Guide to the qualifiers
Your essential look at how the race to South Africa 2010 is unfolding
Last updated: 26th March 2009
It’s that time again as the Premier League takes a breather and the
best international teams Europe has to offer fight it out for a spot
at the World Cup in South Africa. Nick Miller gives you a round-up of
how the qualification land lies…
Group One
Some men are born to be number twos. Whether it’s that they simply can’t deal
with the pressure, or a failure to take full responsibility for the big
decisions, or that they’re better behind the scenes.
The man who that applies to most is Carlos Queiroz. Twice now his feet have
become itchy at Alex Ferguson’s right-hand, and twice it has turned out he
would have been best advised to stay in Manchester. The first time he
joined the long list of failures at Real Madrid after less than a year in
the job, and this time similar tears might be just around the corner.
For Queiroz has won just one competitive game in his time as Portugal
manager, and that was against Malta. Since that opening match, they have
been beaten by Denmark, drawn with Sweden and – most embarrassingly –
Albania, and now sit fourth in Group One.
And it’s not going to get easy in a hurry for Queiroz. One would imagine
he’d like a couple of gimmes to make the table look respectable again,
but as it turns out Portugal play the dangerous Swedes on Saturday, then
have the following week off.
By that time current group leaders Denmark might be a full eight points
ahead, given that they have the relatively simple tasks of playing Malta and
Albania. Hell, even Hungary might have that sort of lead, as their fixtures
mirror the Danes’.
Fixtures: March 28 – Malta v Denmark, Albania v Hungary, Portugal v Sweden.
April 1 – Hungary v Malta, Denmark v Albania.
Group Two
Just as the one-eyed man is king in the land of the blind, so Greece are the
top team in Group Two.
To give you some idea of the quality levels on display here, we’ll simply say
this; Luxembourg are not bottom.
Other than the pleasing symmetry of all teams having played four games,
there’s little to recommend in this dog of a group that is home to about
as much excitement as a party at Robert Peston’s house.
Actually, that’s harsh, as last time out Switzerland upset the Greeks’
previously unbeaten apple-cart by sneaking a 2-1 win in the land of ouzo,
Prince Philip and Shirley Valentine, which provided a flicker of interest
among the yawns.
However, don’t rely on them to topple Otto Rehhagel’s men – the reason
Luxembourg have some points in the bag is they dismissed the Swiss back in
September last year.
Continuing with the symmetrical theme, we have a perfect set of reverse
fixtures in this round of games. Luxembourg, Moldova and Israel are at
home to Latvia, Switzerland and Greece respectively, then they so a
swapsies and play each other again on Wednesday night.
Now, if they could only play some decent football…
Fixtures: March 28 – Luxembourg v Latvia, Moldova v Switzerland, Israel v
Greece. April 1 – Latvia v Luxembourg, Switzerland v Moldova, Greece v
Israel.
Group Three
While leaders Slovakia are at Wembley on Saturday, the rest of Group Three
will be getting down to some proper work.
And lurking in the shadows just waiting to pounce and take their top spot,
are Northern Ireland. Nigel Worthington’s boys have a pair of home games
(against Poland then Slovenia) to move ahead, although they are one of
four sides on seven points, sat just behind the Slovaks on nine.
It’s a remarkable achievement for the Irish to even be competing at this sort
of level, something that is encapsulated by the big new name in their squad.
That man is Jamie Ward (and at 5ft 5 ‘big name’ is something of a misnomer),
a Sheffield United bench-warmer who could make his debut against the Poles.
Ward signed for United in January, and is just about breaking into the first
team, but puts the constant debate about how good England players really are
into some form of perspective.
But it has always been thus. Over recent years Northern Ireland have been
able to squeeze the best from their players. How David Healy, a man who
can’t get a game in the Premier League, could finish top-scorer in the
Euro 2008 qualifiers is a minor miracle, and it’s this ability that might
just see them to South Africa.
Another notable game is Czech Republic v Slovakia – local derby and all that,
and features the sides currently in first and third. Could be tasty.
Fixtures: March 28 – Northern Ireland v Poland, Slovenia v Czech Republic.
April 1 – Northern Ireland v Slovenia, Poland v San Marino, Czech Republic v
Slovakia.
Group Four
Frankly, Wales were given a bitch of a draw when they were lumped in a group
with both Russia and Germany.
With only one guaranteed qualification spot, Wales’s long run without a
tournament appearance will most likely continue, although they will retain a
glimmer of hope if they can pull off a surprise on Wednesday.
Before that they play Finland in Cardiff, but the big game of the round comes
when Herrs Podolski, Ballack, Lahm and Schweinsteiger rock up, with Germany
sitting teutonically astride the group.
And a shock is not out of the question. You may recall back in October, Wales
damn near held the Germans to a draw over in Moenchengladbach, but
eventually wilted and let in a 72nd minute goal.
Still, that will have given the Welsh some confidence, even though their top
boys might not be going into this one in ship shape. Craig Bellamy is in the
squad, despite not having played for Manchester City since March 1, while
Gareth Bale continues his curious season at Spurs.
There’s every chance that their line could be lead by City bench-warmer
Ched Evans and/or Rob Earnshaw, currently in the middle of a Championship
relegation rough and tumble at Nottingham Forest, something that won’t
exactly strike fear into German hearts.
Tall order it may be, but one would think it’s important for Wales to get
something out of these two home games, what with Russia having six points for
the taking in this round, as they face Liechtenstein then Azerbaijan.
Fixtures: March 28 – Wales v Finland, Russia v Azerbaijan, Germany v
Liechtenstein. April 1 – Liechtenstein v Russia, Wales v Germany.
Group Five
To use the finest Anglo-Saxon, Spain made a perfectly good England team look
pretty clueless in February.
The speed at which Vicente del Bosque’s boys ran rings around Terry, Carrick,
Cole et al was quite terrifying, and it’s not form that has been restricted
to show pony displays in friendlies.
Spain are perched atop both the Fifa world rankings and Group Five, with a
single solitary goal (hats off to Wesley Sonck of Belgium) besmirching their
otherwise spotless record.
In truth that game against the Belgians was something of a struggle (David
Villa got the winner on 88 minutes), but it’s churlish to criticise a side
that have four wins from four, scoring ten goals in the process.
The only side one suspects have a sniff of challenging the Spaniards is
Turkey, and conveniently enough they are in Madrid this weekend, with the
return fixture in Istanbul on Wednesday. So far the Turks haven’t been
massively convincing (two narrow wins and two draws), but as they showed
last summer they are more than capable of an upset.
Elsewhere, Belgium play Bosnia-Herzegovina twice, while bringing up the rear
are Armenia and Estonia, who have a pair of (largely inconsequential) clashes
themselves.
Fixtures: March 28 – Armenia v Estonia, Belgium v Bosnia-Herzegovina, Spain
v Turkey. April 1 – Estonia v Armenia, Bosnia-Herzegovina v Belgium, Turkey v
Spain.
Group Six
Does anyone else feel slightly uneasy about England being in such a good
position?
Only three teams have a 100 per cent record in the qualifiers. One is Spain,
one is Holland (who have only played three games so far) and the other is
England. And in some style too – only three goals conceded, and nobody has
scored more (14) than Fabio’s boys.
Of course, this being England, there’s plenty of time for it all to go really
badly wrong.
And if it is to blow up in our faces, it might happen in this
round. Ukraine are a tricky proposition, and although their results
haven’t been uber-impressive so far (draw with Croatia, narrow wins v
Kazakhstan and Belarus), they are still more than capable of making
England look silly at Wembley.
For some reason nobody plays at the weekend, but Croatia have three points
for the taking against Andorra on Wednesday, while the Kazakhs face
Belarus on the same night.
England are clear favourites to qualify, and it would be difficult to imagine
any other country muffing it up. But this is England…
Fixtures: April 1 – England v Ukraine, Kazakhstan v Belarus, Andorra v
Croatia.
Group Seven
Allowing Raymond Domenech custody of some of the finest talents in Europe is
a little like giving Bernie Madoff your life savings to invest wisely. But
there he is, in charge of France.
As if guiding a team that included Henry, Benzema, Nasri and Diarra to a
3-1 defeat to Austria in the opening game wasn’t enough, France messed up
their latest chance to make amends by drawing 2-2 with Romania. Not even
the addition of wunderkind Yoann Gourcuff was enough to make Domenech look
competent. The upshot of all this is that Group Seven is wide open.
Current leaders Serbia have nine points, as do surprise package Lithuania
who are only second on goal difference. However, France have a chance to
overhaul the Lithuanians with a pair of games over the next few days, the
first in Kaunas and the second in Paris. Given France’s talent for making
a mess of things, these are possibly the most interesting pair of games
in the entire international program. Pay close attention.
Elsewhere in the group, it could be another interesting clash in Constanta,
where Romania play Serbia, then the Romanians travel to Austria for what
should be, in theory, a gimme.
However, M. Domenech might disagree.
Fixtures: March 28 – Lithuania v France, Romania v Serbia. April 1 – France
v Lithuania, Austria v Romania.
Group Eight
With Marcelo Lippi back in his rightful spot as Italy manager, it’s no great
surprise to see the Azzurri top of Group Eight.
What’s slightly more surprising is how Ireland have kept pace with them so
convincingly. Both teams are on ten points, with the Italians top by a single
goal.
This may have a good deal to do with Giovanni Trapattoni, but it may also
have plenty to do with the rest of the group being keen not to make much of a
challenge. Nobody else has a win to their names, with Bulgaria’s three draws
the best the others can muster.
It could be a very big week indeed for Ireland. They face a potentially
Berbatov-less Bulgaria at Croke Park on Saturday, followed by The Big One
in Bari next Wednesday. If they can beat Italy then they will become
favourites to win the group, which after the shambles that was Steve
Staunton’s Euro 2008 campaign, would be an extraordinary achievement.
Fixtures: March 28 – Ireland v Bulgaria, Cyprus v Georgia, Montenegro v
Italy. April 1 – Italy v Ireland, Bulgaria v Cyprus, Georgia v Montenegro.
Group Nine
It’s not been the best time to be a Scottish football fan of late.
The national side have been dull as can be, scoring just twice and picking
up four points in their three games thus far. Of course that figure would
be one greater if Chris Iwelumo knew how to hit a barn door, but they
still sit in second place in Group Nine.
Obviously, the side above George Burley’s men is Holland, who have three
workmanlike wins under their belt. And that’s the side that Scotland face
this weekend.
They travel to Amsterdam not in the greatest shape, what with their first
choice keeper (Craig Gordon) out of consideration due to lack of action
and about half the squad dropping out with injuries. Add to that the
rather ominous Dutch, for whom Klass-Jan Huntelaar is in ripping good form
for Real Madrid, while club mate Arjen Robben will also cause a few
problems should his hamstrings remain un-twanged.
After that they have a comparatively simple task at home to Iceland, but
given their performances so far, don’t count on a win from that one.
Fixtures: March 28 – Holland v Scotland. April 1 – Scotland v Iceland,
Holland v Macedonia.