Features

Portugal could miss out

Author: John Harris
Date: 09/10/2009
Football betting

Time is running out for the likes of Portugal, Czech Republic and Turkey as the World Cup qualifying campaign comes to an end.

There is a real danger that Cristiano Ronaldo will not be strutting his stuff in South Africa next summer as Portugal are currently third in Group One, five points behind Denmark and two adrift of second-placed Sweden.

The two Scandinavian teams meet this weekend while Portugal entertain Hungary, who still harbour hopes of reaching the play-off themselves.

It would seem that Carlos Queiroz's team have every chance of clinching second place in the group, but they have scored only two goals in their three home qualifiers to date and failed to win any of them.

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In Group Three, Czech Republic's hopes of reaching the finals are even more tenuous as they go into this weekend's game against Poland in fourth spot and with hopes of finishing top of the group already extinguished.

Slovakia are virtually guaranteed a place in South Africa as group winners and the Czechs will need them to beat Slovenia if they are to have any chance of finishing second and sneaking into the play-offs.

Turkey, third in the 2002 World Cup, must beat Belgium and hope Bosnia slip up in Estonia if their hopes of finishing second behind runaway group winners and one of the online betting favourites to win the trophy, Spain, are extended into next Wednesday's games.

Elsewhere, Group Two is wide open with four teams - Switzerland, Greece, Latvia and Israel - still in the running to finish in the top two.

The Swiss, who visit Luxembourg on Saturday, are in pole position to finish top while Greece, the likely runners-up, particularly if they can take three points from the home clash with Latvia.

Israel are currently the outsiders, but a victory against bottom side Moldova this weekend could see them emerge as surprise contenders for a play-off spot.

In Group Six, stuttering Croatia will be hoping that England take their trip to Ukraine seriously. The Croats are two points clear of Ukraine but are without a game this weekend and need Fabio Capello's side to do them a favour.

France should beat Faroe Islands but it is still not likely to be enough for them to finish above Serbia who will guarantee top spot in Group Seven if they take three points from Saturday's match with Romania. Austria look set to miss out completely even if they beat Lithuania.

Finally, Italy need only a point against the Republic of Ireland to finish as group eight winners while a draw would also suit Giovanni Trapattoni's side as they aim to see off Bulgaria and hold on to runners-up spot.

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