Qualifying for the World Cup in Europe comes to an end this Wednesday, with battles still taking place for the final spots for South Africa 2010. Follow me as I provide an in-depth look into the possible outcomes, seeing as five of the nine groups are still undecided. Don't forget that second place teams do not qualify right away. The top eight 2nd place teams out of the nine groups play each other in a play-offs that will decide who goes through.
In Group 1, Denmark has already clinched a birth for South Africa 2010. That leaves Portugal (16 points), Sweden (15 points), and Hungary (13 points) still fighting for that coveted second spot. Portugal are clear favorites having to play bottom feeders Malta in their final match needing only a win or a draw coupled with a Sweden draw or loss. Sweden need to win against Albania and a have Portugal lose or draw in order to advance to the second place play-offs. Hungary play group leaders Denmark, and even though a win would be nice, a Portugal loss and Sweden loss coupled with a win over Denmark will still surely see them miss out.
Prediction: 1st place - Denmark 2nd place - Portugal
Group 2 is going to be very interesting. Switzerland (20 points) and Greece (17 points) can finish 1st or 2nd in the group respectively. Switzerland face Israel needing only a draw or win and a Greece draw or loss to finish top of the group. Greece can leap frog Switzerland for first place provided they get a win against Israel and Switzerland loses. Israel is sitting on 15 points needing to beat Switzerland to have any shot at qualifying. If Israel wins, and Greece draws or loses to Luxembourg, Israel advance to the 2nd place playoffs for a chance to qualify, having only appeared once at the World Cup (1970).
Prediction: 1st place - Switzerland 2nd place - Greece
Group 3 is interesting to say the least. Group leaders Slovakia (19 points) play 5th place Poland (11 points) with a win giving Slovakia an automatic birth in the World Cup. A draw or a loss for Slovakia opens the door for 2nd place Slovenia (17 points) to claim top spot in the group. Playing against winless San Marino (0 points), a victory is almost certain for the Slovak team. Czech Republic, group favorites at the start, have slipped down to the 3rd place with 15 points. They need a win against Northern Ireland and a Slovenia loss or draw to progress to the 2nd place playoffs.
Prediction: 1st place - Slovenia 2nd place - Slovakia
Group 4 is already set with Germany clinching a birth in the finals in South Africa with 25 points and Russia grabbing 2nd place with 21 points.
Group 5 sees Spain (27 points) having already qualified for the World Cup with nine wins from nine matches and Bosnia-Herzegovina grabbing 2nd place with19 points.
In Group 6, England (24 points) earned the top spot with Ukraine (18 points) and Croatia (17 points) fighting it out for the pivotal 2nd place. With an inspiring 1-0 victory against England over the weekend, Ukraine are now in complete control over their destiny. Needing only a win against Andorra, who have lost all nine matches, Ukraine look to be in the drivers seat. Croatia face Kazakhstan, and nothing less then a win and a Ukraine draw or loss will see them crash out.
Prediction: 1st place - England 2nd place - Ukraine
Group 7 saw Serbia shock Europe and grab 1st place with a convincing 22 points and a game to spare. France stumbled into 2nd place on 18 points but will have to wait until the 2nd place play-offs to prove their worthy enough for this summers World Cup.
Group 8 was close but in the end saw defending world champions Italy claim top spot with 22 points and Ireland earning 2nd place with 17 points.
Group 9 is the only group comprised of five teams, not six. The Netherlands dominated the group having not lost a single match and claiming all 24 points. Norway finished 2nd with 10 points, but since the top eight 2nd place teams make the play-offs, Norway will be sorely disappointed having missed out.
In Group 1, Denmark has already clinched a birth for South Africa 2010. That leaves Portugal (16 points), Sweden (15 points), and Hungary (13 points) still fighting for that coveted second spot. Portugal are clear favorites having to play bottom feeders Malta in their final match needing only a win or a draw coupled with a Sweden draw or loss. Sweden need to win against Albania and a have Portugal lose or draw in order to advance to the second place play-offs. Hungary play group leaders Denmark, and even though a win would be nice, a Portugal loss and Sweden loss coupled with a win over Denmark will still surely see them miss out.
Prediction: 1st place - Denmark 2nd place - Portugal
Group 2 is going to be very interesting. Switzerland (20 points) and Greece (17 points) can finish 1st or 2nd in the group respectively. Switzerland face Israel needing only a draw or win and a Greece draw or loss to finish top of the group. Greece can leap frog Switzerland for first place provided they get a win against Israel and Switzerland loses. Israel is sitting on 15 points needing to beat Switzerland to have any shot at qualifying. If Israel wins, and Greece draws or loses to Luxembourg, Israel advance to the 2nd place playoffs for a chance to qualify, having only appeared once at the World Cup (1970).
Prediction: 1st place - Switzerland 2nd place - Greece
Group 3 is interesting to say the least. Group leaders Slovakia (19 points) play 5th place Poland (11 points) with a win giving Slovakia an automatic birth in the World Cup. A draw or a loss for Slovakia opens the door for 2nd place Slovenia (17 points) to claim top spot in the group. Playing against winless San Marino (0 points), a victory is almost certain for the Slovak team. Czech Republic, group favorites at the start, have slipped down to the 3rd place with 15 points. They need a win against Northern Ireland and a Slovenia loss or draw to progress to the 2nd place playoffs.
Prediction: 1st place - Slovenia 2nd place - Slovakia
Group 4 is already set with Germany clinching a birth in the finals in South Africa with 25 points and Russia grabbing 2nd place with 21 points.
Group 5 sees Spain (27 points) having already qualified for the World Cup with nine wins from nine matches and Bosnia-Herzegovina grabbing 2nd place with19 points.
In Group 6, England (24 points) earned the top spot with Ukraine (18 points) and Croatia (17 points) fighting it out for the pivotal 2nd place. With an inspiring 1-0 victory against England over the weekend, Ukraine are now in complete control over their destiny. Needing only a win against Andorra, who have lost all nine matches, Ukraine look to be in the drivers seat. Croatia face Kazakhstan, and nothing less then a win and a Ukraine draw or loss will see them crash out.
Prediction: 1st place - England 2nd place - Ukraine
Group 7 saw Serbia shock Europe and grab 1st place with a convincing 22 points and a game to spare. France stumbled into 2nd place on 18 points but will have to wait until the 2nd place play-offs to prove their worthy enough for this summers World Cup.
Group 8 was close but in the end saw defending world champions Italy claim top spot with 22 points and Ireland earning 2nd place with 17 points.
Group 9 is the only group comprised of five teams, not six. The Netherlands dominated the group having not lost a single match and claiming all 24 points. Norway finished 2nd with 10 points, but since the top eight 2nd place teams make the play-offs, Norway will be sorely disappointed having missed out.
group 2 and 3 look to be the tightest. i think your predictions look good, but we'll have to see.
ReplyDelete