World Cup Reaches Crunch Stage in Europe

There are a massive 21 ties on Saturday in the European phase of the World Cup 2010 Qualification process. The situation has reached do or die for many and Saturday will see the revamping of 2010 vacation plans, the calls for managerial change or the realisation that the unthinkable might just be possible for others.

Group 1 looks the likeliest to produce headlines as Portugal, semi finalists in 2006,  and Sweden need to start producing rabbits out of their hats away from home to make Wednesday’s matches relevant for themselves.

All kick off times are Pacific

GROUP 1

Portugal and Sweden could become the first big name casualties of qualification unless they pull off results away from home at shock runaway leaders, Denmark and Hungary. Two home wins will leave world player of the year Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal with too much to do to catch the Danes, and Hungary just win one away from being uncatchable.

Probably just as well too that Freddie Ljungberg won’t have a game later in the day as if Sweden go down in Hungary, their qualification hopes will be at an end. Portugal winning in Denmark is the sole result that will  keep this group alive. It should be noted though that Hungary have no more minnows to glean pointd from. After this, they play Portugal twice and Denmark away, so they are the target. The Danes still have a match against Albania and might accept a home draw with Portugal as a good outcome.

Denmark v Portugal, Gp 1, 11am
Hungary v Sweden, Gp 1, 11am

GROUP 2

Israel and Latvia meet for the right to pick at the carcass of the losers of the Switzerland v Greece game in Basel’s St Jakob’s Park. The winners will almost certainly book their passage to South Africa, the losers will be watching the Latvians nervously, especially if it’s Switzerland who go to Latvia on Wednesday. The latter can argue convincingly that six points out of six, and they are strong favourites for a play-off.

Israel have Latvia, Luxembourg and Moldova all at home in their next three games.  They could easily take six from the last two, so a win over Latvia could realistically accelerate them into some prime real estate for at least a play-off. A group to watch.

Israel v Latvia, Gp 2, 11am
Moldova v Luxembourg, Gp 2, 9am
Switzerland v Greece, Gp 2, 11.30am

GROUP 3

It’s do or die for little Northern Ireland, the small province of just 1.5 million people. If they can repeat their win over the Poles from Belfast, they will find themselves locked in a 50/50 battle with Slovenia for that second place, maybe better if the Czechs upset their neighbours Slovakia. If not, Slovakia can virtually guarantee that automatic qualification place for themselves. A Polish victory, still the most likely, will end Ireland’s hopes but propel them back into contention.

Poland v Northern Ireland, Gp 3, 11.30am
Slovakia v Czech Republic, Gp 3, 11.30am

Group Three Table

GROUP 5

Bosnia should be able to cement that second place with a win in Armenia. Even if not, Turkey’s disastrous campaign has just been to disastrous to take advantage.

Armenia v Bosnia-Herzegovina, Gp 5, 8am
Spain v Belgium, Gp 5, 1pm
Turkey v Estonia, Gp 5, 11am

Group Five Table

GROUP 8

There  are three Saturday games in the fascinatingly poised Group 8. Italy and the Irish Republic both need to win awkward away ties to avoid handing the initiative over to the other. If they slip up, Bulgaria aren’t quite out of it to snatch second.  They visit Italy on Wednesday and a shock result there might just be the one that grabs the world’s attention.

Bulgaria v Montenegro, Gp 8, 10.30am
Cyprus v Rep of Ireland, Gp 8, 11.30am
Georgia v Italy, Gp 8, 11am

Group Eight Table

Tags: UEFA World Cup