Venezuela And Peru Bow Out As Potential Opponents

Venezuela and Peru have bowed out of the running as potential opponents for the Oceania World Cup play-off winner, following Wednesday nights South American qualifying matches.

Venezuela and Peru have bowed out of the running as potential opponents for the Oceania World Cup play-off winner, following Wednesday nights South American qualifying matches.

Argentina became the first team from the South American CONMEBOL group to qualify for next years 2006 World Cup after trouncing arch rivals Brazil 3-1 in Buenos Aires. Brazil though remain second and need just one more win to make sure of their spot in the finals.

However it-s who will finish in 5th place that is of most interest to Australia and there are now five teams left in the running for that particular spot.

While Venezuela and Peru can still mathematically finish in fifth, they are now both five points in arrears of current fifth-placed team Colombia, with nine points still on offer. They would have to win all three games to possibly achieve that and given their opponents in their last three games and form that is not likely to happen.

Colombia, who will play Australia next August in London, scored n emphatic 3-0 win over Ecuador, who still hold down 3rd despite the loss.

The Colombians are on 20 points, level with Chile (2-1 winners over Venezuela) and two points ahead of Uruguay, who didn-t help their chances by only drawing with Peru.

Paraguay remains in 4th after winning for the first time since last September, by thumping the last placed Bolivia 4-1. They are one point behind Ecuador and two points ahead of Colombia and Chile.

Australia plays the Solomon Islands in September to decide Oceania-s representative in the Oceania/South America World Cup Play-off, which will be effectively the last place decided for the 2006 World Cup finals.

The last rounds for those teams still in contention for automatic places (2 places) and 5th place.

Ecuador (23 points) - Bolivia (A), Uruguay (H), Chile (A) Paraguay (22 points) - Argentina (H), Venezuela (A), Colombia (H) Colombia (20 points) - Uruguay (A), Chile (H), Paraguay (A) Chile (20 points) - Brazil (A), Colombia (A), Ecuador (H) Uruguay (18 points) - Colombia (H), Ecuador (A), Argentina (H)

Given Ecuador-s poor away record, a win in their final home game against Uruguay is a must and should be enough to seal them a place in the finals.

Colombia is the form team in South America at the moment and with matches against all teams in contention, they will have a big say in the final make up of the final placings.

Chile faces two tough away games next up and failure to get points in either game, could mean their campaign will be over prior to their last home game against Ecuador.

Australia-s last 2002 World Cup nemesis Uruguay, face an uphill struggle and a loss in any of its last three games will probably spell the end for them. A trip to the high altitude of Ecuador poses a significant problem, especially when you consider that Ecuador has only dropped two points there during this campaign so far.