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Australia's last World Cup hurdle set to be revealed [Fri Sep 2nd, 2005]
Will it be a trip to strife-torn Colombia, our 2001 nemesis Uruguay, or a journey into the relative unknown of Paraguay or Chile?
The question of which South American nation will provide Australia's
last World Cup finals hurdle should become clearer this weekend after
another round of South American qualifiers.
Most Australian interest will centre of the clash between Colombia, currently in fifth place, and seventh-placed Uruguay, who can kiss any hope of the World Cup finals goodbye if they lose in Montevideo.
Australia will meet the fifth-placed South American team for a spot in next year's finals, providing they beat the Solomon Islands in the final Oceania region qualifiers.
The other two teams in the mix to meet Australia are up against South America's powerhouses - fourth-placed Paraguay host Argentina and sixth-placed Chile are away to Brazil.
With just two more South American qualifying rounds remaining, Australian coach Guus Hiddink could be forgiven for having one eye on that continent this weekend as well as the home leg tie against the Solomon Islands in Sydney.
"The preference we have (to play against) will not be in fifth place," Hiddink said, clearly disappointed his side won't get to play Venezuela or Peru - teams Australia would find much easier opposition, who are now out of contention.
"But what I like very much in the Australian mentality is the commitment and the focusing on the target of qualifying whoever it is (we play), which will not be easy which everybody in the football world knows.
"Everybody in this team is aiming for this event. Germany will be a great world championship and to be there would be a dream come true, but it will not be easy."
Colombia loom as the most difficult possible opponents, if only because of playing the away leg in a country noted for instability.
Australia know all about Uruguay after the cauldron which greeted them in Montevideo for a return leg they lost 3-0 to miss out on the 2002 World Cup finals.
Chile and Paraguay will be as fanatical but friendlier, though Paraguay are on track to qualify automatically as the third or fourth-placed team.
The Chileans, whose best hope appears to be finishing fifth in the South
American group, face the difficult task of beating a Brazil team needing to win on Monday to guarantee its World Cup finals spot.
Brazilian superstar Ronaldinho and Bayer Leverkusen defender Roque Junior will both miss the match in Brasilia through suspension.
But Real Madrid striker Ronaldo returns as the five-time World Cup champions chase a victory which would seal qualification for Germany 2006.
Argentina will be understrength for their clash with Paraguay on Sunday, with Chelsea striker Hernan Crespo out with a thigh injury.
South American World Cup qualifiers on the weekend:
Saturday: Bolivia v Ecuador, Paraguay v Argentina, Venezuela v Peru.
Sunday: Brazil v Chile, Uruguay v Colombia.
AAP
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