We know four of the six sides who will contest the Intercontinental Play-Off. We have representatives from North America (Honduras), South America (Bolivia), Europe (Poland) and Africa (South Africa). We will get the remaining two today, as we finish qualifying in Asia & Oceania.
This is how the last round of qualifying went in these continents:
This is how the last round of qualifying went in these continents:
Iran and South Korea finished third in their groups, meaning they go head-to-head in the Asian play-offs, whilst New Zealand and Australia (unsurprisingly) were the two Oceanic teams to battle through there.
Each play-off is a two-legged affair, so let's begin with the first legs...
First leg
Iran vs South Korea
South Korea were probably more impressive in regular Asian qualifying, as Iran crept into the play-off spot in a group where they appeared to have blown it, whilst South Korea narrowly missed out on an automatic qualification spot on the final day.
South Korea drew first blood in the 41st minute, as a fine early cross from Hong Chul found Ricardo Lopes in tons of space to slot it home. Iran couldn't get through to the break undamaged, as the exact same pairing teamed up again; Hong's cross headed in by Lopes. Iran rallied a bit in the second half, but couldn't recover. Thus, South Korea claimed a very impressive 2-0 away win.
Each play-off is a two-legged affair, so let's begin with the first legs...
First leg
Iran vs South Korea
South Korea were probably more impressive in regular Asian qualifying, as Iran crept into the play-off spot in a group where they appeared to have blown it, whilst South Korea narrowly missed out on an automatic qualification spot on the final day.
South Korea drew first blood in the 41st minute, as a fine early cross from Hong Chul found Ricardo Lopes in tons of space to slot it home. Iran couldn't get through to the break undamaged, as the exact same pairing teamed up again; Hong's cross headed in by Lopes. Iran rallied a bit in the second half, but couldn't recover. Thus, South Korea claimed a very impressive 2-0 away win.
New Zealand vs Australia
Obviously these two are rivals, but there's extra spark in this game as several New Zealand players (including two well-known to followers of English football in Gary Hooper and Steven Taylor) play for Wellington Phoenix in real life, who play in the Australian A-League. Going into this game, this appears to be an exceptionally well-matched tie.
And it was Hooper who continued a prolific campaign with a 19th-minute volley from close range following a corner to put New Zealand ahead. Australia levelled 17 minutes later, Bruno Fornaroli breaking the offside trap to run through and score. Hooper restored the New Zealand lead just after the hour mark, with a copycat offside-breaking run and finish, but once again Australia came back. This time it was in the 89th minute, as Fornaroli put away Nicolai Muller's low cross. Except - the flag was raised and the goal was chalked off! Thus, New Zealand were 2-1 victors.
Obviously these two are rivals, but there's extra spark in this game as several New Zealand players (including two well-known to followers of English football in Gary Hooper and Steven Taylor) play for Wellington Phoenix in real life, who play in the Australian A-League. Going into this game, this appears to be an exceptionally well-matched tie.
And it was Hooper who continued a prolific campaign with a 19th-minute volley from close range following a corner to put New Zealand ahead. Australia levelled 17 minutes later, Bruno Fornaroli breaking the offside trap to run through and score. Hooper restored the New Zealand lead just after the hour mark, with a copycat offside-breaking run and finish, but once again Australia came back. This time it was in the 89th minute, as Fornaroli put away Nicolai Muller's low cross. Except - the flag was raised and the goal was chalked off! Thus, New Zealand were 2-1 victors.
So this is the state of play:
Second leg
South Korea (2) vs Iran (0)
Iran have it all to do. They abandon their rugged 4-4-2 shape for the ever-popular 4-2-3-1. This sees Kévin Fortuné and Vahid Amiri replaced by Masoud Shojaei and Mohammad Reza Khalatbari. Unsurprisingly, South Korea are unchanged.
South Korea (2) vs Iran (0)
Iran have it all to do. They abandon their rugged 4-4-2 shape for the ever-popular 4-2-3-1. This sees Kévin Fortuné and Vahid Amiri replaced by Masoud Shojaei and Mohammad Reza Khalatbari. Unsurprisingly, South Korea are unchanged.
Iran start brightly, and Mehdi Torabi is unlucky to be caught offside when through on goal. But disaster strikes at the other end for Iran as that man Lopes clips a lovely cross at the far post where Yeom Ki-Hoon heads in to extend South Korea's advantage!
Khalatbari goes close from range, before teeing up Shojaei to hit the post. The rebound loops perfectly for Cheick Diabaté, whose header somehow clips the bar and goes over! He goes close with a header soon after, whilst Ehsan Hajsafi forces Kim Seung-Gyu into a fine save from a free kick. Other than the goal, it has been all Iran - but South Korea nearly land a sucker-punch as Kim Min-Hyuk hits the post with a header. South Korea get to half time intact. Iran need three goals.
South Korea try and regain control of the game by switching to a 4-3-3 formation, and it nearly has an immediate impact as Cesinha goes close following a long passing move. In the 53rd minute a South Korean free kick is swung into the box and a penalty is awarded for a shove by Jalal Hosseini! Cesinha steps up with the chance to put this match to bed... but he hits the post! South Korea continue to impress, as Kim Seung-Dae has a goal disallowed for a marginal offside.
South Korea try and regain control of the game by switching to a 4-3-3 formation, and it nearly has an immediate impact as Cesinha goes close following a long passing move. In the 53rd minute a South Korean free kick is swung into the box and a penalty is awarded for a shove by Jalal Hosseini! Cesinha steps up with the chance to put this match to bed... but he hits the post! South Korea continue to impress, as Kim Seung-Dae has a goal disallowed for a marginal offside.
Iran continue to labour at the other end, and cannot find any kind of breakthrough. In the end, they are left clinging onto a 3-0 aggregate defeat, and South Korea go through!
Australia (1) vs New Zealand (2)
Patrick Ziegler had a bad game in the first leg, certainly at fault for New Zealand's first goal, and he's dropped for Matthew Jurman in the Australian back line. Otherwise, there are no changes in either team's side.
Australia (1) vs New Zealand (2)
Patrick Ziegler had a bad game in the first leg, certainly at fault for New Zealand's first goal, and he's dropped for Matthew Jurman in the Australian back line. Otherwise, there are no changes in either team's side.
The match doesn't start well for Australia, as Adama Traoré (no, not that one) picks up a hamstring injury. He's able to continue, but it doesn't bode well. Twice Australia concede chances from their own goal kicks. Both times Kwabena Appiah is able to race through, but he puts his two chances wide and at the keeper. New Zealand continue to make the slightly better chances, and just before half time another one falls to Appiah. Again, he can only hit it at Filip Kurto, but the rebound falls to Hooper and he makes it 3-1 on aggregate!
With all of those Appiah chances coming in the gap behind Traoré, he is replaced by Ziegler at the break. It takes Australia until the 66th minute to force a decent chances, as Fornaroli runs through to force Jake Gleeson into a good stop. A few minutes later, and a fantastic cross by Robbie Kruse hangs invitingly for Fornaroli to head home and bring Australia to within one!
Just a couple of minutes later, Appiah gives away a free kick right on the edge of the box. Fornaroli strikes it... into the top corner! We're all-square!
What drama! This tie has been the Hooper and Fornaroli show, but finally someone else gets in on the act. And it's none other than Ziegler, ghosting in at the far post to meet Panagiotis Kone's cross to complete a remarkable comeback!
Three goals in under 6 minutes have seen Australia fly into the lead! A shell-shocked New Zealand only need one goal to win it on away goals, but the closest they come is a long-range David Ball effort that sails wide. The final whistle goes, and Australia have somehow done it!
Here are the final results:
Here are the final results:
For the first time, New Zealand fail to make the ICPO, as Australia get the reward for switching from Asia to Oceania. Meanwhile, South Korea look to repeat their 201 feat of making the finals.
There's only one continent left to finish, and that's Europe. Next time we see how the play-offs there go.
There's only one continent left to finish, and that's Europe. Next time we see how the play-offs there go.