Australia join Brazil and Japan at World Cup 2014

[Matty]

Australia beat Iraq 1-0 today to become the third side now confirmed as qualified for the World Cup Finals in Brazil 2014.

 

[kangablue]

Just back from that game. Nervy win on a wet pitch. Got there in the end.

 

[Unknown_Genius]

Iran have now joined them, beating South Korea 1-0, who also qualify. That was crucial for Iran, because if they only drew Uzbekistan would have pipped them on goal difference after beating Qatar 5-1. South Korea missed a glorious chance in stoppage time, which would have put Uzbekistan through. Carlos Queiroz, Iran's coach acted like a graceless twat at the end, I wonder where he learned that.. Uzbekistan will now go to a playoff against either Oman or Jordan, then the winner plays the 5th South American team.

 

[OxBlue]

Pleased Iran have got through, my other half's family are Persian.

If my lad did go on to play football in the future, he'd qualify to play for them :-)

 

[Ray78]

Mark Schwarzer's next club is going to be vital. If the Aussies had not qualified then City would of been an not bad option as Pants replacement.

 

[leighton]

Its just so easy for some countries to get to the World Cup. What the Aussies did was smart my moving into the Asia side of qualification a few years back and has now got to the last 2 World Cups.

America are lucky they have no major competition as it is normally them and Mexico over the past few World Cups. The hardest place to quailify is Europe and South America as both have so much competition. Just look at the teams who might miss out from some of the European groups. The German group is a minefield. Germany should get in. Saying that who gets second place from 3 team Ireland , Sweden and Austria its the hardest group and those 3 teams have 11 points each so far. Thats just 1 group.

 

[BandwagonJumper]

Its just so easy for some countries to get to the World Cup. What the Aussies did was smart my moving into the Asia side of qualification a few years back and has now got to the last 2 World Cups.

America are lucky they have no major competition as it is normally them and Mexico over the past few World Cups. The hardest place to quailify is Europe and South America as both have so much competition. Just look at the teams who might miss out from some of the European groups. The German group is a minefield. Germany should get in. Saying that who gets second place from 3 team Ireland , Sweden and Austria its the hardest group and those 3 teams have 11 points each so far. Thats just 1 group.

it may be easier in terms of the teams in the asian qualification, but what you dont see is the fact that the travel times are massive, the weather goes from one extreme to another (desert and 40+ degrees c in bahrain, qatar etc, then snow in east asia)

and if you watched the socceroos games like i have, youd know the only really comfortable win was ast week at home against jordan. Socceroos have to lift their game if they want any chance of WC success i fear

 

[THFC6061]

2014 FIFA World Cup Qualification Top Goalscorers...

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

Its just so easy for some countries to get to the World Cup. What the Aussies did was smart my moving into the Asia side of qualification a few years back and has now got to the last 2 World Cups.

America are lucky they have no major competition as it is normally them and Mexico over the past few World Cups. The hardest place to quailify is Europe and South America as both have so much competition. Just look at the teams who might miss out from some of the European groups. The German group is a minefield. Germany should get in. Saying that who gets second place from 3 team Ireland , Sweden and Austria its the hardest group and those 3 teams have 11 points each so far. Thats just 1 group.

it may be easier in terms of the teams in the asian qualification, but what you dont see is the fact that the travel times are massive, the weather goes from one extreme to another (desert and 40+ degrees c in bahrain, qatar etc, then snow in east asia)

and if you watched the socceroos games like i have, youd know the only really comfortable win was ast week at home against jordan. Socceroos have to lift their game if they want any chance of WC success i fear

The venue for the 2022 World Cup was a real missed opportunity to further cement the game Down Under.

 

[foetus]

^Still can't believe Russia and Qatar won their bids over the likes of England, USA and Australia.

Anyways the game is definitely on the rise in Australia (2006 world cup campaign really helped). Over 80,000 at the game last night...myself included :)