The Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Belgium and Switzerland have clinched berths from Europe for next year's World Cup by winning their qualifying groups and four more spots will be decided on Tuesday on the last day of group play. Sweden and Croatia are assured of spots in the playoffs, which feature eight of the nine second-place teams and will determine four more berths. Six more nations will earn berths in the October 21 draw.
Five things to know about Tuesday's European qualifiers:
ONE POINT ENOUGH FOR SPAIN
Barring a major upset, Spain will be defending their world title next summer in Brazil. The Spanish (5-0-2), who also are the reigning European champions, need just a point from their home match against Georgia to secure top spot in Group I ahead of France (4-1-2).
Les Bleus must beat Finland (2-2-3) at home and hope Georgia (1-4-2) can pull off one of the biggest upsets in recent qualifying history for Spain to drop into the playoffs.
"They will play very defensively. But the truth is that while we often have trouble in those types of games, very few times do they escape us," said Spain striker Alvaro Negredo, whose team needed an 86th-minute goal from Roberto Soldado to edge Georgia 1-0 in their first meeting.
The main questions for Spain are who will play at forward and in goal. Coach Vicente Del Bosque went with Michu to start Friday's 2-1 win over Belarus, but Negredo came in and scored the decisive goal. Victor Valdes started that game as Spain's goalkeeper, leaving captain Iker Casillas on the bench.
The Spain game will be played in Albacete, near playmaker Andres Iniesta's hometown.
A REPEAT OF 1973?
It was and forever will be one of the most painful episodes in the history of England's national team. In 1973, England needed to beat Poland at Wembley Stadium in their final World Cup qualifier to advance to the following year's tournament in West Germany, but could only draw 1-1 after an extraordinary goalkeeping performance from Poland's Jan Tomaszewski.
The same scenario presents itself 40 years later. With second-place Ukraine (5-1-3) expected to defeat San Marino in their last group game, England (5-0-4) likely will have to beat the already-eliminated Poles (3-2-4) to win Group H and avoid the playoffs.
"I think they'll want to come here and win the game, get another good result, just like they did in '73, so we're going to be prepared for the very best Poland they can be," England coach Roy Hodgson said.
Poland is 0-6 at England and haven't won in 15 games against the Three Lions.
A WORLD CUP WITHOUT CRISTIANO RONALDO?
Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo are still unsure of a World Cup berth. Russia (7-2) lead Group F by three points over the Portuguese (5-1-3), so a Russian win or draw at Azerbaijan (1-3-5) would leave Portugal with a playoff berth no matter their result at home against Luxembourg (1-5-3).
"We have no feeling of euphoria because we have not qualified yet," Russia defender Dmitry Kombarov said.
After tying at home against Northern Ireland and failing to beat Israel home or away, the Portuguese probably will be in the playoffs for the third straight tournament, They beat Bosnia-Herzegovina in playoffs to reach the 2010 World Cup and the 2012 European Championship.
Ronaldo is suspended for Tuesday's game for yellow-card accumulation after receiving a caution in the 90th minute on Friday against Israel
BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA ON VERGE OF FIRST MAJOR TOURNAMENT
Since gaining independence in 1992, Bosnia-Herzegovina haven't qualified for a major tournament despite those near misses in the playoffs against Portugal. That could change.
Bosnia and Greece are both 7-1-1 in Group G, but Bosnia have a plus-23 goal difference to Greece's plus-6 and would clinch with a win at Lithuania (3-4-2). Bosnia's Edin Dzeko has 10 goals in qualifying, one behind European leader Robin van Persie of the Netherlands. Bosnia coach Safet Susic was part of the Yugoslavia team that lost to Argentina on penalty kicks in the 1990 World Cup quarter-finals in 1990.
BATTLE FOR SECOND
It's likely Portugal, France and Ukraine will be joining Sweden and Croatia in the playoffs on November 15 and 19.
In Group B, four teams could mathematically finish second, although Bulgaria (3-2-4) are favoured if they beat the Czech Republic (3-3-3) at home. Third-place Denmark are even on points with Bulgaria, but trail by seven on goal difference going into their home match against Malta (1-8). As of now, the Group B second-place team is the likely one to miss the playoffs.
In Group D, Turkey and Romania are both 5-3-1 and second to the Netherlands. Turkey are ahead by four in goal difference but finishes at home against the Dutch (8-0-1). Romania are home against Estonia (2-6-1).
In Group E, Iceland (5-3-1) have a one-point lead over Slovenia (5-4) for second behind Switzerland. Iceland are at Norway (3-4-2) and Slovenia travel to Switzerland.
Comments
0 comment