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In this qualifying region, there are going to be 9 groups of 5 or 6 teams in each of them. The whole qualifier will run from September 2012 till November 2013. How it works is that the top of each group will automatically qualify for Brazil 2014.
On the other hand, each group's runner ups will then be seeded according to the number of standings points, goal differential, and highest number of goals scored. The last of the runner ups will be automatically eliminated while the other 8 will be made to play a home and away playoff, with the opponent being determined by drawing lots. Whoever then wins the playoffs finally makes it to Brazil 2014, this filling UEFA's quota of 13 teams in the 32-nation football tournament in Brazil in 2014.
And here are the groupings:
Group A:
Croatia
Serbia
Belgium
Scotland
Macedonia
Wales
Group B:
Italy
Denmark
Czech Republic
Bulgaria
Armenia
Malta
Group C:
Germany
Sweden
Ireland
Austria
Faroe Islands
Kazakhstan
Group D:
Netherlands
Turkey
Hungary
Romania
Estonia
Andorra
Portugal
Russia
Israel
Northern Ireland
Azerbaijan
Luxembourg
Group G:
Greece
Slovakia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Lithuania
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Group H:
England
Montenegro
Ukraine
Poland
Moldova
San Marino
Group I:
Spain
France
Belarus
Georgia
Finland
Now that you know who's up against who in each group, please let me know who you guys think are most likely to qualify for Brazil 2014 and why. Discuss away. Thanks!
Group A:
Belgium finally harnesses all that talent to win the group. Serbia finishes 2nd but flames out bickering in the playoff.
Group B:
Italy takes most all the points to breeze thru. Denmark, always competent, gets thru to Brazil.
Group C:
Germany experiments with a huge talent pool, drops a few points but gets thru easily. Sweden underwhelms but takes 2nd on brilliance from Seb Larsson, lose in playoffs.
Group D:
Turkey returns to prominence and goes top narrowly, Arda Turan ready for world-wide recognition. The Dutch finish second and lose out in playoff making them the fallen giant from Europe.
Group E:
Switzerland does what it has to do but with a few scares. Iceland, behind young star Sigurdsson takes 2nd, but rank 9th on points and are eliminated.
Group F:
A focused Portugal team wins the group. Russia dazzles and puzzles to take 2nd, but goes thru in the playoff.
Group G:
Slovakia makes it two World Cups in a row with solid qual. Bosnia & Herz go 2nd as Dzeko top goal scorer in competition, but are hammered in playoff.
Group H:
England gaining confidence if not identity but take group nicely. A hungry Poland side take 2nd, win playoff to reach Brazil.
Group I:
Spain cruises easily to take group. France endures poor finishing to get 2nd, go 1-0 on aggregate to make finals.
Can't wait!! Who's next? I'd say, if you aren't going to pick any upsets, why bother?
I hope Sweden, Denmark, Croatia and France will make it out of the playoffs. but the competition is strong with Russia, Turkey, Poland, Slovakia/Norway.
Hoping for this... France - Russia Sweden - Norway Denmark - Turkey Croatia - Poland
Portugal
Russia
Israel
Northern Ireland
Azerbaijan
Luxembourg
Group G:
Greece
Slovakia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Lithuania
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Group H:
England
Montenegro
Ukraine
Poland
Moldova
San Marino
Group I:
Spain
France
Belarus
Georgia
Finland
Now that you know who's up against who in each group, please let me know who you guys think are most likely to qualify for Brazil 2014 and why. Discuss away. Thanks!
After the playoffs: Italy, France, Sweden and Russia. Group E is probably the easiest group. Switzerland lucked out with that one.
Just 10 more days till September 7th, the day the UEFA World Cup 2014 Qualifier kicks off! Anyway I'll be cheering on Russia, Serbia, and Turkey to make it! I also wouldn't certainly mind seeing the likes of France, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Ukraine, Belgium, or Bosnia as well - so long as they don't get in at the expense of the first three countries I mentioned.
Portugal
Russia
Israel
Northern Ireland
Azerbaijan
Luxembourg
Group G:
Greece
Slovakia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Lithuania
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Group H:
England
Montenegro Ukraine
Poland
Moldova
San Marino
Group I:
Spain
France
Belarus
Georgia
Finland
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