With four teams from the South American Zone having already qualified for the 2006 finals in Germany next summer, Uruguay, Colombia and Chile are all battling to secure the fifth spot in the South American qualifying zone in the final round of matches, which would award them a play-off place against Australia for a place in the finals.

Only a point separates the three countries, who are hoping to join Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Ecuador as the qualified teams.

Australia, who won the Oceania group, must take part in a two-legged play-off against the South American zone fifth placed team. This may be causing the Socceroos some concern 'Down Under', as whoever the Aussie's end up facing, they will be a far cry from any of the opposition that the Socceroos have had to face so far in their qualifying campaign, especially if they turn out to be Uruguay, who, in a play-off, denied them a spot at the last World Cup finals.

Uruguay, who currently occupy fifth place in the 10-team group on 22 points, would initially appear to have the hardest task, but with their home advantage, the game for Uruguay against group leaders Argentina could prove a challenge for the visitors.

Very few teams go to the Uruguayan capital and come away with the points.

Early on in the campaign Uruguay, coached by Jorge Fossati, succumbed to two shock home defeats, by Venezuela (0-3) and Peru (1-3) a few months later.

But since then, the team which have notched up five wins and seven draws from their 17 games so far have given little to their visitors at the Centenario Stadium.

World champions Brazil were held to a 1-1 draw in Montevideo back in March and their last match at home ended in a 3-2 defeat for Colombia.

Coach Fossati is adamant that his team will do everything in their power to grab their chance. "We have the capacity to go out, square up to and beat Argentina," Fossati declared, although he will be hoping that his players, with their home advantage, will be more focused on their game, after their 0-0 draw away against fellow qualifiers Ecuador at the weekend.

Bookmark/Search this post with:

delicious | digg | google | yahoo | technorati