The calculations alone are enough to boggle the mind but the consequences of failing to reach the World Cup in this week's final qualification round games are too horrible to even think about. It's crunch time in the race for Germany 2006 and some countries are dragging themselves to the finish line.

The World Cup qualifiers, which could decide the fate of as many as 23 teams, began again on Saturday. Ten countries, including Germany -- the hosts -- and reigning world champions Brazil are already guaranteed a starting place at the finals next summer.

It was a bumper day of World Cup action as nearly 40 matches took place all over the globe followed by another full round in Europe, South America and CONCACAF, the North American and Caribbean zone, next Wednesday. At the end of the nerve-wracking week, 27 of the 32 finalists should be known with the five outstanding berths to be filled in November's play-offs.

For some, the pressure is already off: Italy, England, the Netherlands and Portugal qualified on Saturday, along with Paraguay, Ecuador and Costa Rica in South America and Togo, Ghana, Tunesia, Angola and Cote d'Ivoire in Africa.

For others, it will be a case of hope, prayer and mathematics with a number of teams needing a victory or the results of others to improve their own chances.

Host Germany, Ukraine only Euro qualifiers so far

The final European tables are looking especially edgy.

Former world champions France, who shockingly went out in the first round in Japan/Korea in 2002, looked to be heading for the ignominy of failing at the qualification stage this time round, but have dragged themselves to within sight of Germany in the tightly-bunched Group Four. But after a 1-1 draw with Switzerland, they could still lose the space to the Swiss.

It's was also a nail-biting time for England in Group Six. After looking to be coasting to at least a best runner-up spot and qualification for the finals, Sven Goran Eriksson's team had its World Cup destiny in its own hands after a 1-0 defeat to Northern Ireland in Belfast last month.

But England beat Austria at Old Trafford and qualified after the Czech Republic lost at home to the Netherlands.

South America and CONCACAF on a knife edge

Away from Europe, things were no less fraught. In the South American qualifiers, Argentina and Brazil already occupy two of the four automatic qualifying berths. The remaining places could were filled by Ecuador and Paraguay on Saturday.

Ecuador avoided defeat at home to Uruguay to guarantee themselves a top four finish while Paraguay won in Venezuela.

In the CONCACAF final group, Costa Rica qualified as third-placed finishers after beating the United States 3-0. The US have already booked their place in the finals.

Africa will know it's representatives by Sunday

While many of the zonal qualification places will be decided by Wednesday night, the African qualifiers were all known by Sunday morning as Africa's qualifying tournament ended at the weekend.

On Saturday, Togo qualified for their first-ever World Cup after beating Congo 3-2. Ghana also went through after avoiding defeat in the Cape Verde Islands (4-0), while Angola qualified for the first time ever by beating Rwanda 1-0. Cote d'Ivoire is also in after beating Sudan 3-1 as favorite Cameroon tied 1-1 with Egypt and will therefore not head to Germany.

Tunisia are in their third successive finals after drawing 2-2 with Morocco.