D-DAY FOR WORLD CUP HOPEFULS The final four European qualifiers for next years World Cup will be decided tonight with Sweden looking to turn around a 1-0 first-leg deficit when they take on Portugal at the Friends Arena in Stockholm. Real Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo headed the winner in Lisbon to pile the pressure on Sweden head coach Erik Hamren, who has been told his contract will not be renewed if they fail to qualify for the finals in Brazil. But the main talking point since the play-off draw was made centres around whether Ronaldo or Sweden talisman Zlatan Ibrahimovic will get to play on world footballs biggest stage. Ibrahimovic struggled to get into the game at the Stadium of Light and will hope for better service at home. France face an uphill struggle if they are to see off Ukraine to be involved next year. Didier Deschamps side lost the opening leg 2-0 in Kiev and with no European side having recovered from such a deficit to qualify, Les Bleus must make history if they are to advance. Goals from Roman Zozulya and Andriy Yarmolenko leave Ukraine in the boxseat, while victory in the opening clash with France saw them set a national record eighth clean sheet in a row. Iceland are attempting to qualify for their first World Cup as they prepare to take on Croatia. Lars Lagerbacks charges secured a 0-0 draw from the opening leg and with a population of just 320,000, would become the smallest nation to qualify for the finals if they can secure victory in Zagreb. Iceland are without injured striker Kolbeinn Sigthorsson who is ruled out with an ankle injury - former Chelsea striker Eidur Gudjohnsen is set to take his place in the starting line-up. Greece are favourites to qualify from the final European play-off tie after they defeated Romania 3-1 in Athens. Fernando Santos side won eight of their 10 Group G matches but were pipped at the top of the group by Bosnia-Herzegovina on goal-difference and will be keen to finish the job in Bucharest.
Posted on: Tue, 19 Nov 2013 13:54:59 +0000
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