Histora.org newsletter October 12, 2000 The qualifying tournaments for the 2002 World Cup are underway. 1998 champions France qualify automatically, as well as co-hosts Japan and South Korea. Europe will resume its qualifiers in March of 2001 with Russia, Portugal, the Czech Republic, Turkey, Poland, Scotland, Spain, Italy and Germany leading their groups. The Netherlands and England will have to recover from their disappointing starts in order to qualify. Argentina has taken the lead in the South American qualifiers with Brazil catching up after an alarming start, while the North and Central American tournament is headed into the final phase. Africa is underway in their final phase to determine the five qualifiers, while Asia and Oceania have yet to get underway. Here is the current state of the European qualifiers; the top team in each group will qualify for the finals in 2002 while the second place teams will take place in a playoff, one of which will be against the winner of Asia's third team. Group 1 has been disturbed by turmoil in Yugoslavia which has forced UEFA to postpone several matches. However, Russia are looking like they are poised to qualify for their first major international tournaments since the 1996 European Championships. ------------------------------------------------------------------ # Group 1 Pts GD P W D L GF GA Rus Sln Sui Yug Far Lux ------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 Russia 6 +4 2 2 0 0 4 0 ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ 3-0 2 Slovenia 5 +1 3 1 2 0 6 5 ___ ___ 2-2 ___ ___ ___ 3 Switzerland 4 +3 3 1 1 1 7 4 0-1 ___ ___ ___ 5-1 ___ 4 Yugoslavia 3 +2 1 1 0 0 2 0 ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ 5 Faroe Isles 1 -4 2 0 1 1 3 7 ___ 2-2 ___ ___ ___ ___ 6 Luxembourg 0 -6 3 0 0 3 1 7 ___ 1-2 ___ 0-2 ___ ___ ------------------------------------------------------------------ Group 2 features three very strong teams: 2000 European Championship semi-finalists The Netherlands and Portugal as well as the Republic of Ireland. So far, The Netherlands are the ones who have given way and are in considerable danger of missing out on the finals after a loss at home to Portugal and a come from behind draw at home against the Irish. However, there is still plenty of time and good results on the road could be enough to secure at least the playoff spot. ------------------------------------------------------------------ # Group 2 Pts GD P W D L GF GA Por Est Irl Ned Cyp And ------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 Portugal 7 +4 3 2 1 0 6 2 ___ ___ 1-1 ___ ___ ___ 2 Estonia 6 -2 4 2 0 2 4 6 1-3 ___ ___ ___ ___ 1-0 3 Rep. Ireland 5 +2 3 1 2 0 5 3 ___ 2-0 ___ ___ ___ ___ 4 Netherlands 4 +2 3 1 1 1 6 4 0-2 ___ 2-2 ___ ___ ___ 5 Cyprus 3 +1 2 1 0 1 3 6 ___ ___ ___ 0-4 ___ ___ 6 Andorra 0 -7 3 0 0 3 3 6 ___ 1-2 ___ ___ 2-3 ___ ------------------------------------------------------------------ After making it to the final of the 1996 European Championships, The Czech Republic missed out on the 1998 World Cup even though they were surely still one of the strongest sides in Europe. They proved this with a perfect qualifying campaign for the 2000 European Championships and then lost against two of the few teams better than them, France and The Netherlands in the first round of the finals. The world deserves to see the Czechs in 2002, and they have had a positive start in their qualifying group. Denmark, who have been strong enough to qualify for 7 of the last 9 major tournaments, are set to provide stiff competition and Iceland is starting to look like less of a minnow. ------------------------------------------------------------------ # Group 3 Pts GD P W D L GF GA Cze Den Bul Nir Isl Mlt ------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 Czech Republic 7 +5 3 2 1 0 5 0 ___ ___ ___ ___ 4-0 ___ 2 Denmark 5 +1 3 1 2 0 4 3 ___ ___ 1-1 ___ ___ ___ 3 Bulgaria 4 +2 3 1 1 1 4 2 0-1 ___ ___ ___ ___ 3-0 4 N. Ireland 4 0 3 1 1 1 2 2 ___ 1-1 ___ ___ ___ 1-0 5 Iceland 3 -4 3 1 0 2 2 6 ___ 1-2 ___ 1-0 ___ ___ 6 Malta 1 -4 3 0 1 2 0 4 0-0 ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ------------------------------------------------------------------ After reaching new heights at the 2000 European Championships by reaching the last eight, Turkey have taken the early lead in group 4. However, this group is not clear cut; Sweden could certainly emerge as winners, so too could Slovakia. ------------------------------------------------------------------ # Group 4 Pts GD P W D L GF GA Tur Svk Swe Mac Mol Azb ------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 Turkey 7 +3 3 2 1 0 4 1 ___ ___ ___ ___ 2-0 ___ 2 Slovakia 7 +3 3 2 1 0 3 0 ___ ___ 0-0 2-0 ___ ___ 3 Sweden 5 +1 3 1 2 0 2 1 1-1 ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ 4 FYR Macedonia 4 +1 3 1 1 1 3 2 ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ 3-0 5 Moldova 1 -3 3 0 1 2 0 3 ___ 0-1 ___ 0-0 ___ ___ 6 Azerbaijan 0 -5 3 0 0 3 0 5 0-1 ___ 0-1 ___ ___ ___ ------------------------------------------------------------------ After a shock exit at the hands of Slovenia in the 2000 European Championship qualifiers, and a qualification for the 1998 World Cup thwarted by eventual World Cup semi-finalists Croatia, Ukraine have a great chance to win their group outright and make their first major tournament finals. However, Poland has asserted itself as the early leaders by winning away at Ukraine while Norway have faltered thus far. ------------------------------------------------------------------ # Group 5 Pts GD P W D L GF GA Pol Bls Ukr Wal Nor Arm ------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 Poland 7 +4 3 2 1 0 6 2 ___ 3-1 ___ 0-0 ___ ___ 2 Belarus 6 0 3 2 0 1 5 5 ___ ___ ___ 2-1 ___ 2-1 3 Ukraine 6 0 3 2 0 1 5 5 1-3 ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ 4 Wales 2 -1 3 0 2 1 2 3 ___ ___ ___ ___ 1-1 ___ 5 Norway 2 -1 3 0 2 1 1 2 ___ ___ 0-1 ___ ___ 0-0 6 Armenia 1 -2 3 0 1 2 3 5 ___ ___ 2-3 ___ ___ ___ ------------------------------------------------------------------ Group 6 has no clear favourite. Belgium disappointed the home fans at the 2000 European Championships but should still be one of the top contenders in this group while Croatia failed to qualify for it at all but were semi-finalists in the 1998 World Cup. Scotland always seems to be around, and should ensure a close finish here as well. ------------------------------------------------------------- # Group 6 Pts GD P W D L GF GA Sco Bel Cro Lat SMo ------------------------------------------------------------- 1 Scotland 7 +3 3 2 1 0 4 1 ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ 2 Belgium 4 +4 2 1 1 0 4 0 ___ ___ 0-0 ___ ___ 3 Croatia 2 0 2 0 2 0 1 1 1-1 ___ ___ ___ ___ 4 Latvia 0 -5 2 0 0 2 0 5 0-1 0-4 ___ ___ ___ 5 San Marino 0 -2 1 0 0 1 0 2 0-2 ___ ___ ___ ___ ------------------------------------------------------------- Spain seems to have the easiest route to the finals among the traditional powers. Israel keeps improving and looks poised to take the playoff spot but Austria should provide them some competition for it. ------------------------------------------------------------- # Group 7 Pts GD P W D L GF GA Esp Isr Aut Bos Lie ------------------------------------------------------------- 1 Spain 7 +3 3 2 1 0 5 2 ___ 2-0 ___ ___ ___ 2 Israel 6 +2 3 2 0 1 5 3 ___ ___ ___ 3-1 2-0 3 Austria 4 +1 2 1 1 0 2 1 1-1 ___ ___ ___ ___ 4 Bosnia 0 -3 2 0 0 2 2 5 1-2 ___ ___ ___ ___ 5 Liechtenstein 0 -3 2 0 0 2 0 3 ___ ___ 0-1 ___ ___ ------------------------------------------------------------- Italy have recovered from their heartbreaking defeat in the 2000 European Championship final at the hands of France to storm into the lead of group 8. Hungary look like they have awakened from a long slumber in international football while Romania are not looking as strong as they have been in recent years but should still at least give the Hungarians all they can handle for the playoff spot. ------------------------------------------------------------- # Group 8 Pts GD P W D L GF GA Ita Hun Geo Rom Lit ------------------------------------------------------------- 1 Italy 7 +5 3 2 1 0 7 2 ___ ___ 2-0 3-0 ___ 2 Hungary 4 +5 2 1 1 0 8 3 2-2 ___ ___ ___ ___ 3 Georgia 3 +2 2 1 0 1 4 2 ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ 4 Romania 3 -2 2 1 0 1 1 3 ___ ___ ___ ___ 1-0 5 Lithuania 0 -10 3 0 0 3 1 11 ___ 1-6 0-4 ___ ___ ------------------------------------------------------------- Germany are quickly putting aside the notion that they are no longer one of the world's elite as they once again put England into a crisis situation by beating them at Wembley. To make matters worse for the English, they could only manage a draw at Finland and will now have no room for error if they hope to get the playoff spot. However, as long as they can take care of Greece and Albania and win at home against Finland, it should not be a problem. ------------------------------------------------------------- # Group 9 Pts GD P W D L GF GA Ger Fin Alb Gre Eng ------------------------------------------------------------- 1 Germany 6 +3 2 2 0 0 3 0 ___ ___ ___ 2-0 ___ 2 Finland 4 0 3 1 1 1 2 2 ___ ___ 2-1 ___ 0-0 3 Albania 3 +1 2 1 0 1 3 2 ___ ___ ___ 2-0 ___ 4 Greece 3 -3 3 1 0 2 1 4 ___ 1-0 ___ ___ ___ 5 England 1 -1 2 0 1 1 0 1 0-1 ___ ___ ___ ___ ============================================================== And just for reference's sake, here are the past finals results for the World Cup finals: Year Winner Score Runner-Up ---- ------ ----- --------- 1930 Uruguay 4 - 2 Argentina 1934 Italy 2 - 1 Czechoslovakia 1938 Italy 4 - 2 Hungary 1950 Uruguay 2 - 1 Brazil 1954 West Germany 3 - 2 Hungary 1958 Brazil 5 - 2 Sweden 1962 Brazil 3 - 1 Czechoslovakia 1966 England 4 - 2 West Germany 1970 Brazil 4 - 1 Italy 1974 West Germany 2 - 1 The Netherlands 1978 Argentina 3 - 1 The Netherlands 1982 Italy 3 - 1 West Germany 1986 Argentina 3 - 2 West Germany 1990 Germany 1 - 0 Argentina 1994 Brazil 0 - 0 Italy 1998 France 3 - 0 Brazil