Spain and Turkey both enjoyed differing fortunes in the last
FIFA World Cup™ qualifying campaign after ending up in the
play-offs. While the Spanish safely secured their ticket, the
Turks, the third-placed nation at the 2002 FIFA World Cup
Korea/Japan™,
cheap jerseys, were eliminated by Switzerland.
The two contenders now come face to face in a group in which the
Iberians will once again cross swords with Bosnia-Herzegovina and
Belgium, two of their opponents on the road to Germany 2006.
Whereas the Bosnians have grown in stature in recent campaigns,
Belgium's fortunes are on the wane after failing in their three
last attempts to reach a major finals.
Estonia and Armenia, neither of whom have progressed beyond the
qualifying stage, complete the group and will be anxious to show
sign of progress.
The favourites
Spain and Turkey:LaRoja have been an ever-present at the last eight finals
and will have no excuses for failing to make it nine in a row.
After their fine showing in 2002, Turkey are sure to pose the
biggest threat to them.
The outsiders
Bosnia-Herzegovina: The Balkan outfit beat Belgium when the two were paired
together in the qualifying group for Germany 2006 and finished in
third place just behind Spain, from whom they grabbed a couple of
creditable draws. With that kind of pedigree, the Bosnians could
give the section's big guns a fright.
The players to watch
David Villa (ESP), Andres Iniesta (ESP), Cesc Fabregas (ESP),
Sergio Ramos (ESP), Nihat Kahveci (TUR),
authentic jerseys from china, Emre Belozoglu (TUR) and
Hasan Salihamidzic (BIH).
The crunch match
Turkey-Spain: These two sides look odds-on to fight it out
for first place and Spain's visit to the Turkish fortress could
well prove decisive. The red-hot atmosphere of Istanbul is sure to
put the Spaniards' nerve to the test.
A look back
Spain v Belgium, 22 June 1986,
wholesale nfl jerseys china, Puebla: Belgium ended Spanish dreams in an agonising penalty
shootout when the two teams met in the quarter-finals of the 1986
FIFA Cup Mexico™. Spain were buoyant after sweeping aside Denmark
5-1,
wholesale jerseys, but Belgium were not to be denied and secured their best ever
finals placing by reaching the semis, where they went out to Diego
Maradona's Argentina.
The stat
8: The number of times Turkey and Spain have
squared off, with the Iberians winning three,
wholesale jerseys free shipping, drawing four and
losing only one.
Did you know?
The top two seeds locked horns in a play-off for the 1954
FIFA World Cup Switzerland™. After winning a game apiece and
drawing the decider in Rome, their fate was decided by a toss of a
coin, with the Turks calling correctly.
The question
Which of the two will have to take the play-off route this
time? Click on "Add your comment" to give us your
view,
buy cheap jerseys.
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