Five of the Best World Cup Qualifying Play-Offs

Australia v Uruguay, 2006 World Cup Qualifying

As the winners of the Oceania qualifying tournament, Australia faced off against the 5th placed team from the South American qualifying tournament, Uruguay, to determine who went to the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Australia were after revenge having been denied a place at the 2002 tournament courtesy of a 3-1 aggregate defeat at the hands of Uruguay. A Dario Rodriguez goal was enough to win the South Americans the first leg 1-0. The return leg finished 1-0 to Australia, courtesy of Mark Bresciano's first half strike, which sent the game to penalties. Goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer was the hero as he saved two penalties to help Australia to a 4-2 win on a penalty shootout and send them through to Germany 2006.

Scotland v Australia, 1986 World Cup Qualifying

Courtesy of FIFA's allocation of places for the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, the Oceania winner had to play-off against a team from UEFA for a spot in the finals. Australia, somewhat a veteran of play-offs these days, travelled to Scotland for a first leg match which the Scots won 2-0. Under the guidance of Alex Ferguson for both legs, following the death of national coach Jock Stein, Scotland drew the second leg 0-0 to qualify for the World Cup.

Trinidad and Tobago v Bahrain, 2006 World Cup Qualifying

After controversially being denied a spot in the 1974 tournament some 32 years previous, Trinidad and Tobago finally got their chance on the world stage at the 2006 World Cup. As the fourth place team in the CONCACAF qualifying tournament, they faced the fifth place team of the Asia qualifying tournament, Bahrain, to determine who went to Germany. Bahrain thought they had stolen an edge with a crucial away goal in the first leg, through Abdulla Marzooq, but Christopher Birchall kept Trinidad in the game at 1-1. In the second leg, Dennis Lawrence's second half goal cancelled out Bahrain's away goal advantage, and Trinidad held on, as Bahrain finished the game with ten men following Hussain Baba's dismissal.

Iran v Australia, 1998 World Cup Qualifying

Twenty years after defeating Australia to reach their first World Cup in 1978, Iran faced the same challenge to reach France 1998. Australia, managed by Englishman Terry Venables, earned a creditable 1-1 draw in Tehran in the first leg in front of more than 100,000 people. Australia's progression looked all the more likely when they led 2-0 in the second leg, not long after the break, but Iran managed to turn the game on its ahead, and pulled back to secure a 2-2 draw - and progress to their second World Cup on the away goals rule.

Switzerland v Turkey, 2006 World Cup Qualifying

Having finished as runners-up in their respective groups, Switzerland were drawn against Turkey in the UEFA play-offs for the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Switzerland held a commanding position after the first leg, winning 2-0 through goals from Philippe Senderos and Valon Behrami. Alexander Frei's early penalty gave them a crucial away goal in the second leg, before a brace from Tuncay put Turkey in with a shout. Necati's goal put Turkey 3-1 up, but Switzerland still held the advantage on the away goals ruling and Marco Streller's 84th minute goal all but sealed their passage to the finals. Tuncay completed his hat-trick late on to seal a 4-2 win for the Turks on the night, but Switzerland went through thanks to the away goals rule, 4-4 on aggregate.

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