The best moments of 2005
5 January 2006
by FIFAworldcup.com
If 2006 will bring the excitement of the FIFA World Cup™ finals in Germany, then the past 12 months in international football were all about the race to qualify for next summer's showpiece. Here FIFAworldcup.com brings you its ten favourite moments of 2005...
1. Japan cross the line first (08/06/05)
Aside from hosts Germany, Japan were the first team assured a place at the FIFA World Cup finals and they achieved that distinction with a 2-0 win over Korea DPR on the neutral ground of Bangkok's Supachalasai stadium. The goalscorers on that June evening were Atsushi Yanagisawa and Masashi Oguro and the victory left Zico's side looking forward to a third successive finals appearance.
2. Argentina blow away Brazil (08/06/05)
It was time to celebrate in Buenos Aires when Argentina became the first South American team to qualify for the FIFA World Cup with a memorable 3-1 defeat of arch-rivals Brazil. A whirlwind start set Argentina on their way to victory as Hernan Crespo and Juan Roman Riquelme put Jose Pekerman's team two up inside 18 minutes. When Crespo made it 3-0 just before the break, thoughts were already turning to the test ahead in Germany the following summer.
3. Wonderful tournament whets appetite for the main event (30/06/05)
In a pulsating final in Frankfurt, Brazil emerged as winners of the FIFA Confederations Cup Germany 2005. The reigning world champions scored an emphatic 4-1 victory over Argentina, with Ronaldinho, Adriano and company dazzling their opponents in a final of the highest quality.
4. Zizou announces his comeback (03/08/05)
Close to a year after he announced his international retirement, the news of Zinedine Zidane's return to a France side which was battling to secure a place at Germany 2006 was exactly the fillip Les Bleus needed as they prepared for some crucial qualifying encounters against the Republic of Ireland and Switzerland.
5. USA defeat old enemy to book berth in Germany (03/09/05)
Qualifying for a FIFA World Cup is always cause for celebration, but to qualify after defeating your arch-rivals adds extra joy. On 3 September, two second-half goals from Steve Ralston and DaMarcus Beasley gave the USA victory over Mexico in Ohio, securing their fifth consecutive place in the finals. It was also the first time since 1934 that the Americans were the first team into the FIFA World Cup from the CONCACAF zone.
6. Ukraine first through the door in Europe (03/09/05)
Of the eight new names on display at next summer's finals, the first to stamp their ticket to Germany were Ukraine and they did so in style. Oleg Blokhin's team were also the first from Europe to qualify, having finished above Turkey, Denmark and Greece in arguably the continent's toughest group. After falling twice previously in the play-offs, they secured their berth with a 1-1 draw in Georgia on 3 September.
7. Talking about a revolution (24/11/05)
The combined FIFA World Cup/CAF African Cup of Nations qualifiers will long be remembered for the many surprises they generated during 2005. The past year saw the advent of new continental standard-bearers, the decline of the traditional superpowers and the emergence of exciting new goalscorers in African football.
8. The wizards of Oz (16/11/05)
Australians need wait no longer to see their national team back on world football's greatest stage after the Socceroos overcame Uruguay 4-2 on penalties in a dramatic play-off second leg in Sydney. With John Aloisi's decisive spot-kick, Guus Hiddink's men erased the memories of four past play-off failures to secure their place in Germany, scene of Australia's one previous finals appearance in 1974.
9. Soca Warriors make history (16/11/05)
Trinidad and Tobago wrote their name in the history books by qualifying for the FIFA World Cup finals for the first time after overcoming Bahrain 2-1 on aggregate in their November play-off. Dennis Lawrence headed the only goal of the second leg in Manama as the Soca Warriors became the smallest nation to qualify for Germany, sparking a huge party back at home in Port of Spain.
