Battles Begin for Last Five World Cup Spots

Though some of them are playing international friendly matches, the pressure is off for the 27 national soccer teams already flipping through phonebooks looking for a place to stay during next summer's World Cup in Germany.

But it will be anything but a restful week for Spain, Slovakia, Norway, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Turkey, Uruguay or Australia, and Trinidad and Tobago, and Bahrain. They all have to win two-legged playoffs if they don't want to face their fans' scorn. The first games are Saturday, with the final decision coming on Wednesday.

The stress that comes with having to win a playoff was best summed up by Slovakian coach Dusan Galis, who wants to lead his team to the World Cup finals for the first time since the nation gained its independence 12 years ago.

"I'm not interested in anything else. Having a good feeling from a good performance and losing with honor -- I will not be satisfied with anything like that," Galis told reporters. "We have gone this far, so we are able to make the last step."

Slovakia looks to fate to beat Spain

But Arsenal striker Jose Antonio Reyes is confident he and the rest of the heavily favored Spanish team have enough class to beat the Slovakians and make it to their eighth consecutive World Cup finals.

"We are the better team and we are going to prove it," Reyes said. "I am convinced we are going to score goals, and a 2-0 score line would be ideal to take to Slovakia."

Slovakia hope to fate on their side, Spain has qualified for every finals since 1974, when they were held, ironically, in West Germany. Morale in the Slovakian camp is also at a high after they eliminated Russia from the finals. If Galis' team can keep Spain from running rampant Saturday in Madrid, they may still have a chance Wednesday in Bratislava, where they haven't lost since June 2003.

Norway always good for a surprise

Norway will be rated underdogs against the Czechs who are rated the fourth best team in the world in FIFA's rankings and come into the playoff as firm favorites. But Norway will hope to rekindle the spirit of '98 when they stunned Brazil 2-1 in the first round of the World Cup in France.

Norway midfielder Morten Gamst Pedersen said he smells an upset in the Oslo air and is confident his team will make it to their first finals since 1998.

"It's two big games against the Czech Republic but we have beaten big teams before and we will do it again," the 24-year-old Blackburn Rovers player told uefa.com.

The Czechs have already complained about Oslo's wet, muddy pitch that could hamper their passing game, and even though Norway finished second in their group, they will have a lot of improving to do before they make it Germany.

Closest match between Turkey and Switzerland

Whichever of the evenly matched teams wins Saturday will have an even bigger psychological advantage than usual going into Wednesday's final in Turkey.

Turkish coach Fatih Terim is already resigned to fielding a team in Berne without Hertha Berlin midfielder Yildiray Basturk and Besiktas midfielder Ibrahim Akin with knee problems, and now major fitness doubts hanging over striker Hasan Sas and defender Tolga Seyhan as well.

In what may amount to matches between the walking wounded, Switzerland coach Köbi Kuhn has injury concerns of his own, with striker Johan Vonlanthen tearing a ligament in his foot in training on Thursday and there are also doubts over captain Johann Vogel and defender Boris Smiljanic's fitness.

Two intercontinental playoffs remain

Two-time World Cup winners Uruguay are hoping to take a huge step towards the 2006 tournament by sending out an attack-minded line-up for playoff against Australia.

The maturing Socceroos' chances of making it to their first World Cup since 1974 appear more positive under the guidance of Dutchman Guus Hiddink. The Aussies' main problem will be up front in the offense. Harry Kewell, who has played for Liverpool just twice since returning from groin surgery, could however come off the bench late in the match in an attempt to steal a vital away goal in Uruguay.

"I think it will be a very closely contested game, and it will also be physical," said Uruguay defender Dario Rodriguez, who plays club soccer for Schalke 04. "For us the objective is simple. We have to go out and get three points so that we can travel to Australia with no pressure."

Gifts promised to Bahrain's goal scorers

Trinidad and Tobago are approaching the last of the World Cup playoffs against Bahrain with the same setup they used in qualifying.

"Why should I change anything?" Trinidad and Tobago coach Leo Beenhakker said. "Little by little the team has been growing and playing better and better."

The two matches will be a clash of styles as Beenhakker's side is known for its attacking flair while Bahrain are known for layering their rearguard and patiently biding time for the perfect counterattack.

According to media reports Bahrain players, however, will have an added incentive to score in the playoffs. While Bahrain team manager Abdul Razzaq Mohammed denied players would receive the rumored $1 million for scoring (1.17 million euros), he admitted that gifts had been promised to goal scorers.