AuthorJeffEyesRimmer The FIFA World Cup Qualifiers are nearly over and we are now into the World Cup Playoff stage this week. Will the Socceroos make it to their fourth World Cup in a row? Will Northern Ireland upset the odds? Will we be missing the Italians in Russia next year? The full list of teams heading to Russia for the World Cup 2018 will soon be known. The first leg of the play-off ties will be played over November 9-11, with the second legs promptly following on November 12-15. Below is our preview for each of the games: Northern Ireland v Switzerland
Switzerland are the highest-ranked nation in the European side and will be a tough test for Michael O’Neill’s Northern Irish side. However, both nations avoided Italy and so will be happy with that. The Northern Ireland side proved in last year’s Euros that they are a difficult side to break down (only shipping 6 goals in qualifying too) and coming second in a Group that also contained Norway and Czech Republic is no mean feat. Switzerland can probably feel a little hard done by being in this situation, with them winning 9 out of 10 of their group matches, only losing out to the current European Champions Portugal. They scored 23 goals during qualifying, with goals coming throughout the side and so they will be a threat going forward for the Irish. I expect the Swiss to have the majority of the ball with the Northern Irish trying to hit on the counter attack. The first leg with be in Northern Ireland and it will be essential for them to get something out of that game. It will be very difficult in the second leg for Northern Ireland if they don’t at least take a lead to the mainland. Switzerland are the strong favourites and a much as I would like to see Northern Ireland make it through I can’t see them beating the Swiss over the two legs. Winner: Switzerland Italy v Sweden This is the tie of the playoffs if I am being honest and it’s a tough match to call. Sweden pushed France all the way in the group stages and Italy only lost out to a very strong Spanish side. Many will see Sweden’s chances of beating the Italians as diminished since the retirement of Zlatan Ibrahimović. However, a key point to note is that in Zlatan’s last 30 games for Sweden they scored 37 goals, in the 15 games since he retired Sweden scored 39 goals, eight of them coming from Marcus Berg too. Add in the fact that the Swedes knocked out the Netherlands and the Italian defence might be in for a workout. The Italians though shouldn’t fear anyone, the four times World Cup winners have plenty of quality throughout their squad and with Ciro Immoblie they have the top goal scorer in Serie A (at the time of writing). Much will depend on their mentality and not taking the Swedes lightly. I think that over the two legs Italy do have enough to make it through though. Winner: Italy – It would be odd to have a World Cup without the Italians. Republic of Ireland v Denmark This match is probably the toughest one to call, Denmark are only ranked a few places higher than Ireland in the FIFA Football Rankings. Denmark finished second in their Group behind Poland and they scored 20 goals during their campaign, so will be a danger to the Irish defence. Christian Eriksen is the obvious danger man, with him scoring 8 of those 20 goals too. They also have a strong defensive partnership with Mathias Jorgensen and Simon Kjaer so will be very difficult test for the Irish. The Republic of Ireland claimed their place in the playoffs in dramatic fashion, beating Wales in their final group game to leapfrog them into second spot behind Serbia. The difficultly for the Irish has been scoring goals, only managing 12 in qualifying, a 1-0 win is the likely score line in both legs I think. There is a part of me that thinks Denmark might be team too far for the Irish but I am going with the men in green (clearly showing I am not bitter) to win through and cause the upset. I think the momentum of pipping Wales to the second will carry through. Winner: Republic of Ireland Croatia v Greece The two matches have been overshadowed by the decision by both Football Federations to ban away fans for both games. Croatian football has been blighted by hooliganism and the country has been hit with a series of sanctions, most notably for throwing flares and chanting pro-Nazi slogans. They finished behind Iceland in the group and many will feel with the talent they have in the squad, with the likes of Modric and Mandzukic that they should be achieving more. Greece meanwhile finished a good 9 points behind Belgium in their group. The betting companies have Croatia as heavy favourites but I think it will be closer than people think. The Croats struggled to break down a stubborn Finish side recently and Greece are the epitome of hard to break down. They proved that with their 1-1 draw with Belgium. However, with the class in the Croatian squad and the fact that they only conceded 4 goals in all of qualifying means I can’t look past them. Winner: Croatia Australia v Honduras It was a turbulent campaign for the Socceroos after coming third (behind Japan and Saudi Arabia) in their group and having to overcome Syria in the Asian playoff game. The focus should be on the two playoff games but this week has seen the spotlight shift to coach Ange Postecoglou’s future, with him unsure of whether he will be staying on as coach even if they make it to the World Cup in Russia. Despite coming third in their group it is important to note that the Socceroos only lost once in 10 games in qualifying and so should head into the games with confidence. Honduras will play their first ever playoff match and come into it following a surprise fourth place in the CONCACAF after a final game win over Mexico. This pushed the USA out into fifth and resulted in meltdowns in the American football media. Honduras will be confident after beating a good Mexican team and will be aiming for their fourth World Cup appearance. The first game is in Honduras and much will depend on how the Socceroos deal with the heat and humidity. I think that they have to get an away goal at the very least, trying to limit the Hondurans without getting a goal yourself seems foolish to me and I don’t think this Australian side can keep a clean sheet across both games. That is especially the case when playing against speedsters like Alberth Elis and Romell Quioto (Both Houston Dynamo), the Australian defence is not a big fan of fast players and so it will be down to the likes of Aaron Mooy, Matthew Leckie and the golden boy of Australian football – Tim Cahill to get some goals. Also hot of the press is a media release indicating that the Honduran yellow cards for the games have been rescinded but the Australian yellows have not. FIFA made the statement as well, so it seems all very odd. Winner: As my wife is an Aussie and I live here I have to side with Australia. New Zealand v Peru New Zealand reached the play-off by topping the Oceania World Cup qualifying process. Winning four games and drawing once, against New Caledonia. They then beat the Solomon Islands in a two-legged playoff to reach this point. Peru came 5th in their South American campaign and the big news from them is that striker Paolo Guerrero has been provisionally suspended for 30 days after failing an anti-doping test. Their top goal scorer will be missed. It is imperative that New Zealand get a result at home. The All Whites needs the likes of Chris Wood to shine and bang in goals against the bigger sides like he does against teams like the Solomon Islands and Nauru, no offense to those sides but Peru is a bit more of a test. If New Zealand can actually get a good result there is a real chance for football in New Zealand to eclipse rugby for the next 18 months. However, drawing 2-2 with the Solomon Islands is not the best preparation for the South American side and I’m sorry to my fellow Outcast Joe and my NZ mates but can’t see them beating this Peru team. Winner: Peru African Section The African qualifiers do not have any playoff matches but have five groups all up. Of those Nigeria and Egypt have both made it, with three places still up for grabs. Those three places are being contested in Groups A, C and D. In Group A Tunisia will be aiming to confirm their place with a win or draw over Libya. Although should they slip, up Congo DR will be able to catch them with a win over Guinea. In Group C it all comes down to a top of the table class between Ivory Coast and Morocco. A draw would be good enough for Group leaders Morocco who have 9 points to Ivory Coast’s 8. All to play for! Finally in Group D it is all too still play for, with all four teams, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde Islands and South Africa as still potentially able to qualify. The big news in that group is the replay of the match between South Africa and Senegal after some odd referee decisions. Senegal are very much in the dominant position at the moment and have a game in hand over Burkina Faso and Cape Verde Islands. So a win for Senegal against South Africa will pretty much confirm their place at the World Cup. Who do you think will come out on top and be heading to Russia 2018? Let us know in the comments or on social media. |
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