|
Last 5 qualifiers complete World Cup lineup
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-11-17 09:29 LONDON, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Australia, Trinidad
& Tobago, Switzerland, Spain and the Czech Republic completed the 32-team
lineup for the World Cup finals after a day of unrelenting drama and tension
brought qualifying to a close on Wednesday.
Australia's
goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer (L) saves a penalty goal kicked by Marcelo
Zalayeta from Uruguay during their second leg World Cup 2006 qualifying
play-off at Stadium Australia in Sydney November 16, 2005.
[Reuters]
| The action began in Sydney where
Australia reached the World Cup for the first time in 32 years and became the
first team to do so through a shootout after beating Uruguay 4-2 from the spot
after a 1-0 extra time win saw the playoff end 1-1 on aggregate.
Trinidad & Tobago survived a barrage of missiles from angry Bahrain fans
after their match as they pulled off a spectacular comeback in the qualifying
campaign with a 1-0 win in Manama for a 2-1 aggregate victory and a first
appearance in the finals.
Switzerland ended a 12-year absence from the finals despite losing 4-2 in
Istanbul to Turkey.
Their 2-0 win in the first leg in Bern saw them through on away goals as the
tie ended 4-4 on aggregate, the Swiss having lost a 3-0 aggregate lead after
scoring a first minute penalty.
Spain reached their eighth successive World Cup since 1978 with a 1-1 draw in
Slovakia for a 6-2 aggregate win, while the Czech Republic qualified for the
first time as an independent nation. They last appeared as Czechoslovakia at
Italia' 90.
|
