Football Corner

Austrailia and Trinindad & Tabago have both booked their places in the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany. It is the first ever time that Trinindad have qualified for the World Cup and it's the first time since 1974 that Austrailia have qualified for the World Cup finals.

First of all, we start with the Austrailia game against Uraguay which went all the way to penalties. Marco Bresciano's 35th-minute goal levelled the tie following Uruguay's first-leg victory, but neither team was able to find the telling breakthrough. Following 120 minutes of end-to-end action former Coventry striker John Aloisi scored the decisive spot-kick. Uruguay saw two penalties saved by Mark Schwarzer, and despite Mark Viduka's miss Aloisi saw Australia through. Middlesbrough goalkeeper Schwarzer will share the hero status after saving Uruguay's first and fourth penalties in the shoot-out from Dario Rodriguez and Marcelo Zalayeta.

Now to the game between Trinindad & Tabago and Bahrain. Bahrain had secured a 1-1 draw in the Caribbean on Saturday, but were outplayed in the play-off's second leg. Wrexham's giant defender Dennis Lawrence scored the goal, outjumping the Bahrain defence to powerfully head in a Dwight Yorke corner on 49 minutes. In the closing stages Russell Latapy rattled the bar for Trinidad, while Hussain Ali Baba was red-carded.

Great news obviously for both nations that have qualified and I think that the better side won in each case. I was very happy to see that Austrailia had qualified because I think that they can pose a big threat next summer in Germany. I was also very happy for Trinindad because this is the first ever time that they have qualified for the World Cup and that's always nice to see. I wish the both of the teams that qualified great luck next summer.