Australia lost their first home qualifier in 27 years against China and also lost (again) to the Asian champions Iraq in Dubai. They also escaped a last minute missed penalty when the Energie Cottbus player Shao Jiyai missed a crucial chance to win the game for China in the second round. Australia also struggled at home to Iraq who paid the price for missing three one-on-one chances with Schwarzer. Australia certainly escaped the group of death but can to its defence claim that they missed a few key players in Cahill, Viduka and Neill. Cahill was injured, Neill missed a few matches while Viduka did the same as Hashemian, saying no to playing.

Bahrain impressed twice against Japan beating them for the first time at home and managing a deadlock for 89 minutes in the away game. The only difference in this Bahrain team from the team four year ago who missed the 2006 World Cup by only one goal is the new coach Macala. Other than that Bahrain is playing almost exactly the same eleven as four years ago and almost the same "unfair play" tactics as before.

Iran under new coach Ali Daei is unbeaten being only one out of three teams who can brag about not being beaten. Daei has been building a new team despite having no time really to do that. So far so good for the legend that is expected to strengthen his team in the next round with Hashemian, Mahdavikia and Karimi. As well as having Nekounam and Andranik who will be getting back in to their best shape.

Japan underwent a small crisis after being beaten in the first group stage for many years. Coach Okada was under huge pressure and decided to call up his European based players for the remaining matches after the Bahrain loss. Nakamura, Hasebe and Matsui strengthened the team however Japan kept struggling throughout the qualifier and the never lasting finishing headache of Japanese football continues as Nakamura impersonated that last week against Bahrain missing a penalty-kick.

This new version of Korea DPR very much looks and plays like the previous once, except for being better in everything they do. The teams biggest star is lone-striker Jong Tae Se who plays in Japan for Kawasaki but the second striker is probably just as talented, Hong, who plays his football in Serbia. Korea DPR astonishingly didn’t concede a single goal in its six games.

Qatar fields almost a whole eleven who have no connection whatsoever with the country. Saqr the Senegalese goalkeeper is for the region a good keeper and has Abdulla Koni the captain in front of him in a strong central defence. Koni is also from Senegal although the team’s biggest star is undoubtedly Sebastian the Uruguayan striker. Sebastian has in the attack been supported by Fabio Cesar and Emerson whom there has been a lot of controversy around. Rumours have it that Qatar is chasing several new foreign players for the last stage.

Saudi Arabia played some good football in last summers Asian Cup and has kept more or less the same squad since then. Malek Maaz has in the absence of Al-Qahtani filled in as the team’s goal scorer. The countries best clubs struggled this year in the AFC Champions League as both teams got eliminated in the group stage but the national team will aim to do better and qualify for its fifth consecutive World Cup.

South Korea has more or less a similar team to the last years and has kept playing its own style of football. Despite having its European based players the team has struggled and played out three draws, two of them at home and the third on neutral ground. Park Ji Sung is the biggest star in the team and comes from a brilliant season in Manchester United.

UAE managed to go through on goal difference thanks to a min 93 strike by Iran’s Mohsen Khalili away to Syria in the second last round. Two wins, two draws and two losses proved to be enough for the reigning Gulf cup champions. Ismail Matar is the big star and threat to the opponents while Subait Khater’s free kicks also will be a dangerous weapon. Although the UAE will be underdogs, Bruno Metsu could do wonders with the team.

Uzbekistan impressed the continent at last summers Asian Cup and has kept doing so ever since by winning five straight games before losing away to Saudi Arabia. Maksim Shatskikh is the big star and goal scorer in the team and will be vital for them in the next round. Kuruvchi impressed in the AFC Champions League by surviving the "group of death".