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This week, Damon and Damian look at the World Cup Qualifiers and a footballing cliche.
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Transcript
It is only 15 months since Italy won the World Cup in dramatic fashion on penalties but the qualifying campaign for the next World Cup in South Africa has just got underway. Indeed, countries such as Samoa, Tahiti and Tonga have already been knocked out and must wait till four years from now before they can dream again of taking part in the next World Cup. So, with less than a thousand days to go till the opening game in South Africa, the languagecaster team kicks off its World Cup campaign with a look at how qualification for the tournament takes place.
Only 32 teams play in the finals and with the hosts, South Africa, already taking one of those places, the remaining 31 spots are decided by six regional tournaments that play over the next three years. The first of these regions to start their qualifying campaign was Oceania in August this year and the teams from this area, mainly from around the Pacific islands, are battling to make a play-off spot against a team from Asia, so really they only have half a place!
Asia has 43 teams taking part in its regional competition and there will be 4 teams qualifying directly plus another will face that play-off with the winners of the Oceania section. Now, one former member of that region, Australia, has joined the Asian tournament this time and will be taking part in the main qualifying stage early next year.
Africa has 51 teams that are divided into small groups to decide the 5 teams that will represent the continent along with the hosts, South Africa. This is always an exciting competition and after some preliminary matches this month, the group stages will also begin next year.
The North and Central American region has 35 members and they will start playing from February of 2008 to see which three teams will go to South Africa. The team that finishes fourth will have a play-off chance against the 5th team from the South American group. Now, this region only has ten members but has a really gruelling schedule with countries playing each other home and away for a total of 18 games each. The tournament begins this weekend, lasts for two years and the top 4 teams progress directly.
Finally, Europe will be supplying 13 teams to the finals since it has the most members, with 53, and the fact that traditionally the strongest teams are from this part of the world, the four semi-finalists from the last World Cup were all European. This competition starts in August 2008 and teams from the region, such as Italy, France, Germany and Ireland, will once again be favourites to do well in the World Cup 2010.
Only 973 days to go!
