Which teams will make their dubuts at Germany 2006

[glennaldo_sf]

Every world cup, there are always some teams that qualify for the first time. In 2002, it was Senegal, Slovenia and China, 1998 - Croatia, Japan, Jamaica, etc., etc. Which of the teams do you think will make it? Pick as many as you want but please be realistic. Check out http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/t/group/index.html for the latest groups and standings.

I think Ukraine, Czech Rep., Ivory Coast, Serbia & Montenegro, and either Bahrain or Guatemala have the best chances. Not really sure if I should count the Czech Republic on the list but I thought that if I'm including Slovakia, than the Czech's have gotta be included too - neither have played in the world cup as independent states.

[argentine soccer fan]

From Europe, you pointed out the obvious candidates. It would be nice to see an underdog come out, like Lituania, but I doubt it.

From Africa, Ivory Coast looks good, and there could be others. It's still early, and Africa is wide open and unpredictable. Who knows who will come out?

From Concacaf, three of the last six teams standing would be first timers. Guatemala, Panama, Trinidad. Assuming the US and Mexico advance, one of those three would have to overtake Costa Rica. Guatemala probably has the best shot.

From Conmebol, Venezuela is sixth right now. The fifth place team goes into a playoff. Venezuela has improved, but I don't think they will make it.

From Asia I think we'll get the usual suspects.

[IASocFan]

The Czech Republic and Serbia have made it before as Czechoslavakia and Yugoslavia.

Ivory Coast has the current edge on Cameroon. Guatamala can make it by finishing 3rd or winning the Asian playoff. Bahrain and/or Uzbekistan can also make it by winning the playoff.

Ukraine and Guatamala are my choices for making it.

[Hrvat]

The Czech Republic and Serbia have made it before as Czechoslavakia and Yugoslavia.

Yeah, but there is a difference. Yugoslavia in France'98 was the exact same country as it is today (only the name is different), while Czech Rep. have never qualified since the break up of Czechoslovakia.

I hope Ukraine makes it, I'm not really familiar with the situation in other continents.

[DrSkillz1800]

The Ukraine gets my vote, Sheva and Voronin are too good to let the World Cup slip away.

[Buschkauz]

ukraine and ivory coast

[rkinkead]

Nedved and his boys are going to be tough to keep out and then tough to beat when they get there. I hope we don't face them too early.

[fscat]

I would personally love to see Guatemala make it. My father is from Guatemala, and has instilled a HUGE amount of pride in me of being from such a beautiful country. As have been said before, they have never made it, despite having a deep love and passion for soccer. They people of Guatemala (and I) would take alot of pride in finally making it onto the world's greatest soccer tournament.

[Hrvat]

Nedved and his boys are going to be tough to keep out and then tough to beat when they get there. I hope we don't face them too early.

I think Nedved retired from the national team. Although Czechs have some excellent young players, starting with Baros, on Euro 2004 their spine were older players like Nedved and Poborski. So, my opinion is they are in a slight decline now. I think they could have done great in Korea and Japan, but it was their own fault they hadn't qualified.

[ToonUSA]

I vote for Ukraine, Serbia and Ivory Coast. I don't vote for the Czechs because I still hold out hope that Romania can overtake the second spot in that group. Serbia I hope make it more than anyone. I will be interested to see the response to them and the stories of hooliganery. Especially, should Montenegro break off and the team becomes an All-Serbian national team.

Question: What would Fifa do if Serbia & Montenegro split? Which nation would they allow to accept the bid to the World Cup should they qualify?

[Qdog]

Israel, and I can´t wait to see the draw.

[ZeekLTK]

Israel, and I can´t wait to see the draw.

Israel have played in the World Cup before, in 1970.

I voted for Cote d'Ivoire, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Togo, Guatemala, and Bahrain.

I think Belarus has a good chance to go too. They are 3 points back from 2nd place but have a game in hand (which makes them essentially tied for 2nd). Also they have 4 home games left with 2 road games, and both road games are against the worst teams in the group (Moldova and Scotland). If Belarus holds serve in Minsk they will beat out both Italy and Norway (:() to win Group 5, and that's a very real posibility because they are very good at home.

Like I said, they are essentially tied with Norway for 2nd with their game in hand, and (if you count the game in hand as a win), they are only 4 points back from Italy. If they beat Italy in Minsk that takes them down to just 1 point back, and if Italy lose in Oslo (which is likely to happen, Italy have never beaten Norway in Oslo before), then Belarus suddenly gains a 2 point advantage on the Italians. Belarus will likely beat Norway in Minsk like they did in 2002 WCQ (:() and there you go, that's the group...

This is assuming they can take out Slovenia at home, but given how tough they played Slovenia away (they tied 1-1, Italy could only manage a 0-1 loss and I'm afraid what will happen when Norway goes in there) I think they can beat them at home. In all honesty the more I look at the remaining schedule, the more I think this group is Belarus' to lose. Which sucks because I am a Norway fan, but it very well may come down to the very last match day: Norway vs Belarus in Minsk, to decide who goes to Germany. :D

That is of course, if we can figure out how to win at Slovenia, which will be very hard!

[fscat]

Israel played in the WC once before, so it won't be a debut for them. But it would be interesting to see if they do make it. I believe they are tied for the lead in their group, along with France, and looking at the remaining games, they have a legitimate shot at making it to Germany.
With the draws in group play, I'm sure whomever decides who is in what group will not put Israel with any Arabic nation or Iran. Put theoretically, if Israel and one of the latter mentioned countries do advance in the tournament, and play each other, what would they do?

[Piratikos_GK]

Ukraine is playing out of their minds, at the moment. They will qualify for sure. I hope they drop to 2nd in their group, but it doesn't seem very likely. Even when Sheva was hurt, they didn't miss a beat other Andriy's stepped it up. Someone mentioned Lithuania. They have an outside shot, if they play well from here on out. The France group is wide open at the moment. There 4 teams still in the running even by losing a match.

[glennaldo_sf]

Ukraine have certainly taken a huge step forward qualification this week. Greece's draw with Turkey gives them a 5 point lead over Greece and a 7 point lead over third place Turkey. If they can get at least a point in Athens, they will be all but there. Can't see too many new teams qualifying from Europe - unless you want to count Serbia & Czech Rep.... Slovakia could make the playoffs.

Africa could throw some new teams here... Togo are at the top of their group now but have a big game against Senegal this week. Angola are also joint top of their group but play Nigeria next. Ivory Coast still top but Cameroon & Egypt hard on their heels.

CONCACAF is still wide open for 3rd spot. Two points seperating the bottom four. Doesn't look like any new qualifiers from Asia will qualify automatically... a WC debutant could emerge from the Asian - CONCACAF playoff match... unless Kuwait take it.

[Dominique Rocheteau]

Belarus still has a good shot at second place in their group.

Lithuania looks like they're done for.

[glennaldo_sf]

It's starting to look like Africa may have about four debutants in this World cup... Angola, Ivory Coast, Togo, and Ghana now all have their destinies in their own hands with only two matches to play. Ukraine appear to be a shoe in at this point.

[magia]

Solomon Islands may get a chance

[glennaldo_sf]

Solomon Islands may get a chance

Hee hee.. they'll probably wind up playing one of those four teams you support in the playoff. ;) Watch out!

[DamonEsquire]

I went for Teams: Ghana, Ivory Coast, Togo, Ukraine, Czeck Republic and Guatemala. I left off Teams: Slovekia and Slovenia. They sit in position for Play-off and possibly Second Best Two. The Second Best Two is were. They should be. I fear. In Two-Legged-Play-Off, both might tie at home. Then might lose on the road. I not for sure. How they develope? Still six teams with a vote. Then can consider Teams: Angola and Zambia. With Team Angola possess upper hand. Team Zambia take match with Team Senegal. Desperate team is. In turn, situatioin give Team Togo softness of ride.