The absence of the English Premier League this week will be filled by the exciting prospect of the European 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualification playoffs that will decide that last four European teams to fill a spot at next year’s tournament.
Here is my guide to the four two-leg playoffs to be played on Saturday and Wednesday morning.
Playoff 1 – Iceland vs Croatia
This is a tie in which the neutrals would love to see the small island nation of Iceland prevail and qualify for their first ever international tournament.
They will be up against it facing Croatia, who are looking to make amends for missing out on the 2010 tournament after three successive qualifications on the trot, including a third-place finish in 1998.
Iceland must ensure a good result in icy Reykjavik as the away fixture in Zagreb will surely be a hostile environment as the heart of the football-loving Croatia.
Key players
Iceland: Aron Gunnarsson of Cardiff City is the Icelandic captain and will earn his 40th cap for the “Blue Boys”. He will need to control the midfield and prevent the likes of Luka Modric getting control of the game.
Croatia: Dejan Lovren has helped Southampton sit in third in the Premier League and if he is able to prevent Iceland from leaking through the defence, the Croatians will be heavily backed to reach Rio.
Prediction: Iceland 0-0 Croatia (first leg), 0-2 (second leg), 0-2 on aggregate.
Playoff 2 – Portugal vs Sweden
The most hotly anticipated of the four playoffs as it will feature two Ballon d’Or favourites in Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
The Seleccao have made a habit of qualifying for major tournaments via the playoffs and will be favourites to qualify, however they will face a Sweden outfit that has qualified for 11 World Cups.
Sweden will fancy themselves if they do not lose heavily in the first leg in Lisbon. With the unpredictable displays of these two sides, you can expect high scoring games.
Key players
Portugal: While Ronaldo is the captain and star player, it is Pepe who will be vital for Portugal to reach the World Cup. The Real Madrid defender will have the daunting task of marking on of the most spectacular strikers of his generation.
If the aggressive Pepe can contain the tall Swede the attacking avenues for Sweden are limited.
Sweden: Zlatan Ibrahimovic is the main point of attack for Sweden, as he would be in nearly any team. The PSG forward has the both poise and power that can destroy any teams back four and leave goalkeepers mystified.
At 32 this could be his last World Cup tilt.
Prediction: Portugal 3-2 Sweden, 3-3, 6-5 on aggregate.
Playoff 3 – Ukraine vs France
France have been unlucky to have been grouped along with Spain but made sure they secured a second place finish which has lead to a playoff with footballing enigma, Ukraine.
A away leg in Kiev is a daunting prospect but France do have the quality to reach the World Cup, which they have featured in the last 4 on five occasions.
Ukraine are in the post Andriy Shevchenko era and have a team compiled almost entirely of Ukrainian league players with an exception of captain, Anatoliy Tymoshchuk of Zenit St Petersburg.
This tie is likely to be a close affair as these two nations are ranked 20th (Ukraine) and 21st (France).
Key players
Ukraine: Ukraine’s biggest attacking threat comes in the form of Dynamo Kiev Andriy Yarmolenko who has scored a goal every two games and a half in his 36 caps.
Playing out wide he has been likened to Arjen Robben and has been courted by some of Europe’s premier clubs.
France: Ballon d’Or favourite, Franck Ribery is the crown jewel of this French side that is littered with multi million dollar players.
The flying left winger is in fine form with both club and country having scored in his last three international matches and his last three Bayern Munich matches.
Shutting him down will not mean job down for Ukraine but it will definitely tilt the outcome slightly away from Les Bleus.
Prediction: Ukraine 1-2 France, 1-3, 2-5 on aggregate
Playoff 4 – Greece vs Romania
Greece football has been stuck in between gears since their monumental 2004 European Championship victory but will be backing themselves against unfancied Romania who have not appeared at a World Cup since 1998.
Romania will do well to qualify as they will be without star player Adrian Mutu and captain Vlad Chiriches.
Key players
Greece: Goals have always been hard to come by for the blue and whites therefore it will be crucial for Theofanis Gekas to be on his game to provide a consistent attacking threat.
Having played in the top leagues of Spain, England and Germany, Gekas has the pedigree to lead his side to victory.
Romania: The absence of Mutu is a real hammer blow for the Tricolours as he is Romania’s all time leading scorer. This will mean the likes of Ciprian Marica will need to step up to break through a staunch Greek defence.
With a credible goal every three games in his 66 caps it will most likely require the Getafe forward to get on the scoresheet more than once to see Romania reach their eighth World Cup.
Prediction: Romania 2-0 Greece, 0-2, 2-2 on aggregate with Greece to win on penalties.
Who is looking forward to the eight remaining matches in European World Cup qualification? Leave a comment of who you think will be going through and what players will shine in the coming days.
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