2010 FIFA World Cup Betting Tips, Picks and Odds: Aussies await South American foe; Uruguay favourites to meet Socceroos in World Cup playoff

The tensions are mounting in some corners of the South American continent ahead of Wednesday's final opportunity to secure the fifth and final FIFA World Cup ticket for Germany.

With four teams already qualified for the Germany 2006 finals Uruguay, Colombia and Chile are vying to claim fifth spot in the group after the final round of matches which would land them a play-off place against Australia. Only a point separates the three countries who are hoping to join Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Ecuador.

Australia won the Oceania group and with no direct qualification must play-off against the South America zone fifth placed team. Whoever that turns out to be may be causing some concern Down Under, especially if it turns out to be Uruguay.

Australia warmed up for next month's World Cup qualifier with a comfortable 5-0 thrashing of Jamaica at Craven Cottage. It was a one-sided match with goals from Marco Bresciano, Archie Thompson, Mark Viduka, John Aloisi and Joel Griffiths sealing the win.

Uruguay, who currently occupy fifth place in the 10-team group on 22 points, would initially appear to have the hardest task but on second glance their home advantage against group winners Argentina could prove decisive.

Very few teams go to the Uruguayan capital and come away with the points. Early on in the campaign Uruguay, coached by Jorge Fossati, succumbed to two shock home defeats, by Venezuela (0-3) and Peru (1-3) a few months later.

But since then, the team which has notched up five wins and seven draws from their 17 games so far have given little to their visitors at the Centenario stadium. World champions Brazil were held to a 1-1 draw in Montevideo back in March and their last match at home ended in a 3-2 defeat for Colombia.