Uruguay in comfortable position ahead of soccer World Cup playoff

Uruguay's national football team is in a comfortable position to win a place in the 2006 World Cup, ahead of Wednesday's play-off, Alfedo Etchandi, head of the Uruguayan Sport's Writers' Club said on Monday in Montevideo.

Uruguay won the Montevideo leg of the play-off 1-0, so "if Uruguay scores one goal... it will ensure qualification," said Etchandi. "It does not seem likely that Australia will score three goals against the Uruguay team."

Because of the International Football Asociations Federation (FIFA) away goals rule, each goal from a team playing away from home counts double, when qualifying for the World Cup.

And Uruguay's defense has already proved itself strong, the journalist said.

The team only conceded five goals in the South American round of the FIFA competition, even though it failed to qualify in one go.

Australia was eliminated by Uruguay in the 2001 World Cup playoffs, when the Uruguay lost 1-0 in Australia and then won 3-0 at home. Uruguay has won two World Cups and played in 10 World Cup finals since the competition began in 1930.

Australia has not qualified for the World Cup for 32 years.

On Wednesday, another eight teams will play each other for place in the main football competition: Spain will play Slovakia, Turkey will play Switzerland, Norway will play the Czech Republic, and Bahrain will play Trinidad and Tobago.

Source: Xinhua