The CONMEBOL/OFC playoff between Australia and Uruguay went to overtime after both legs finished 1-0 to the home team. After thirty goalless minutes, it became the first time a Men's World Cup place was decided on penalties. Mark SCHWARZER saved two attempts, and John ALOISI scored the winner to send Australia into their first World Cup since Germany 1974. Elsewhere, Dennis LAWRENCE was the hero for the Soca Warriors as Trinidad-Tobago won the AFC/CONCACAF playoff 2-1 on aggregate over Bahrain, qualifying for the first time. In the UEFA playoffs, Turkey stormed back from a 3-0 aggregate deficit, but Marco STRELLER scored a second away goal as the final score ended up 4-4, Switzerland qualifying 2-0 on away goals. The Czech Rep dispatched Norway 2-0 on aggregate, and Spain won 6-2 on aggregate over Slovakia.

Shock second place finishers Slovakia, who eliminated Russia on the last day of the UEFA group phase, will have one more challenge to meet as they were drawn against Spain in the playoffs. The Czech Rep will face Norway, and one of three unbeaten teams from Group 4, Switzerland, will play Korea/Japan 2002 semifinalists Turkey. The matches will be played on SAT 12 NOV 2005 and WED 16 NOV 2005.

After 837 matches played and 2,441 goals scored [not counting Mirjalal KASIMOV's goal in the Great Annulled Match of SAT 03 SEP 2005], 27 of the 32 teams to compete at Germany 2006 are known. The other five will be the winners of the AFC/CONCACAF playoff between Trinidad-Tobago and Bahrain, the CONMEBOL/OFC playoff between Uruguay and Australia, and the winners of the three UEFA playoffs. Each of the three seeded teams – Czech Rep, Spain, and Turkey – will be drawn against an unseeded team – Norway, Slovakia, and Switzerland – in Zürich on FRI 14 OCT 2005.

There were three more places at Germany 2006 on offer in the UEFA group phase on WED 12 OCT 2005. more...

Six more slots on the Germany 2006 guest list were taken after the UEFA group phase matches on SAT 08 OCT 2005. more...

A quick summary of action around the UEFA group phase on WED 07 SEP 2005. more...

A quick summary of action around the UEFA group phase on WED 17 AUG 2005. more...

A quick summary of action around the UEFA group phase on WED 30 MAR 2005. more...

A quick summary of action around the UEFA group phase on SAT 26 MAR 2005. more...

A quick summary of action around the UEFA group phase on SAT 04 SEP 2004. more...

Four matches began play in the UEFA group phase of qualifying for Germany 2006. Romania edged Finland 2-1 in a meeting of potential surprise packages in Group 1, but the early group leaders are Macedonia FYR, 3-0 winners over Armenia. In Group 3, Estonia seemed to struggle against Liechtenstein, who finished with nine players after Christof RITTER and Andreas GERSTER were both dismissed; the Estonians emerged with a 2-1 win. Slovakia defeated Luxembourg 3-1 at home in the day's only other match.