow 1 point lead after they both drew. Also in that group Rwanda came from 2-0 down at half time against South Africa, to win late on 3-2. Tunisia World Cup dreams look all but over in Group D, as they lost 3-2 at home to Togo, despite a second half come back in Tunis, as they slipped to 3rd behind Morocco and Togo, Togo with a 2 point lead over Morocco and a 5 point lead over Tunisia. Group E is still very open, with 5 sides still in with a chance of qualification. Mali, who registered two wins, are level with Senegal, who beat Cape Verde Islands and threw away a two goal lead to draw against Angola. Kenya are three points behind them, with a game in hand along with Senegal.
In Asia, Japan also secured their World Cup place, with a 2-0 win over China in Group A. China after good start to the group, this month lost to both Japan and Bahrain, and only a two point gap between, China, Iran and Bahrain. In Group B, Uzbekistan surprisingly head the group on goal difference, level on points with Korea Republic, with Saudi Arabia a point behind them, despite two wins over Korea Rep,3-1, and Uzbekistan,1-0.
In Europe, Group 1, Switzerland increased their lead to a surprising 9 points, although 2nd placed Ukraine have two games in hand. This was thanks to a 3-2 win away in Russia and 3-0 success at home to Liechtenstien. Russia's World Cup is moreless over after that defeat and another in Kiev against Ukraine, going down 3-1. Portugal, despite two wins over Kazakhstan and Lithuania, still look struggling to make the finals in 3rd, 10 points off top, thanks to a surprisingly bad start.
Scotland look a good bet to reach the finals, after two wins and drawing level on points with Sweden in Group 2. A McFadden hattrick away in Stockholm, secured a shock 3-2 win over Sweden, and they also gained a 2-1 victory at home to Finland. In Group C, Northern Ireland fell to late defeats to Turkey and Albania at home. Austria top the group by 2 points.
Serbia and Montenegro drew level on points with England in Group D, who didn't play, after a 4-0 win away to Faroe Islands. Ireland kept their extremely slim hopes alive, with a 3-1 win against Norway and a 3-0 win against Faroe Islands. Meanwhile, in Group E, Denmark top the group, and Italy are a surprise 4 points off them after a shock defeat in Iceland 1-0, thanks to a Heidar Helgason strike.
Wales are holding their own in a very tough group, after they came from 2-0 behind in Prague, to draw 2-2 with Czech Republic. Netherlands won 2-1 in Bratislava against Slovakia, to keep level on points with Czech Republic with a game in hand. Croatia beat Romania 2-1 to top the group, with France behind by 2 points after their 3-0 over Armenia.
Guatemala lost their unbeaten record in North American qualifying after two defeats to Trinidad and Tobabgo and Mexico. The later top the group, despite a defeat to Costa Rica. It was their oppenents first win, and the Costa Ricans drew later on with USA 2-2. USA also gained their first win over Honduras, who lost both their matches this month. It was a good two matches for Trinidad & Tobago, with wins over Guatemala and Honduras. It was especially good for Swindon Town's Ricky Shakes who scored 3 out of their 4 goals this month.
Finally in South America, World Cup winners Brazil had an awful month, losing 3-2 to Paraguay, then 2-1 away to bitter rivals Argentina, to slip to the play off place. Santa Cruz scored a hatrick against Brazil in their shock win and Paraguay top the group due to that win and another over Bolivia. Ecuador are point behind them after a surprise 1-0 win over Argentina, and a 3-0 one over Colombia. Argentina look pretty secure in third place inside the automatic qualification places by 4 points. After that, it is very tight, Uruguay occupying the final automatic place above Brazil by one point, then Brazil in the play off place on goal difference, level on points with Peru and Chile.
Photos:
1st-Nigeria qualify
2nd-Japan qualify
3rd- Montage(top left, Helgusson stuns Italy, top right, Robinson scores equalizer in Prague, bottom left, McFadden and Scotland celebrate another goal in their remarkable 3-2 win over Sweden, bottom right, Santa Cruz gets his hatrick as Paraguay Cruz past Brazil)
Here's the tables
Attachments
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