Terry Venables and his Australian team face a play-off with Iran for the right to secure the final place of 32 countries competing in the World Cup Finals in France. Australia learned last night that they will play the first leg of their play-off in Tehran next Saturday, after Japan beat Iran in Malaysia to clinch their place at France '98. The return leg will then be played in Melbourne a week later.
Meanwhile, Jamaica became the first English-speaking Caribbean country ever to qualify for the World Cup finals when they drew 0-0 with Mexico in Kingston.
The island needed only a draw to be sure of reaching the finals in France next year but in the end they could have lost to fellow finalists Mexico and still qualified, as rivals El Salvador were beaten 4-2 defeat in Boston by the United States.
Jamaican Prime Minister PJ Patterson immediately announced a national holiday for today. Team members had already been promised land and low-cost loans to build their own homes, and Patterson promised more was to come.
Japan earned their passage with a dramatic 3-2 win over the Iranians, thanks to a golden goal from ponytailed substitute Masayuki Okano.
Okano tapped in a rebound from a shot by Japan's man-of-the-match Hidetoshi Nakata in the 25th minute of sudden-death extra time.
Japan, prospective co-hosts of the World Cup in 2002, join South Korea and Saudi Arabia as direct Asian entrants.
Japan went a goal up through Masashi Nakayama in the 38th minute and Bundesliga player Khoadadad Azizi equalised for Iran 30 seconds into the second half. Ali Daei made it 2-1 to Iran in the 52nd minute, but Shoji Jo levelled up again with 15 minutes to go, before Okano struck in the 115th minute.
Chile took the fourth and final World Cup qualifying berth in the South American Group yesterday when they defeated Bolivia 3-0 in Santiago - the visitors finishing the match with just eight men.
Chile finished fourth in the South American group and took their place on goal difference from Peru, who beat Paraguay 1-0 in Lima.
Croatia and Yugoslavia secured their places on Saturday. The Croats drew their second leg qualifier 1-1 with Ukraine and go through 3-1 on aggregate.
Dynamo Kiev striker Andriy Shevchenko put the hosts in front after four minutes but Croatia equalised in the 27th minute with a goal from Alen Boksic. The result was never in doubt after that, as Ukraine needed three more to close the gap and cancel Croatia's away goal advantage.
Serb neighbours Yugoslavia joined them in the finals when they completed a 12-1 aggregate drubbing of Hungary in Belgrade, Predrag Mijatovic's four goals helping them to a 5-0 win on the night.
