World Cup play-offs
This weekend sees the start of the World Cup play-offs and the most high profile of the four games is Republic of Ireland versus France. The favourites in the betting will be France of course and the latest football betting odds reflect that. France have had some very high profile flops in recent years and who can ever forget that famous night in Paris in 1993 when needing just a draw to qualify for USA 94, they needlessly conceded a last minute goal to Bulgaria.
That goal literally crushed the French but they did come bouncing back with back to back tournament victories in 1998 and 2000. Live football betting will be available for this match and the return fixture as well. I would not back against the Irish and they have become a very tough side to beat under Trappatoni.
They are unbeaten in qualifying and that group included Italy. Portugal will be without the injured Cristiano Ronaldo for their game with Bosnia and without him, the gap between the two sides will not be as wide. I do think that one of the favourites in the four play-off matches will be eliminated but I cannot make my mind up which one. I think that Carlos Queiroz will either step down or be sacked if Portugal fail to make it.
But the gap with international football teams is getting narrower all the time and the top sides simply do not have that much scope to play with these days. The teams who were considered minnows just a few short years ago are now very good teams. Their players play in the best leagues in Europe and any victory against them is an achievement.
I think that the least likely of the favourites to lose out would be Russia. Under master tactician Guus Hiddink, they should steer past Slovenia who they host in the opening match. Hiddink has never failed to lead a team to a major tournament and I don’t think that record is going to be broken here.
Hiddink will need to be at his best as Slovenia only conceded four goals in a total of ten World Cup qualifying games. Hiddink will certainly want something to take to Slovenia for the second leg but they will certainly create chances at home and I expect them to win maybe 2-0 on the day.
Greece versus Ukraine is the most difficult one to call. Greece had their finest hour in Euro 2004 of course when they triumphed against all odds in that competition. Ukraine are not the side that they used to be a few years ago but then again neither are Greece. I really cannot call this tie and I think that everything will come down to a few key moments or maybe a refereeing decision.
The draw will take place on December 4th and England look like being seeded which should allow them to avoid the likes of Brazil and Spain in the group stages. But all eyes will be on France and Portugal over the next few days and if either of them fail to make it to South Africa next year then the consequences are going to be very severe for either coach given the weight of expectation on those two teams.
Carl “The Dean” Sampson
