UEFA’s World Cup Playoffs Announced.
The slightly controversial UEFA bridesmaid’s draw has taken place and fortunately it’s gone off without controversy. Somehow, someway, despite UEFA being involved, Liverpool and Chelsea will not meet. Who knew?
It’s rather pedestrian, really, as perhaps the two best teams – France and Russia – were handed the easiest draw. But then that’s really the point of seeding, isn’t it? (This is not to suggest FIFA has actually set out to do something and it worked. Never.)
Ireland, maybe the most vocal club in qualifiers regarding this little seeded system, were rewarded with a jaunt to France land. This’ll teach them not to dare test the wrath of Sepp.
The right to eulogize Jonathan Wilson’s halftime funeral will go to Guus’ Russia or underdogs Slovenia. All due respect to Slovenia, this is Guus’ domain and the Russian boys are going to the big dance, which should set up a controversial knockouts date with the Italians nicely.
Greece and Ukraine is already making a nap sound good. Ukraine might have the slight advantage due to simply being a better team, but Euro 2004 proved for at least a 20 year buffer period that “paper results” aren’t a great concern for Greece. Neither is joga bonito.
As for Portugal and Bosnia & Herzegovina, this is the darling of the playoffs. The hugely disappointing wannabe big boys in qualifying with one of the world’s best players up against the young upstarts with a mean attack. Cristiano Ronaldo is nice and all, but the two-pronged assault of Ibisevic and Dzeko just might make them the favorites.
Predictions
France
Russia
Ukraine
B&H
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Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 26 comments.
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By yevy | October 19th, 2009 at 10:25 am 
Yes, yes, a thousand times yes!!!
Finally, a dream draw for Ukraine.
Posted from 
United States
By MoMONEY | October 19th, 2009 at 11:37 am I think Bosnia could upend Portugal. And Ireland vs France is pretty even I would say.
Posted from United States
By Theo | October 19th, 2009 at 12:10 pm i would love it if boz and herz got through over portugal
Posted from 
United Kingdom
By Laurie | October 19th, 2009 at 12:11 pm MoMONEY, that depends on which France team Domenech puts on the field.
Or, in other words, you may be right.
By Ryan McManus | October 19th, 2009 at 12:26 pm To hell with Fifa… Eireann go Bragh!
Posted from United States
By MoMONEY | October 19th, 2009 at 12:34 pm Yea I just dont trust them and Domenech has robbed them of so much confidence. Ireland on the other hand should have beat Italy… I was really hoping France got anyone else… Hopefully they make it through though it will be a shame if the Irish fans arent in South Africa either…
Posted from United States
By Francesco | October 19th, 2009 at 12:46 pm I don’t think France got an easy draw at all. Ireland showed in qualifying that they are extremely tough and a really compact, physical side that can pull an upset. Wouldn’t be surprised to see France staying home this summer, but then again with the players they have they should take this.
By alessio | October 19th, 2009 at 1:34 pm Agreed with Francesco, Ireland impressed me both when they played in Ireland and also when they were playing in Bari, Italy.
By Miguel | October 19th, 2009 at 1:41 pm Portugal against B&H is a game that speaks to our heart. Finally a team that will go onto the pitch to play us head-to-head. Portugal sucks at playing defensive teams. With defenders the likes of Bosingwa, Carvalho, Alves and Pepe I’m not excessively worried about Ibisevic and Dzeko. On the other hand what has B&H got lined-up to stop the likes of Ronaldo, Simao, Nani, Liedson?
Posted from 
Portugal
By FBL | October 19th, 2009 at 1:42 pm Ireland should stop complaining and start making plans about how to stop France. They only have themselves to blame, they could have beaten Italy twice and should have beaten Bulgaria, so they should keep quiet.
The more they keep saying it is unfair, the more I’m hoping that France smash them up.
By Shane | October 19th, 2009 at 3:11 pm While I think Russia will go through they shouldn’t underestimate the Slovenians. Slovenia had a much deeper group then the Russians did which was always between just them and Germany. Slovenia outlasted Poland, Czech Republic, Northern Ireland and beat Slovakia the group winners in both matches.
Posted from United States
By David C. | October 19th, 2009 at 5:15 pm In Euro 08 qualification, France lost both home and away to Scotland, who play a very similar version of football as the Irish. I could very well see an upset occur…
By Gopal | October 20th, 2009 at 3:06 am Good draws all if you ask me…
None so sure shot as they may appear…
I think Portugal might just edge out Dzeko, Pjanic and company to get through…
France and Ireland should be interesting..
Ukraine and Greece too is pretty well matched…Ukraine though may win on penalties for all u know..
Russia should see off Slovenia…
What dates will the matches be btw?
Posted from 
Australia
By Joao Fernandes | October 20th, 2009 at 7:45 am The Portuguese team has been buried once – during the qualifiers, but here we are in this playoff, alive and kicking. Looking back, we could have avoided this situation quite easily: we lost points in 3 fantastic games from our side. Portugal 2 x Denmark 3, Portugal 0 x Sweden 0 and Denmark 1 x Portugal 1 and we also lost 2 precious points in the home match against Albania.
Was luck on our side in the away match in Albania? Yes. But comparing that with the Hungary x Sweden and Malta x Sweden…
Bosnia seems to play quite well, and that may be an advantage for us too. We had lousy matches when the adversary was also playing badly.
So, i hope that Bosnia plays really really well 
Posted from Portugal
By Sarah | October 20th, 2009 at 9:52 am The fact that Ireland whine so much just shows their complete lack of confidence. It is ridiculous.
Posted from United States
By Ryan McManus | October 20th, 2009 at 1:28 pm I can’t believe you fools actually support this embarassment of a decision by FIFA and that you actually expect people to suffer injustices such as this without objecting. Doing so would only encourage FIFA to make further idiotic decisions. Last minute seeding is wrong.
Posted from United States
By D.12 | October 20th, 2009 at 1:40 pm Portugal lose against B&H, please. Who ever posted that predictions list needs to get a CAT scan.
By Bawambi | October 20th, 2009 at 3:41 pm McManus is right – Fatter is corrupt to the core – he is of course running for election again – i hope to hell someone africa doesn’t vote for him again as the promised world cup has been delivered. If there is any justice the only favorite to go through will be Russia (and I actually like the Greeks,French and Portuguese sides for different reasons for each team)
Posted from United States
By sandrahn | October 21st, 2009 at 6:08 am The fact that France’s home game will be in the St. Denis (just outside Paris) Stade de France stadium is a PLUS for Ireland, not France. The Parisian crowd are a miserable, unsupporting bunch, they’re a hindrance to the national team’s efforts on the pitch. As a France supporter, I wish the home game would be played in another venue (like the one France played v. the Faroes, great home crowd atmosphere). I can see Ireland getting thru this tie.
Posted from United States
By Mark | October 21st, 2009 at 6:24 am I think the seeding was fair……They used the exact same system for the 06 qualifiers. Anyone with a brain could safely assume that to use this system again wouldn’t be completely outlandish. In fact I expected it. Shay Given is an idiot.
Posted from United States
By Joao Fernandes | October 21st, 2009 at 7:22 am Hi Mark
I think no one is questioning the fairness of the seeding by itself.
But they announced the criteria just before the 1st qualifying phased ended.
If not, we could have France x Russia: one of them would go home.
But guys, don’t voodoo Portugal because of that, please!
Posted from Portugal
By Fred | November 5th, 2009 at 7:38 am Shock! FIFA and UEFA are corrupt and are more interested in money than football. Sepp and Platini deserve the poor world cup that we’ll see in S.Africa.
By louis | November 5th, 2009 at 8:45 am Mark
The seeding was not fair because it wasn’t settled before the groups started. You should know the prize you are playing for. I’m French by the way.
Posted from 
Poland
By Joao Fernandes | November 18th, 2009 at 3:31 pm YES! YES! YES!
By Joao Fernandes | November 18th, 2009 at 3:45 pm You missed 3 predictions.
PORTUGAL still ALIVE!
And we did it clean, no “help” from refs.
No dirty hands!
