The Bridge Lad
Striker
World Cup qualifying across all the confederations is heading toward the ‘business’ end of the campaign and there is a full schedule of games tomorrow in the UEFA, CONCACAF and CONMEBOL zones.
I’m starting to prefer international football to club football these days especially the build up to a World Cup and there are plenty of crunch fixtures coming up over the next 4 days or so.
All kick-offs are UK times.
UEFA
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification_(UEFA)
Group A
Macedonia Vs Wales 7pm
Serbia Vs Croatia 7.45pm
Scotland Vs Belgium 8pm
Realistically between Belgium and Croatia for 1st and 2nd. Both have relatively tough away fixtures here. Croatia have a local ‘derby’ while Belgium travel to Scotland who will be on a bit of a high following their shock win in Croatia and recent decent performance against England. Croatia and Belgium are due to meet in Zagreb in October.
Group B
Czech Republic Vs Armenia 5pm
Malta Vs Denmark 7pm
Italy Vs Bulgaria 7.45pm
Italy look good for top spot, and following Denmark’s 0-4 defeat at home to Armenia in their last outing, it looks like a battle between Bulgaria and the Czech for the play-off spot. Another shock win for Armenia will put them back into contention for 2nd place.
Group C
Kazakhstan Vs Faroe Islands 4pm
Germany Vs Austria 7.45pm
Rep of Ireland Vs Sweden 7.45pm
One of the most wide-open groups. Germany as you would expect look like topping the group, but there are 3 teams all on 11 points having played 6 games, and 2 of those (Ireland and Sweden) are facing each other. Austria are the other side on 11 points but they face a tough task away to local rivals Germany.
Group D
Romania Vs Hungary 6pm
Turkey Vs Andorra 7pm
Estonia Vs Netherlands 7.30pm
Netherlands with 18 points from 18 are pretty much there, and it’s looking like Romania and Hungary to battle it out for 2nd place. However, a draw in this match and a routine Turkish victory would put them back into play-off contention.
Group E
Norway Vs Cyprus 7pm
Slovenia Vs Albania 7.30pm
Switzerland Vs Iceland 7.30pm
Switzerland look decent to top the group, but the next 3 sides (Albania, Iceland and Norway) are separated by just 2 points and all are in with a good shout of making the play-offs. Slovenia on 6 points in 5th place aren’t out of it, but will need 6 points from their 2 games at home to rivals Albania and Norway - starting tomorrow.
Group F
Russia Vs Luxembourg 3.30pm
Northern Ireland Vs Portugal 7.45pm
Portugal currently top the group, but it is Russia who have a game in hand who are the clear favourites to top the group. Portugal face a potentially difficult trip to N. Ireland who defeated Russia in their previous game. Portugal and N. Ireland also drew in Portugal earlier in the campaign. Israel in third face Azerbaijan on Saturday, but they will really need a victory away to Russia on Tuesday if they are to be in with a shout of a top 2 finish.
Group G
Latvia Vs Lithuania 7.10pm
Bosnia & Herzegovina Vs Slovakia 7.15pm
Liechtenstein Vs Greece 7.45pm
Looking very much between Bosnia and Greece for the top 2 places. Bosnia have the H-2-H and a 3 point advantage but face a potentially difficult double header with 3rd place Slovakia over the next few days, while the Greeks have 2 fairly routine fixtures coming up.
Group H
Ukraine Vs San Marino 7pm
Poland Vs Montenegro 7.45pm
England Vs Moldova 8pm
Looking like 2 from Montenegro, England and Ukraine for the top 2 spots. Should be routine wins for Ukraine and England tomorrow, and if Poland fail to win in Montenegro that should be them all but out of qualifying contention. The real big game comes on Tuesday - Ukraine Vs England, where if England avoid defeat, they should be in a strong position to qualify as group winners.
Group I
Georgia Vs France 7.15pm
Finland Vs Spain 7.30pm
The smaller group of 5 teams is between Spain and France for the top 2 spots. Spain regained the initiative in their last outing with their 0-1 win in France. Spain face their last realistic test tomorrow with routine home fixtures coming up, so a win in Finland and they are virtually there.
CONCACAF
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification_%E2%80%93_CONCACAF_Fourth_Round
Mexico Vs Honduras 2.30am (Sat morning)
Costa Rica Vs USA 3am
Panama Vs Jamaica 3am
The USA and Costa Rica look good for automatic top 3 finishes, then it is between Mexico, Honduras and Panama for the final automatic place and the play-off spot. Jamaica are all but out.
CONMEBOL
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification_(CONMEBOL)
Colombia Vs Ecuador 9.30pm
Paraguay Vs Bolivia 11.30pm
Chile Vs Venezuela 1.30am
Peru Vs Uruguay 3.30am
It’s looks like Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador and Chile (after 3 straight wins) will all be joining Brazil at the World Cup, with Uruguay, Venezuela and Peru all battling it out for the 5th place play-off spot. Uruguay look good for that at present, you would think Peru would have to beat them tomorrow to keep their hopes alive, while a shock away Venezuela victory would raise a few concerns for Chile.
AFC
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification_(AFC)
Jordan Vs Uzbekistan 5pm
1st leg of the Asian play-off where the winner of this 2 legged tie will face the fifth place CONMEBOL side (currently Uruguay) over 2 legs to determine which side will make it to Brazil. Uzbekistan were unlucky not to secure automatic qualification so will be favourites to see of Jordan.
CAF (Africa)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification_%E2%80%93_CAF_Second_Round
The final round of the second stage takes place this weekend with the majority of matches taking place on Saturday.
There is 1 match on Friday which takes place in Group D - Ghana Vs Zambia (5pm). Ghana just need to avoid defeat to make the final play-off round, Zambia must win here.
Lads on Intl duty
Jozy Altidore - USA
Emanuele Giaccherini - Italy
Sebastien Larsson - Sweden
Keiren Westwood, John O’Shea - Rep of Ireland
David Vaughn - Wales
*italicised the matches I feel are of most importance
I’m starting to prefer international football to club football these days especially the build up to a World Cup and there are plenty of crunch fixtures coming up over the next 4 days or so.
All kick-offs are UK times.
UEFA
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification_(UEFA)
Group A
Macedonia Vs Wales 7pm
Serbia Vs Croatia 7.45pm
Scotland Vs Belgium 8pm
Realistically between Belgium and Croatia for 1st and 2nd. Both have relatively tough away fixtures here. Croatia have a local ‘derby’ while Belgium travel to Scotland who will be on a bit of a high following their shock win in Croatia and recent decent performance against England. Croatia and Belgium are due to meet in Zagreb in October.
Group B
Czech Republic Vs Armenia 5pm
Malta Vs Denmark 7pm
Italy Vs Bulgaria 7.45pm
Italy look good for top spot, and following Denmark’s 0-4 defeat at home to Armenia in their last outing, it looks like a battle between Bulgaria and the Czech for the play-off spot. Another shock win for Armenia will put them back into contention for 2nd place.
Group C
Kazakhstan Vs Faroe Islands 4pm
Germany Vs Austria 7.45pm
Rep of Ireland Vs Sweden 7.45pm
One of the most wide-open groups. Germany as you would expect look like topping the group, but there are 3 teams all on 11 points having played 6 games, and 2 of those (Ireland and Sweden) are facing each other. Austria are the other side on 11 points but they face a tough task away to local rivals Germany.
Group D
Romania Vs Hungary 6pm
Turkey Vs Andorra 7pm
Estonia Vs Netherlands 7.30pm
Netherlands with 18 points from 18 are pretty much there, and it’s looking like Romania and Hungary to battle it out for 2nd place. However, a draw in this match and a routine Turkish victory would put them back into play-off contention.
Group E
Norway Vs Cyprus 7pm
Slovenia Vs Albania 7.30pm
Switzerland Vs Iceland 7.30pm
Switzerland look decent to top the group, but the next 3 sides (Albania, Iceland and Norway) are separated by just 2 points and all are in with a good shout of making the play-offs. Slovenia on 6 points in 5th place aren’t out of it, but will need 6 points from their 2 games at home to rivals Albania and Norway - starting tomorrow.
Group F
Russia Vs Luxembourg 3.30pm
Northern Ireland Vs Portugal 7.45pm
Portugal currently top the group, but it is Russia who have a game in hand who are the clear favourites to top the group. Portugal face a potentially difficult trip to N. Ireland who defeated Russia in their previous game. Portugal and N. Ireland also drew in Portugal earlier in the campaign. Israel in third face Azerbaijan on Saturday, but they will really need a victory away to Russia on Tuesday if they are to be in with a shout of a top 2 finish.
Group G
Latvia Vs Lithuania 7.10pm
Bosnia & Herzegovina Vs Slovakia 7.15pm
Liechtenstein Vs Greece 7.45pm
Looking very much between Bosnia and Greece for the top 2 places. Bosnia have the H-2-H and a 3 point advantage but face a potentially difficult double header with 3rd place Slovakia over the next few days, while the Greeks have 2 fairly routine fixtures coming up.
Group H
Ukraine Vs San Marino 7pm
Poland Vs Montenegro 7.45pm
England Vs Moldova 8pm
Looking like 2 from Montenegro, England and Ukraine for the top 2 spots. Should be routine wins for Ukraine and England tomorrow, and if Poland fail to win in Montenegro that should be them all but out of qualifying contention. The real big game comes on Tuesday - Ukraine Vs England, where if England avoid defeat, they should be in a strong position to qualify as group winners.
Group I
Georgia Vs France 7.15pm
Finland Vs Spain 7.30pm
The smaller group of 5 teams is between Spain and France for the top 2 spots. Spain regained the initiative in their last outing with their 0-1 win in France. Spain face their last realistic test tomorrow with routine home fixtures coming up, so a win in Finland and they are virtually there.
CONCACAF
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification_%E2%80%93_CONCACAF_Fourth_Round
Mexico Vs Honduras 2.30am (Sat morning)
Costa Rica Vs USA 3am
Panama Vs Jamaica 3am
The USA and Costa Rica look good for automatic top 3 finishes, then it is between Mexico, Honduras and Panama for the final automatic place and the play-off spot. Jamaica are all but out.
CONMEBOL
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification_(CONMEBOL)
Colombia Vs Ecuador 9.30pm
Paraguay Vs Bolivia 11.30pm
Chile Vs Venezuela 1.30am
Peru Vs Uruguay 3.30am
It’s looks like Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador and Chile (after 3 straight wins) will all be joining Brazil at the World Cup, with Uruguay, Venezuela and Peru all battling it out for the 5th place play-off spot. Uruguay look good for that at present, you would think Peru would have to beat them tomorrow to keep their hopes alive, while a shock away Venezuela victory would raise a few concerns for Chile.
AFC
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification_(AFC)
Jordan Vs Uzbekistan 5pm
1st leg of the Asian play-off where the winner of this 2 legged tie will face the fifth place CONMEBOL side (currently Uruguay) over 2 legs to determine which side will make it to Brazil. Uzbekistan were unlucky not to secure automatic qualification so will be favourites to see of Jordan.
CAF (Africa)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification_%E2%80%93_CAF_Second_Round
The final round of the second stage takes place this weekend with the majority of matches taking place on Saturday.
There is 1 match on Friday which takes place in Group D - Ghana Vs Zambia (5pm). Ghana just need to avoid defeat to make the final play-off round, Zambia must win here.
Lads on Intl duty
Jozy Altidore - USA
Emanuele Giaccherini - Italy
Sebastien Larsson - Sweden
Keiren Westwood, John O’Shea - Rep of Ireland
David Vaughn - Wales
*italicised the matches I feel are of most importance