The Field Is Set

Filed in archive World Cup 2006 on November 17, 2005

Source: http://www.eurosport.com/

With a furious finish, certainly in Istanbul, the field of 32 teams qualified for next summer's World Cup in Germany is set. Switzerland, Turkey, Spain, Slovakia, Trinidad and Tobago, Bahrain, the Czech Republic, Norway, Australia and Uruguay were all vying for the final five spots in the tournament via two-legged playoffs.

After the first round, Spain seemed safely through courtesy of a 5-1 win, but the remaining fixtures seemed finely balanced. In the end, the Spanish drew but it was enough to see them qualify. However, real sparks flew in Istanbul where Turkey pushed to overturn a 0-2 deficit from the first leg in Berne. The Turks fired in four goals at home, but it wasn't enough to do the trick, with Switzerland netting an 84th minute goal to win on away goals. A dust-up in the tunnel afterwards is now being reviewed by FIFA for possible charges against the Turkish FA.

Elsewhere, Australia put behind them two successive failures to qualify in a thrilling penalty shoot-out, which was predicted in many quarters coming into the second leg. Guus Hiddink worked his magic again, having led South Korea to a semi-final berth in World Cup 2002.

Finally, the Czech Republic went through, as did first-timers Trinidad and Tobago.