Tonight is a massively important night for 12 soccer teams around the world, as the last six places available at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa will be claimed. Three years worth of qualification games, media hype, disappointing results, determination and hard work all boil down to these six games.
For the six teams the last three years of strife will be worth it, but for the other six it will mean they will have to wait at least another four years to be in a World Cup.
For the older players it will represent their last chance of playing on the biggest stage in soccer, and the fact that it is a landmark tournament, the first ever FIFA World Cup in Africa, just adds to the desire to be a part of the spectacle.
Of the six places left, four are for European teams, one is for a play-off between the best of the worst from South and North America, and the last place is being fought for by two African teams.
In the European section the play-off is played over two legs, the first having been played over the weekend. This has resulted in some teams having a distinct advantage going into this evenings games.
There has been a lot of talk, especially from the Portuguese and French, about how people should be getting behind Portugal and France, because if they don’t qualify some of the best players in the world won’t be at the World Cup, cheapening the event.
Personally I don’t care, soccer is a team game, and if Portugal have the best player in the world and can’t qualify through their group or past Bosnia, they really don’t deserve to be at the World Cup.
France vs Republic of Ireland
The French traveled to Ireland over the weekend for the first leg and came home with a vital 1-0 win, thanks to a Nicolas Anelka goal.
France will be incredibly fired up for the game, as they are looking to use the World Cup in South Africa next year to make up for their dismal showing in last years Euro Championship in which France didn’t win a single game.
Taking a one goal lead into the game in Paris tonight gives the French a major advantage. Another thing the French will take heart in from the first leg was how impotent the Irish looked going forward.
If France can score an early goal in Paris the tie will be all but over. The best Ireland can hope for is to back there defence and sneak a cheeky goal with a counter attack and look to win on penalties.
Ukraine vs Greece
Of all the teams who finished second in their qualification groups, meaning they had to play in the play-offs, Ukraine could count themselves amongst the most unfortunate.
They were part of the group which included England, who finished the campaign with nine wins from ten games, and the only team that England lost to during qualifying was the Ukraine.
They would probably have qualified comfortably from five out of the nine groups. But even as it stands they are favourites to go through. Greece experienced a woeful qualification campaign finishing second in their group behind Switzerland and only three points above Latvia. The other teams in their group were Israel, Luxembourg and Moldova. Not exactly England or Croatia like Ukraine had in their group.
Ukraine also managed a 0-0 draw in Athens over the weekend, putting them in the pound seat for qualification. Added to that is the fact that Ukraine are yet to lose at home in qualification so far. One worry the Ukrainians will have however is that the Greeks have actually been relatively strong on the road during qualification. Still, Advantage Ukraine
Slovenia vs Russia
Russia were another team that were a little unlucky not to qualify directly. A couple results here and there and they could have got themselves above Germany and booked cheaper early flights to South Africa.
Russia were right on top of Germany with two qualification games left, but then succumbed to a defeat in Moscow to Germany to end there hopes of automatic qualification. Then an away draw to Azerbaijan sealed a very disappointing end to the qualification campaign.
If Slovenia do eventually manage to get through to the World Cup Showpiece in South Africa it will be a surprise backdoor entry of some note. They finished second in easily the most awful group in qualification. They finished second behind Slovakia, and second above the Czech Republic (who were uncharacteristically bad, but definitely deserved not to qualify), Northern Ireland, Poland, and San Marino. Yes, it really was that bad.
After the draw for the play-offs Russia would’ve been pleased to get former satellite state Slovenia as opposition. Comfortably the easiest opponent in the play-off draw. But Slovenia through a spanner in the Russian engine by scoring a late consolation goal in Moscow over the weekend.
Russia still won the game 2-1, BUT it gave Slovenia an away goal, which means that if Slovenia can grab a goal from somewhere in the home leg and hold Russia out, they will win the tie 2-2 on away goals.
Russia still have the advantage, but there will definitely be some nerves amongst the Russians going out onto the field against Slovenia tonight.
Bosnia-Herzegovina vs Portugal
Portugal should never have found themselves in this situation, they have a squad full of world class players including, World Player of the Year, and one of the top two players in the world, Cristiano Ronaldo. Added to that was the fact that they had an “easy” group, and they should have qualified easily, but they didn’t.
Portugal made it to the play-offs finishing second behind Denmark, yes you read correctly, and above Sweden, Hungary, Albania and Malta.
A home loss to Denmark and draws against Albania (at home), Denmark and Sweden twice, probably had more than a little to do with them finishing second.
Portugal take a slight advantage into tonight’s game having won the first leg in Portugal 1-0. BUT, they have to play tonight’s game without Ronaldo. Portugal have been woeful without him recently, lacking creativity going forward, looking lost in front of goal, not finding gaps in defence.
In short I would almost back Bosnia to go through, there are many people who want Portugal, and Ronaldo, to go through and they might, but this is by far the most interesting of the European ties being played tonight.
Algeria vs Egypt
Different from all the remain qualification ties, the Africa play-off is a once off game played at a neutral venue. The reason the play-off is necessary is that Egypt and both Algeria finished Group C of the African qualify campaign with the same amount of points, the same goal difference, and the same goals for and against.
Making a play-off at a neutral venue the only way to separate the two sides. The Pharaohs, Egypt, and all their fans thought their drive for South Africa 2010 was all whilst playing Algeria in Cairo, leading 1-0 when the 90 minutes were up, the slender victory not being enough to leapfrog Algeria on the table. Luckily for the Pharaohs the officials saw fit to add six minutes of extra time, in which Egypt scored, forcing the Neutral play-off.
Usually Egypt would be favourites for the clash, but being as the countries are such big rivals and they were so even throughout the entire campaign. This is going to be a very close encounter. The fact that Egypt won the last meeting between the two 2-0 gives them the edge.
Uruguay vs Costa Rica
Being played all the way in the Western Hemisphere means that this game will decide the very last of the 32 qualifiers for the FIFA 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Uruguay should get through this game easily, history is on their side, as way more often than not the team from South America over the team from the North. And this year really shouldn’t be any different.
Costa Rica made it to the play-off through finishing behind the United States of America, Mexico and Honduras above El Salvador and Trinidad and Tobago. Not the hugest names in the soccer world.
Whereas Uruguay finished behind, and had to compete with Brazil, Paraguay, Chile and Argentina and above Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Bolivia and Peru. Definitely much stronger opposition.
Uruguay also take a 1-0 advantage into the second leg tonight, and barring some magic from Costa Rica, this should be an easy tie for Uruguay. It’s a little surprising that bookies are still taking bets on this one, I wouldn’t
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