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Finalising the World Cup places…

Published by Ian John on November 14, 2009

The final nine teams who will contest next summers World Cup Finals in South Africa will be decided this week. Three African groups will be completed and the winners of the three groups will join Ivory Coast, Ghana and hosts South Africa in the finals next summer. The other sides to take up the remaining six places will be decided by play off matches, four in Europe, one between Uruguay and Costa Rica and the final place has already been decided with New Zealand defeating Bahrain to qualify for the finals for only the second time in their history.

Without wishing to be controversial, most interest will be in the four European play off ties which see some interesting matches to be played today and on Wednesday night. In arguably the biggest game of the four, Geovanni Trappatoni’s Republic of Ireland team take on Raymond Domenech’s France, the other ties seeing Russia take on Slovenia, Portugal face off against Bosnia-Herzegovina and Greece face the team who ousted Croatia from second place in England’s group, Ukraine.

The French will be confident of victory, especially with the second leg being in Paris on Wednesday, but at Croke Park with a passionate home support, Ireland have proven a match for anybody in recent years and with the likes of Kevin Doyle and Robbie Keane, they can pose a serious threat to the French, who will be without Franck Ribery for both legs. While the French have a better squad on paper, the Irish can look back on an unbeaten qualifying campaign, including draws away and at home (in a game they really should have won) against World Champions Italy. This looks like being a stern test for the French and if the Irish can take any advantage into the second leg in Paris on Wednesday, they could well be in the driving seat.

Portugal were reckoned by many critics to have the “soft” draw when they drew Bosnia-Herzegovina. I am not so sure as I think that does a much improved B-H side a real disservice. Portuguese boss Carlos Queiroz called up the injured Cristiano Ronaldo for the game but it seems almost inconceivable that the Real Madrid star will feature, given that his club have already stated he is injured. This poses a real worry for Portugal whose form, although improved of late, has been erratic over the past couple of years. While it will be tough, I think that even despite the skills of the hugely impressive Edin Dzeko, Portugal will have just too much for B-H in this one.

Guus Hiddinck’s Russia will face Slovenia in what looks an intriguing class of Eastern European sides. Slovenia have bounced back in recent times, as after they put up a fantastic show at Euro 2000 they seemed to fall into a terminable decline. Russia only missed out on automatic qualification after an uncharacteristically poor performance at home to Germany saw them lose the game and with Hiddink unlikely to let lightning strike twice, it is hard to see past Russia making it to the finals.

The final play off in Europe is possibly also the most evenly contested. Euro 2000 winners Greece take on Ukraine in what looks a very evenly matched contest. Neither side have really been in particularly dominant form and both boast experienced squads so this could be one that goes down to the wire. It’s a real 50-50 call, but I just feel Ukraine’s extra attacking flair may well be the deciding factor and I tip them to edge out the Greeks.

With Uruguay hot favourites to clinch the Central/South American play off spot ahead of Costa Rica, it is all shaping up to be a fantastic feast of football next summer!

Image Courtesy of ***Shine2010*** at Flickr.com

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