Australia, Japan and South Korea have all qualified for South Africa next year

Meanwhile Green FINALLY started for England in their 4-0 win over Kazakhstan this evening.

Sweet.

Holland has also officailly qualified. Cant wait for the world cup to start, only a year to go lol.

I was down the south coast with the missus and her family so I missed the game..I expressed my displeasure at having to miss it, BUT I will be going to the Party at ANZ on wednesday night, kick off at 8pm. Can't wait.

1 England 6 6 0 0 20 4 16 18
2 Croatia 6 3 2 1 12 6 6 11
3 Belarus 5 3 0 2 14 7 7 9
4 Ukraine 5 2 2 1 7 5 2 8
5 Kazakhstan 6 1 0 5 6 20 -14 3
6 Andorra 6 0 0 6 2 19 -17 0


If England win on Wednesday and Croatia lose then we will go through as champions, 10 points clear with 3 games to play.

Champions!? Does the winner of each group get called that. If so we'll have a lot of champions.

But you're not quite right. Not if Belarus win all their remaining games. Unlikely - granted.

Or even Ukraine.

Group winners.....you could say Belarus aswell but they both have to play Croatia & England again and each other.

That's my point. Not signed, sealed and delivered just yet. But the stamp is there for the licking.

It's as good as licked mate. You can only qualify as fast as your games come. You can't do better than 6 out of 6 and thats with a couple of useful teams in the group not 2 draws against the only good team in the group . I'm glad the Aussies are through anyway and don't have to play Uruguay this time.

Me too

I will be looking forward to both the Aussie & England games in Brissie at the next WC

I'm not arguing or gloating that England haven't qualified yet. Just stating that if they win tonight, they are not yet assured of qualifying.

I'm not sure who you are referring to with the 2 draws thing against only good team. Can't be Aus as they drew with Japs and Qatar.

I actually want England to qualify for the first time ever. Then hoping they draw Aust in group if Eng seeded as will possibly be best seeded team for us to draw in group due to our history and our players being right up for it and not intimidated. Also going for England as actually have Hammers in the team/squad and not ex-hammers.

The draws I meant vs Japan and I was only messing. But maybe you've only played them once as I saw they have them next week?? I thought they'd played them twice and drawn both but probably mistaken. It is pretty bad though that Japs and Aus could both only draw with qatar this week - I remember the original FIfa international soccer nintendo game - qatar were the worst team in the world and from what I've seen of them in real life they're pretty awful. The main thing is the aussies are through - I've always been behind the Australian football team even when I was back home in England.

Although I realise as you say you are not taking an opportunity to gloat or argue but I saw you mentioned for the first time ever with regards to wanting England to qualify and the reasons you gave. I do wonder why you dislike England so much though? It seems inate in many (perhaps even most) Australians. My only gripe ever with Australia or Australians (not all) is their ingrain desire to see England do badly. I was never particularly patriotic before coming to Australia and didn't care two shits about England in the 90s only West Ham - in fact I hate flag waving patriotism and would prefer to leave that to the Americans as I personally feel it leads to old hat ideologies such as Nationalism & ultimately racism i.e. pigeon holing sections of society as being inferior to one's own demographic. It's only as a defence mechanism that I've rallied behind our national team.

Historically England have slipped up at least a draw or two in qualifying against inferior sides but Capello seems to have really steadied the ship. The only time we have looked shaky was against spain and that's no real insult as they are probably the best team in the world at the moment. Winning against Germany away was a great result and performance. I thkn finally they have a manager who can organise a squad of great individuals into a great team.

And they rarely let us down Dave

I think it goes both ways really. On all the "English" chat forums im a part of they are always having a go at "us Aussies" They love it just as much when we fall short. Trick is to take it with a pinch of salt. Gloat when you can but eat humble pie when you have to.

I don't dislike England. Just back from our European sojourn and my wife and I loved London.

However, I also don't dislike their football team although did dislike their tactics with Erikson at the helm. Nonetheless, it's just that I haven't previously barracked for them. It's more of an underdog thing. I used to support Belgium (when Aust weren't in the World Cup) because my fave player was Enzo Schifo. Also supported Brazil as a kid when Zico played for them. Now, however, I generally go for the underdog unless I don't like them for other reasons.

England also generally had some nutters in the team whom I didn't like. They were generally top 4 team nutters too. There are some nutters for other countries as well that I don't support.

I also like the attacking teams like the African nations as they are entertaining. But I almost never support Italy (although loved viisting there too), Germany, Brazil anymore as won too much, or France. Unless they are playing each other and have to go for one of them.