The (non-FIFA) World Cup

This appeared in Spy Magazine in 1989 (click on image to see full-size and zoom-in-able):

Afghanistan currently looking good for 2010, with home advantage again proving decisive. (Vietnam was always only a pretender.)

Combinations for NZ after first Group F matches

Only a win+draw (or better) in the last two games ensures qualification for NZ, but a win or two draws does allow for lots of chances to go through on goal difference, etc., with somewhat better a priori odds of qualification (just as one would expect) if NZ gets a win and finishes with 4 pts rather than 3.

What NZ's grabbing a point in its first game guarantees is that its last game must mean something. In no case will NZ just be 'playing for pride'. Game on.