The games didn't really have everything, did they? The results did some upsets, some heroics, a
few of the expected teams going in but outside of the one game which forced a playoff (Egypt 2
Algeria 0), some of these games were completely zapped of the necessary drama.
(Not, of course, that one played in the Stade de France.
Video Info:
18.11.2009 - FIFA World Cup Qualifiers
Bosnia-Herzegovina - Portugal 0:1
With 23 nations already qualified for World Cup 2010, there are just nine places in South Africa
still up for grabs. Three of those will be decided when African qualifying concludes next
Wednesday. But that's a separate post. The six other qualifiers will be decided by playoffs,
starting tomorrow.
In a week's time we will know a near complete list of the nations who will be competing to lift
the World Cup in South Africa. The first legs take place on November 14, with the second legs on
the 18th. The African nations qualification process takes a little longer, so I'll be focusing on
the Republic of Ireland Vs France, Bosnia-Herz Vs Portugal, Russia Vs Slovenia and Greece Vs
Ukraine.
(*it's the opposite of Offside Rewind)
FRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty
Rather than looking back at the week that was, let's look forward to this weekend's World Cup
qualifying games by linking up all the WorldCupBlog previews.
The first legs of the European World Cup play-offs took place yesterday (Saturday) and Russia,
Portugal and France all take slender advantages into their second legs.
Portugal managed to beat Bosnia-Herzegovina 1-0 in Lisbon in their first leg. With Cristiano
Ronaldo ruled out of the tie through injury the Portuguese had to rely on the likes of Simao
Sabrosa, Liedson and Deco for their creative spark but all three were guilt of below-par
performances.
Edin Dzeko - Bosnia's dangerman (AFP)When FIFA announced back in September that they were going to
seed the UEFA European playoffs for World Cup 2010 qualification, they instantly drew the ire of...
Video Info:
14.11.2009 - FIFA World Cup Qualifiers
Portugal - Bosnia Herzegovina 1:0
