World Cup primed for new faces, absent friends

Ukraine's move to within a whisker of their first World Cup and the mounting problems facing France and Euro champions Greece suggest there may well be new faces and notable absentees in Germany next year.

A year before the 32-team tournament begins, Asia has filled four places with Japan, South Korea, Iran and Saudi Arabia, and Argentina have booked the first slot from Latin America.

Argentina's sparkling 3-1 win over Brazil was a great way to qualify, though the world champions, just a point behind, should waste little time joining their arch-rivals from the CONMEBOL zone.

Ukraine's 1-0 victory in Greece, who won few plaudits for their no-nonsense football at Euro 2004, means they now need only two points from three games to qualify.

"I believe we are 99.9 per cent through to Germany," said coach Oleg Blokhin after Wednesday's game and few would carp at the prediction for a team including European Footballer of the Year Andriy Shevchenko.

Ukraine's delight means an anxious few months ahead, however, for the Greeks, who have won only four of their nine qualifiers and risk an embarrassing no-show on the game's biggest stage.

Third in Group Two on 15 points and realistically battling for a play-off place, Greece are a point behind old foes Turkey and three ahead of Denmark, surprise European champions in 1992.

Though France have not had any qualifiers in June, the 1998 world champions and Euro 2000 winners are struggling to show anything like world-beating form under coach Raymond Domenech.

Ireland's 2-0 victory in the Faroe Islands hoisted them to the top of Group Four on 13 points from seven games. The French are fourth on 10 points with a match in hand.

Switzerland, who have also played only six games, are second on 12 points, with the Israelis third on 11.

Had Ireland not squandered a two-goal lead in last weekend's 2-2 draw with Israel, Brian Kerr's men would have made life trickier still for a France side in transition.

The Dutch, ever-popular with footballing neutrals, stayed on course by beating Finland 4-0 to remain a point ahead of the even more prolific Czech Republic.

Italy, Portugal and Spain are top of their groups as expected, while Poland's lead in Group Six after victory over Azerbaijan was a reminder that even the world's best-paid player, David Beckham, is not guaranteed to feature in Germany.

The England captain needs to ensure his team keep winning, make the most of their game in hand and avoid home defeat by the Poles in their final qualifier in October.

Like Europe, Africa's qualifying campaign also threatens a few surprises - and without the safety net of play-offs for the group runners-up.

Though 2010 World Cup hosts South Africa are looking good, unfancied Togo are top of Group One by two points from favourites Senegal, the 2002 World Cup quarter-finalists.

Cameroon, supported by millions of neutrals around the world since their thrilling run to the 1990 quarter-finals, are similarly two points adrift of Ivory Coast in Group Three.

The continent is also unlikely to be represented by its own champions, Tunisia, who are third in Group Five and four points behind leaders Morocco.

Even Nigeria are not top of Group Four, though they have the same number of points as unexpected leaders Angola who, like Togo, are hoping to make their first appearance in the finals.