Alberto7 Posted June 29, 2005 Share Posted June 29, 2005 This is huge news: http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Soccer/2005/06/29/1110360-ap.html FIFA agrees to let Australia move to Asian Confederation FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) - FIFA decided Wednesday to let Australia switch from Oceania to the Asian soccer confederation. The Socceroos, who lost all three games at the Confederations Cup, called for the switch to improve their chances of reaching the World Cup. There were no objections to the switch from either confederation and the move was expected even though not until the FIFA congress at Marrakech, Morocco, on Sept 12. FIFA president Sepp Blatter said the executive committee ratified the move at its meeting Wednesday and didn't need the approval of the congress. Although they comfortably win the Oceania qualifying rounds, the Socceroos usually have to play a tough team from either Asia or South America in a playoff to reach the finals and haven't managed to get their since 1974. By moving to Asia, Australia believes it has a better chance of gaining one of the AFC's four automatic spots among the 32 World Cup teams. The news came on the day that Frank Farina quit as the Socceroos' coach after a poor series of results. Australia lost to powerhouse teams Germany (4-3) and Argentina (4-2) before tumbling to Tunisia 2-0 at the Confederations Cup. Although John Aloisi scored four times, Farina admitted that the Australian defence performed badly. I imagine that since Australia is gone, the Oceania winner will have to go through several much tougher playoffs to qualify for the World Cup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Polish_LYNX_Fan Posted June 29, 2005 Share Posted June 29, 2005 This gives hope to the smaller nations to qualify out of Oceania, because we all know NZ will choke as they did this time around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Massive Attack Posted June 29, 2005 Share Posted June 29, 2005 I think Canada should now make the move to join Oceania. On a more serious note, the most logical thing to do now is add the rest of the Oceania teams to the Asian confederation, but that would make too much sense, so I don't expect that to happen anytime soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gian-Luca Posted June 29, 2005 Share Posted June 29, 2005 Yeah, for WCQ they should lump the two together. No sense in having a half-spot against the 5th place American team for either New Zealand or Fiji, but at the same time you have to give Ocenia teams some kind of chance to qualify. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RS Posted June 29, 2005 Share Posted June 29, 2005 quote: Although they comfortably win the Oceania qualifying rounds, the Socceroos usually have to play a tough team from either Asia or South America in a playoff to reach the finals and haven't managed to get their since 1974. well, boo ******* hoo, they have to play one quality team after destroying Oceania's minnows. Every country should be so lucky. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strobe_z Posted June 29, 2005 Share Posted June 29, 2005 I find this to be a joke, and I'd like to see FIFA's justification for keeping Oceania as a Confederation. The perennial champ just left.... so who's minding the store? Besides, it's not like Australia had to beat Brazil every time to get to the big dance anyway. It's always been the 5th place (or so) SA team.. or the 4th or 5th Asian team. In Theory at least, I'd like to see how they can say Australia's chances are better because now they have to play a bunch of teams to make the final 8... instead of just getting an automatic buy to the final 4. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paddy Posted June 29, 2005 Share Posted June 29, 2005 Really, this is just a return to the way things used to be: http://www.phespirit.info/worldcup/wcq1966e.htm http://www.phespirit.info/worldcup/wcq1970e.htm http://www.phespirit.info/worldcup/wcq1974f.htm#AO1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Concacaf Posted June 30, 2005 Share Posted June 30, 2005 quote:Originally posted by Gian-Luca Yeah, for WCQ they should lump the two together. No sense in having a half-spot against the 5th place American team for either New Zealand or Fiji, but at the same time you have to give Ocenia teams some kind of chance to qualify. Maybe the Oceania winner should play in the final group stage of Asian qualifying? They probably would have to increase the number of teams at that stage from 8 to maybe 10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Concacaf Posted June 30, 2005 Share Posted June 30, 2005 quote:Originally posted by Gian-Luca Yeah, for WCQ they should lump the two together. No sense in having a half-spot against the 5th place American team for either New Zealand or Fiji, but at the same time you have to give Ocenia teams some kind of chance to qualify. Maybe the Oceania winner should play in the final group stage of Asian qualifying? They probably would have to increase the number of teams at that stage from 8 to maybe 10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Free kick Posted June 30, 2005 Share Posted June 30, 2005 Merging the two confederations is likely the next step. Of course in that event, you would have an extra half spot to award that curently belongs to Oceania. Half spots and currently allocated to Asia, Oceania, Concacaf and Conmebol ( S. Amer.). Concacaf plays asia and Oceania faces Conmebol for the full spot. I can envision the extra spot being awarded to asia while concacaf and South america retain their half spot and would face each other rather than having to go overseas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Free kick Posted June 30, 2005 Share Posted June 30, 2005 Merging the two confederations is likely the next step. Of course in that event, you would have an extra half spot to award that curently belongs to Oceania. Half spots and currently allocated to Asia, Oceania, Concacaf and Conmebol ( S. Amer.). Concacaf plays asia and Oceania faces Conmebol for the full spot. I can envision the extra spot being awarded to asia while concacaf and South america retain their half spot and would face each other rather than having to go overseas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Free kick Posted June 30, 2005 Share Posted June 30, 2005 quote:Originally posted by Joe Concacaf Maybe the Oceania winner should play in the final group stage of Asian qualifying? They probably would have to increase the number of teams at that stage from 8 to maybe 10. That wouldn't be right. Why should New Zealand, Vanatu and Guam benefit from such largesse to earn a by right to the final stages. There are more reputable Asian sides that were eliminated in the earlier stages who wouldn't be too happy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Free kick Posted June 30, 2005 Share Posted June 30, 2005 quote:Originally posted by Joe Concacaf Maybe the Oceania winner should play in the final group stage of Asian qualifying? They probably would have to increase the number of teams at that stage from 8 to maybe 10. That wouldn't be right. Why should New Zealand, Vanatu and Guam benefit from such largesse to earn a by right to the final stages. There are more reputable Asian sides that were eliminated in the earlier stages who wouldn't be too happy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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