The identity of the teams
that will be hopping on a plane to Brazil next summer are almost decided, there is only a single qualifier left and a few
playoffs left to decide.
Two-legged qualification
playoffs are notoriously difficult games and it is quite possible that one or
more of the supposedly leading international teams, with a host of Europe’s top players, could crash out at the final stage.
The likes of Spain,
Argentina, Holland and Germany are already confirmed to be joining hosts Brazil
and their saviour Neymar when the tournament kicks off in Sao Paulo on June 12.
However, Barcelona teammates
Neymar and Lionel Messi might not be sharing the stage with some of the world’s other top players.
Authors at ShegzzySpree Sports Blog picked out five of the best players that could miss out on
qualification.
We have picked out five of the leading players that could fall foul of an embarrassing failure to make the final step and secure their place at the biggest event in world football.
We have picked out five of the leading players that could fall foul of an embarrassing failure to make the final step and secure their place at the biggest event in world football.
1. Luis Suarez – Uruguay
Defeat to Ecuador in their
previous qualifying match has left the Uruguayans highly likely to be facing
another two games to secure their berth. They lie fifth in the South American
qualifying after the 1-0 loss on Friday and face a final match against a
rampant Argentina.
A result in that match will
be tough as Messi and co have only lost once in 15 qualifiers, while Chile and
Ecuador know a draw will see both safely through automatically. Suarez’s playoff opponents would be lowly Jordan, but only a
fool would write them off when there is the motivation of knowing two good
results will get them to Brazil.
2. Christian Eriksen – Denmark
The Danes suffered injury
time heartbreak. (©GettyImages)
Nicklas Bendtner was a
two-goal hero in the Danes’ match with Italy on Friday, but their hopes of a
playoff spot behind the already qualified Azzuri were crushed by an injury time
Alberto Aquilani goal.
It leaves Eriksen and his
teammates in a precarious position where they must defeat Malta and hope
Bulgaria do not beat Czech Republic if they are to grab second spot in the
group. It would be a shame not to see Eriksen at the finals, as he is settling
in nicely at Tottenham and it looks possible he could blossom into one of
Europe’s leading playmakers.
3. Franck Ribery - France
Complacency could ruin it for
Les Bleus. (©GettyImages)
He may have ousted Lionel Messi
and Cristiano Ronaldo for the UEFA Best Player in Europe award earlier this
year, as well as being a leading candidate for the Ballon d’Or, but the Bayern Munich star could be disappointed
come next summer.
France were unlucky to draw
holders Spain in their group and will have to negotiate a playoff if they are
to secure their place –
they went perilously close to being eliminated by Ireland in their last
playoff, where only the Thierry Henry handball scandal saved them.
4. Wayne Rooney – England
The pressure on Rooney and
England is intense. (©GettyImages)
The Manchester United star
scored the opener in the Three Lions’ 4-1 win over Montenegro on Friday night that
guaranteed them a playoff spot, but Ukraine defeating Poland meant another win
is required when the Poles travel to Wembley next Tuesday.
The pressure is on England as
Ukraine’s final match is
against minnows San Marino, so anything other than a win for them is unlikely
to happen. Failing to defeat Poland would be a huge blow to Roy Hodgson’s team, as it was a group they should really top and
there are some very tricky teams lurking in the playoffs to cause more
heartbreak for Rooney and his colleagues.
5. Cristiano Ronaldo - Portugal
A late equalizer for Isreal all but ended any hopes Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo had on qualifying automatically ahead of Russia and they will almost certainly face a play-off to make the Brazil trip.
Despite having one of the worlds best two players in Cristiano Ronaldo captaining them, Porugal are maddeningly inconsistent and there would be no guarantee of them making it through a playoff. Brazil 2014, with Neymar, Messi but no Ronaldo will be a falacy.
Please feel free to comment
on our selections or leave your own below...
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