Who would have thought that after two games that the only teams with maximum points would be Bahrain and Uzbekistan? Those two nations got pretty close to reaching the 2006 World Cup and perhaps in South Africa we will see some new faces representing from this giant continent.

Bahrain picked up a first ever win against Japan after coming close in the past. The tiny Gulf State sit three points clear in Group Two and with two games still to go against Thailand, on paper and according to results so far, the weakest team in the group, Milan Macala’s team are looking good for occupying one of the top two spots.

Uzbekistan hinted at the 2007 Asian Cup that they were a team on the rise and in Asian terms, a 3-0 win over Saudi Arabia is impressive. The is a great deal of young talent in the team from Tashkent and of all the Asian nations that have yet to take a bow on the global stage, the Uzbeks could be the ones that finally do so.

The setbacks suffered by the Saudis and the Japanese away from home, shows that Australia and South Korea have cause to be satisfied with away day goalless draws. Despite suggestions to the contrary from some quarters, a point against a tough North Korean team, albeit in Shanghai and not Pyongyang, is a satisfactory result.

Australia too with be satisfied with a point in tough conditions in China. Missing a number of stars, playing at altitude, conceding a late penalty and still coming away with a point against a team desperate to win, is the kind of performance that is necessary during qualification phases. It was the kind of test that Australia wanted when it decided to join the Asian family.

Iran have much more to worry about. Until the game against Kuwait, the team couldn’t score but two goals in the first four minutes at the Peace and Friendship Stadium put a swift end to that barren run. Unfortunately, problems came at the other end and Team Melli were unable to hold on to their lead against a spirited Kuwait team.

Two draws in two games is no disaster but it does mean that breathing space is getting smaller all the time. A poor result against group leaders UAE on matchday three will see new coach Ali Daei under a great deal of early pressue.

Along with Lebanon, whose understrength team went down 2-0 in Singapore, Turkmenistan and Thailand are the teams pointless from the first two games. It is a tough road back into the contention for any of these teams. The Thais and the Turkmen were unfortunate to have opening day matches in Japan and Korea but that is the way it goes.

South Africa is little more than a dot on the horizon for the unfortunate trio. But nothing has been decided yet.