The time has come for the decisive ties for spots at 2010’s World Cup with a number of important clashes this Saturday night.Indeed, this is the ideal time to preview the matches and assess who might get through to South Africa next year.
AFC/OFC
New Zealand v Bahrain, Wellington
This is a second-leg clash which will decide the nation who claims a spot on the plane to South Africa next year. The first-leg in Bahrain ended 0-0, so it is wide open and 36,000 Kiwis know that as they quickly snapped up tickets to the sold-out event.
Bahrain, who stumbled in the 2006 World Cup intercontinental playoffs, remain confident with boss Milan Macala saying, “We had many chances in the first game and this will give us enough motivation. The players know their responsibilities well.”
The All-Whites have only made the World Cup once back in 1982 when their current coach Ricki Herbert was a player. And Herbert commented on Friday, "We're under no illusion as to what the task is going to be tomorrow night. But where we sit and what we've done during the week we also feel confident.''
Sports Pundit prediction; Bahrain to qualify
UEFA
(1st leg ties, 2nd leg to be played midweek)
Russia v Slovenia, Moscow
Since last month’s draw there have been big expectations on Guus Hiddink’s Russia to qualify for next year’s World Cup. Slovenia was seen as the easy draw but the Dutch maestro is having none of that talk and insists this tie will be tough.
Hiddink said, “I can only say one thing; there is no hint of us underestimating the Slovenians. We all know it will not be an easy game. The stakes are too high.”
Indeed, following Russia’s brilliant Euro 2008 campaign, many of the locals believe they can have a realistic tilt at the cup in 2010 and with stars like Andrei Arshavin, Yuri Zhirkov and Roman Pavlyuchenko, why not?
And despite Hiddink’s tactness, the Slovenians realize they’ve got a huge task with boss Matjaz Kek admitting, “You and I both know that Russia are the favourites. There is no secret that they are a side of great class.”
Sports Pundit prediction; Russia
Ireland v France, Dublin
There’s been plenty of tension between these two nations in the build-up to this epic tie. The Irish have been public about their dissatisfaction with FIFA’s seedings system for the draw. And now they’ve criticized the French who’ve had an indifferent qualifying campaign.
Irish defender Richard Dunne said about French boss Raymond Domenech, “Every time a tournament comes round, they [France] have all these world-class players and then a man who seems intent on messing them up."
Domenech is hardly popular back in his native land and there’s plenty of pressure on him and being without injured superstar Franck Ribery doesn’t help.
“I know my men are ready," said Domenech, “Any pressure is internal. If the players don't feel it inside then there's something wrong and they have no place here."
Sports Pundit prediction; France
Portugal v Bosnia, Lisbon
The pressure is firmly on hosts Portugal and their boss Carlos Queiroz ahead of the first-leg and without FIFA Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo and against up-and-coming Bosnia-Herzegovina, this could be a tricky tie.
Indeed, much of Queiroz’s focus this week has been on getting his side to play as a team despite Ronaldo’s absence.
And Queiroz told the press this week, "We have great players, individual and collective options. We have to focus our talents, virtues on the responsibility that lies ahead and get a good result in both parts of this play-off.''Dzeko is a Bosnian goalscoring machine
Bosnian midfielder Emir Spahic also commented, “We would be satisfied with a score draw on Saturday. Let's say 1-1 would be okay.'' With guns like Edin Dzeko and Zvjezdan Misimovic, you just never know.
Sports Pundit prediction; Bosnia
Greece v Ukraine, Athens
In perhaps the hardest to predict of the European ties, Euro 2004 champions Greece take on 2006 World Cup quarter-finalists Ukraine. Otto Rehhagel, who guided Greece to that triumph is still in charge and he insists his side need to be at their best here.
The 71-year-old German said, “They have to go out on the pitch, show their skills and play beyond their limits. We don't have the luxury of being able to call on all of our players as we have some key men missing such as [Giourkas] Seitaridis and [Vasilis] Torosidis. But I have confidence in all my squad.”
Despite those absentees, Greece will enjoy renewing Panathinaikos pair Kostas Katsouranis and Giorgos Karagounis’ partnership in midfield, while Theofanis Gekas (who scored 10 goals in qualifying) is available too.
Ukraine boss Alexei Mikhailichenko said "We are going to Greece with the target of winning; for us there is no difference between home and away matches. I believe both teams have a 50-50 chance of qualifying.” Revitalized legend Andriy Shevchenko will be crucial.
Sports Pundit prediction; Greece
CONMEBOL/CONCACAF
(1st leg ties, 2nd leg to be played midweek)
Costa Rica v Uruguay, San Jose
Rather than injuries or pre-match banter, the talking point in this clash is the artificial surface in Saprissa which will apparently give the hosts a big advantage.
Costa Rica boss Rene Simoes commented, "It's a surface I don't like but my players are very used to it and that turns it into an advantage for us. With that, I see the tie much more levelled.''
Uruguay qualified in 2002 via the playoffs but failed in the same route in 2006 and boss Oscar Tabarez will be hoping for a repeat of the former.
Tabarez insists the pitch isn’t an issue, "The synthetic grass is nothing but one other issue for this duel. For us, the biggest concern is to reach the game in the best shape, have very clear what we plan to do in the field and how to stop the good things our rivals have.''
Sports Pundit prediction; Uruguay
CAF
The situation in Africa is slightly different to the rest, with the groups still open. Ghana and the Ivory Coast have already qualified via Group D and E respectively but 3 spots remain open in Groups A, B and C.
Group A
Cameroon simply need to win in Morocco to claim a spot in South Africa. If they fail in Fes, Gabon can leapfrog them with victory in Togo. But Morocco have had a few key players pull out of their game with injury and you’d fancy Paul Le Guen’s Cameroon.
Sports Pundit prediction; Cameroon
Group B
Tunisia travel to Mozambique knowing victory will book them their spot in next year’s World Cup. Second-placed Nigeria must win in Kenya and hope the Tunisians slip up in Maputo.
Sports Pundit prediction; Tunisia
Group C
In one of the best matches today, Egypt host group leaders Algeria in Cairo for the right to a spot in the World Cup. An Egypt win by 3 goals or more will see them qualify for South Africa, while Algeria enjoy quite a nice advantage although it will be tense against the African champions.
Sports Pundit prediction; Algeria
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