# 2010 World Cup Qualifying
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-world-cup-qualifying/491032
**Category:** The Game Room
**Created:** [March 27, 2009, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-world-cup-qualifying/491032 "2009-03-27T21:06:42Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)
#### Post date: [March 27, 2009, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-world-cup-qualifying/491032/1 "2009-03-27T21:06:42Z")
Suppose I should have started this a bit sooner, but there are a lot of interesting matches coming up over the next week. Feel free to comment on any games that interest you.
This weekend, 28-29 March 2009, we have the following games on tap:
\*\*AFC (Asia)
\*\*
North Korea vs United Arab Emirates in Pyongyang
Uzbekistan vs Qatar in Tashkent
Iran vs Saudi Arabia in Tehran
Japan vs Bahrain in Saitama
Asia is in their fourth and final round. The top two teams from eachof two groups of five qualify; the team with the third place team from each group playing off against each other to earn another playoff versus Oceania rep New Zealand. Australia, Japan, and the Koreas are currently in front, but Iran are just one back of North Korea going into their match in Tehran.
**CAF (Africa)**
Final round starts with five groups of four countries. Each of the five group winners book a spot in the Finals. 2nd place gets you nothing. Group favorites are Egypt, Nigeria, Cameroon and Cote d’Ivoire, but it seems that we always get one or two upsets out of Africa. As host nation the Republic of South Africa get an automatic berth.
28 March
Rwanda vs Algeria in Kigali
Togo vs Cameroon in Accra
Kenya vs Tunisia in Nairobi
Burkina Faso vs Guinea in Ouagadougou
Morocco vs Gabon in Casablanca
Sudan vs Mali in Omdurman
29 March
Mozambique vs Nigeria in Maputo
Ghana vs Benin in Kumasi
Côte d’Ivoire vs Malawi in Abidjan
Egypt vs Zambia in Cairo
\*\*
CONCACAF (North and Central America)\*\*
El Salvador vs USA in San Salvador
Mexico vs Costa Rica in Mexico City
Trinidad and Tobago vs Honduras in Port au Spain
This is the second game of ten for each of the six teams in the Hex. The top three qualify for South Africa. The fourth place finisher plays against the fifth place team out of South America.
**CONMEBOL (South America)**
Uruguay vs Paraguay in Montevideo
Ecuador vs Brazil in Quito
Argentina vs Venezuela in Buenos Aires
Colombia vs Bolivia in Bogota
Peru vs Chile in Lima
Current table:
Paraguya 23 points
Brasil 17
Argentina 16
Chile 16
Uruguay 13
Ecuador 12
Colombia 11
Venezuela 10
Bolivia 9
Peru 7
Each team has already played 10 matches of 18. Each plays the other home and away. The South American FA hosts a really large round robin with the top four teams qualifying and a fifth in a playoff against the fourth place CONCACAF team.
**Oceania**
Winner New Zealand awaits a playoff against the fifth place Asian country.
[Will continue with UEFA in a separate post]
---
### Author:  [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)
#### Post date: [March 27, 2009, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-world-cup-qualifying/491032/2 "2009-03-27T21:21:37Z")
**UEFA (Europe)**
The 53 national teams were split into eight groups of six teams and one group of five. The group winners receive an automatic berth in the Finals, then the eight best second place teams play a home and way series for the final four spots.
This weekend:
Wales vs Finland in Cardiff
Luxembourg vs Latvia in Luxembourg
Russia vs Azerbaijan in Moscow
Northern Ireland vs Poland in Belfast
Moldova vs Switzerland in Chisinau
Ireland vs Bulgaria in Dublin
Malta vs Denmark in Ta’Qali
Germany vs Liechtenstein in Leipzig
Armenia vs Estonia in Yerevan
Cyprus vs Georgia in Larnaca
Albania vs Hungary in Tirana
Portugal vs Sweden in Porto
Slovenia vs Czech Republic in Maribor
Belgium vs Bosnia-Herzegovina in Genk
Romania vs Serbia in Constanta
Montenegro vs Italy in Podgorica
Netherlands vs Scotland in Amsterdam
Israel vs Greece in Ramat Gan
Lithuania vs France in Kaunas
Spain vs Turkey in Madrid
Denmark, Greece, Slovakia, Germany, Spain, England, Serbia, Italy and Netherlands are atop their respective groups, but it’s too early to tell much other than I don’t think Faroe Islands will go through.
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### Author:  [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2009, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-world-cup-qualifying/491032/3 "2009-03-28T02:11:46Z")
Brad Guzan, the keeper for the USA since Howard is suspended, and I played youth soccer together. Our parents live about a mile apart. I’ll be interested in that game a bit more than I usually am. I don’t think the US will have any trouble at all in qualifying.
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### Author:  [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2009, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-world-cup-qualifying/491032/4 "2009-03-28T13:19:15Z")
Just a side note that, once again, the United States shows how clueless it is when it comes to how soccer should be done. On a night when the national side is playing an important qualifier, our top domestic league is also playing, not only forcing those clubs to proceed without their top players, but forcing fans to choose between going to the team they root for, or staying home and supporting the national side in its efforts on the telly. :rolleyes:
---
### Author:  [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2009, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-world-cup-qualifying/491032/5 "2009-03-28T13:57:47Z")
Are any of these games available online somewhere? I only have basic cable and I’m in the states, so I don’t think they’ll show them. My only hope is the Spanish channels. ☹
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### Author:  [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2009, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-world-cup-qualifying/491032/6 "2009-03-28T17:24:56Z")
> [@Kinthalis](#):
>
> Are any of these games available online somewhere? I only have basic cable and I’m in the states, so I don’t think they’ll show them. My only hope is the Spanish channels. ☹
If you get ESPN Deportes, US programing will show Uruguay/Paraguay qualifier.
[Programación por ESPN Deportes](http://espndeportes.espn.go.com/sports/tvlistings/deportes/schedule?date=20090328&network=34&country=Estados_Unidos_ET)
[Mexico’s programing](http://espndeportes.espn.go.com/sports/tvlistings/deportes/schedule?date=20090328&network=9&country=Mexico) carries the England friendly plus the Germany, Italy and Holland qualies just in case you’re interested and have access to a sportsbar that gets it.
---
### Author:  [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2009, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-world-cup-qualifying/491032/7 "2009-03-28T20:24:24Z")
I’m watching Slovenia v Czech Republic right now. I have _almost_ basic cable but pay out a couple of extra bucks to get Fox Soccer Channel, which also gets me Gol TV and a lot of games on Galavision.
If you’re in the USA and care about the US MNT then that game is on tonight on ESPN 2. It’s a pretty late game and MLS is in the most early part of it’s season so to me it’s a no brainer which to watch – and I don’t care much about MLS since they jacked over our city.
---
### Author:  [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2009, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-world-cup-qualifying/491032/8 "2009-03-28T20:30:01Z")
\*\*AFC (Asia)
\*\*
\*\*North Korea \*\*2:0 UAE
**Uzbekistan** 4:0 Qatar
Iran 1:2 \*\*Saudi Arabia \*\*
**Japan** 1:0 Bahrain
Pretty big upset for KSA in Tehran.
---
### Author:  [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2009, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-world-cup-qualifying/491032/9 "2009-03-28T20:38:20Z")
**CAF (Africa)**
28 March
Rwanda 0:0 Algeria
**Togo** 1:0 Cameroon
Kenya 1:2 **Tunisia**
**Burkina Faso** 4:2 Guinea
Sudan 1:1 Mali
Morocco vs Gabon in Casablanca - can’t find a result on this yet.
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### Author:  [@Piker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Piker)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2009, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-world-cup-qualifying/491032/10 "2009-03-28T20:42:41Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#):
>
> Just a side note that, once again, the United States shows how clueless it is when it comes to how soccer should be done. On a night when the national side is playing an important qualifier, our top domestic league is also playing, not only forcing those clubs to proceed without their top players, but forcing fans to choose between going to the team they root for, or staying home and supporting the national side in its efforts on the telly. :rolleyes:
Please. MLS has a lot more scheduling issues forced upon them than leagues in other countries do. You can save your roll eyes when all MLS teams play in their own stadiums, midweek games aren’t attendance-killers, and we live in a country with weather patterns that allow for a European-like 10 month season.
Go Quakes! Go USA!
-Piker
---
### Author:  [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2009, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-world-cup-qualifying/491032/11 "2009-03-28T20:56:15Z")
**CAF (Africa)**
28 March
Rwanda 0:0 Algeria
**Togo** 1:0 Cameroon
Kenya 1:2 **Tunisia**
**Burkina Faso** 4:2 Guinea
Sudan 1:1 Mali
Morocco 0:2 Gabon at the half in Morocco
---
### Author:  [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2009, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-world-cup-qualifying/491032/12 "2009-03-28T23:02:21Z")
**CAF (Africa)**
28 March
Rwanda 0:0 Algeria
**Togo** 1:0 Cameroon
Kenya 1:2 **Tunisia**
**Burkina Faso** 4:2 Guinea
Sudan 1:1 Mali
Morocco 1:2 **Gabon**
Morocco gets one back but fail to get any points at home.
---
### Author:  [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2009, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-world-cup-qualifying/491032/13 "2009-03-28T23:11:59Z")
**UEFA (Europe)**
Wales 0:2 **Finland**
Luxembourg 0:4 **Latvia**
**Russia** 2:0 Azerbaijan
\*\*Northern Ireland \*\* 3:2 Poland
Moldova 0:2 **Switzerland**
Ireland 1:1 Bulgaria
Malta 0:3 **Denmark**
**Germany** 4:0 Liechtenstein
Armenia 2:2 Estonia
**Cyprus** 2:1 Georgia
Albania 0:1 **Hungary**
Portugal 0:0 Sweden
Slovenia 0:0 Czech Republic
Belgium 2:4 **Bosnia-Herzegovina**
Romania 2:3 **Serbia**
Montenegro 0:2 **Italy**
**Netherlands** 3:0 Scotland
Israel 1:1 Greece
Lithuania 0:1 **France**
Spain 1:0 Turkey
---
### Author:  [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2009, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-world-cup-qualifying/491032/14 "2009-03-28T23:47:03Z")
> [@Piker](#):
>
> Please. MLS has a lot more scheduling issues forced upon them than leagues in other countries do. You can save your roll eyes when all MLS teams play in their own stadiums, midweek games aren’t attendance-killers, and we live in a country with weather patterns that allow for a European-like 10 month season.
>
> Go Quakes! Go USA!
>
> -Piker
You mean like they have in countries like Russia, Sweden, Finland, Poland, Byelorus, Ukraine, etc? :rolleyes:
MLS could easily give up the dates that the men’s national team is playing. Yes, they might have to schedule a few midweek games to cover, but it’s a matter of **getting it right** , rather than continuing to assert that we somehow can do soccer differently than everywhere else in the world and it won’t have any effect upon the game. In other words, taking a small hit now will help build a bigger audience down the road.
---
### Author:  [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2009, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-world-cup-qualifying/491032/15 "2009-03-28T23:49:36Z")
Back to the thread:
I watched the second half of Iran v. Saudi Arabia. It was funny, because the color commentator mentioned shortly after the Iranian goal that the Iranian team has a tendency to go into a shell after scoring. Wasn’t that long after that that the KSA scored the first goal.
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### Author:  [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)
#### Post date: [March 29, 2009, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-world-cup-qualifying/491032/16 "2009-03-29T02:05:44Z")
Ugh, do we look UGLY tonight. As if holding the ball at the back is sufficient to win games. Lousy passing, no willingness to pressure the ball when the other team has it. Beautiful play by El Salvador for their goal. If we don’t wake up, we’s a gonna be losers… ☹
---
### Author:  [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)
#### Post date: [March 29, 2009, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-world-cup-qualifying/491032/17 "2009-03-29T02:39:50Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#):
>
> Ugh, do we look UGLY tonight. As if holding the ball at the back is sufficient to win games. Lousy passing, no willingness to pressure the ball when the other team has it. Beautiful play by El Salvador for their goal. If we don’t wake up, we’s a gonna be losers… ☹
I’m thorn.
I’m a US citizen, but also a Salvadorean. (El Salvador decided that even if you become a citizen of another country you remain a Salvadoran by birth, so I have dual citizenship)
The USA is supposed to be ranked 17th in the world, El Salvador is currently 107!
A big upset if the score remains.
---
### Author:  [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)
#### Post date: [March 29, 2009, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-world-cup-qualifying/491032/18 "2009-03-29T02:44:45Z")
GOOOOOOOOL!!!
:eek:
[Spoiler]El Salvador 2 - USA 0!,
15 minutes to go…[/spoiler]
---
### Author:  [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)
#### Post date: [March 29, 2009, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-world-cup-qualifying/491032/19 "2009-03-29T02:53:58Z")
\*\*Open spoiler \*\*as I just noticed a spoiler is not needed
USA just scored!
USA 1 - El Salvador 2
7 minutes remain…
---
### Author:  [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)
#### Post date: [March 29, 2009, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-world-cup-qualifying/491032/20 "2009-03-29T03:10:49Z")
Wow, the USA just managed to tie the game,
Final score 2-2
The USA just managed to get one point out of this.
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