2014 World Cup Qualifiers: The European Zone Play-offs

The four play-offs in the European Zone will conclude on Tuesday and that will decide the last four European teams to fill a spot at next year’s tournament. France and Romania face uphill battle to reach the World Cup while Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal have a slight advantage when they visit Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s Sweden. Iceland travel to Croatia with the score locked at 0-0, still dreaming of becoming the smallest country from an island of just 320,000 inhabitants to book a place in the finals.

Sweden v/s Portugal:
Portugal are 90 minutes away from the World Cup after Cristiano Ronaldo’s late goal gave them a valuable, albeit slender 1-0 lead in the first leg of their play-off with Sweden on Friday. Sweden vs. Portugal has gained top billing among the final World Cup play-offs due to the head-to-head battle between Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Although Portugal dominated the opening leg in terms of chances and possession, they were guilty of wastefulness in attack, allowing too many opportunities to go begging and they need to put away their chances on Tuesday in order to make it to their 4th consecutive World Cup.

France v/s Sweden:
France need to produce a vastly-improved display in the second leg of their play-off with Ukraine if they are to reach the FIFA World Cup. Two decades after the 2-1 home loss to Bulgaria that denied them a spot at USA 1994, France find themselves on the verge of another painful World Cup absence following their 2-0 defeat in the first leg in Kiev. France have been present at each of the last four World Cups and won the 1998 competition on home soil.

Romania v/s Greece:
Like France, Romania are also on the precipice of elimination after their 3-1 defeat away at Greece. Romania have to be at their best game if they are planning to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1998 because in Greece they face one of the most resolute defensive team in world football.

Croatia v/s Iceland:
Croatia are favourites to go through following their 0-0 stalemate in Iceland but scoring goals have been a major problem for them in this qualifying campaign having scored only 12 goals in 11 matches. Iceland were valiant in Friday’s first leg and would be aiming to score an all important away goal knowing the fact that Croatia would attack from the word go.