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FIFA WORLD CUP 2002 - REVIEW OF MATCHES
IN AUGUST 2001
Reviewed by PETER GODFREY
Only 18 matches were played during August but Argentina filled the ninth spot in the finals.
CONMEBOL (South American) Confederation
Argentina became the first South American country to reach the finals when they won away in Ecuador by two goals to nil.
After a disappointing competition, Brazil were thrown a lifeline when Venezuela recorded only their second win in this tournament beating Uruguay by two goals to nil. A win at home to Paraguay by the same score meant that Brazil moved from fifth place to fourth place three points clear of Uruguay.
In the remaining match Chile and Bolivia shared four goals to leave neither country with a realistic chance of qualifying for the finals.
UEFA (European) Confederation
Group 1
Yugoslavia won at home to Faroe Islands by two goals to nil to put them just one point behind Slovenia and five points behind the group leaders Russia. With Slovenia at home to Russia on 1st September, the same date Yugoslavia go to Switzerland, Yugoslavia's home match against Slovenia on 5th September could well decide who will end up in the play-offs.
Group 2
A two all draw in Estonia between the home side and Cyprus means that neither side can now qualify for even the play-offs.
AFC (Asian) Confederation
With the winners of the final two groups getting automatic qualification for the finals, and the second teams in each group playing off to decide who plays a European team for a further place, the final round of AFC Confederation matches finally got underway.
Group A
Surprise leaders of this group are Bahrain who followed up a one all draw in Saudi Arabia with a two goals to nil home win against Iraq.
It was not a good month for group favourites Saudi Arabia as they only managed one win from their three matches, a single goal victory over Iraq, in a match that was played in Bahrain. This followed a surprise two goals to nil defeat in Iran.
These results see Saudi Arabia on four points with Bahrain but with an inferior goal difference and having played one more match. Iraq's four nil win over Thailand means that they lie in fourth place on three points the same number as Iran who have only played one match.
Thailand have only played the one match and hold bottom place in this group.
Group B
China sit on top of this group having won both their matches including a two goals to nil victory in Oman and a three goals to nil home win against the controversial top seeds United Arab Emirates.
Qatar find themselves in second place just two points behind but they have played one more match than the leaders. After a goalless draw at home to Oman and suffering a two goals to one defeat in Uzbekistan, Qatar visited the U.A.E. and came away with a two goals to nil victory.
A solitary four goals to one victory at home to Uzbekistan means the U.A.E. are in third place on three points with Uzbekistan level on points but with a game in hand.
Oman bring up the rear with just a single point.