The 2nd place qualifying table

**youngirish** · 08/10/2009, 12:26 PM

Maybe FIFA don't even want to risk France having to go through the play-offs:

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,195...616979,00.html

**lionelhutz** · 08/10/2009, 12:32 PM

Originally Posted by gspain

No I doubt it - the top ranked teams are likely to be Russia, France, Portugal and Croatia.

Our chances of top seeding are pretty remote really as we cannot overtake any of the above.

The real concern should we get France or Portugal is the pressure on the referee knowing who FIFA want in the finals. They won't try and influence him but he will know and will be loathe to make a key decision against them unless absolutely sure.

A number of people have said Portugal are likely to be in the play-offs. Sweden are two points ahead of them and I think Portugal will struggle against Hungary considering Hungary are still in with a slight chance of making the play-offs. There is enormous pressure on Portugal now and Queiroz is looking like a dead man walking.

Also, the Denmark-Sweden game is pretty much 50-50 so there is a chance Sweden will win that which would make Portugals results meaningless anyway.

So to say with any certainty that Portugal are in the play offs is way off the mark.

**paul_oshea** · 08/10/2009, 1:05 PM

How many of fergies number 2s have proved to be just that?! When given the chance to be no1 they have failed, mostly terribly.

**Tipp Townie** · 08/10/2009, 3:03 PM

Originally Posted by youngirish

Maybe FIFA don't even want to risk France having to go through the play-offs:

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,195...616979,00.html

Possibly the correct reaction to the problems with the violence, but horribly convenient nonetheless!

**gspain** · 08/10/2009, 3:08 PM

Originally Posted by lionelhutz

A number of people have said Portugal are likely to be in the play-offs. Sweden are two points ahead of them and I think Portugal will struggle against Hungary considering Hungary are still in with a slight chance of making the play-offs. There is enormous pressure on Portugal now and Queiroz is looking like a dead man walking.

Also, the Denmark-Sweden game is pretty much 50-50 so there is a chance Sweden will win that which would make Portugals results meaningless anyway.

So to say with any certainty that Portugal are in the play offs is way off the mark.

I said likely not certain. Sweden are by no means 50-50 to win in Copenhagen. I expect Portugal to come through but hope I'm wrong.

**Arnold Layne** · 08/10/2009, 4:35 PM

Greece are ranked higher then Portugal.

The likely posts are;

Pot 1, Russia, Croatia, France, Greece
Pot 2, Portugal, Ireland, Bosnia, Slovenia

**SamDellandBolla** · 08/10/2009, 4:47 PM

Originally Posted by gspain

That does help. Is he injured?

Any chance Jovetic could pick up a yellow card too on saturday? I think he needs to rest himself for some important champions league games coming up.

ya he looks a real good player

**geysir** · 08/10/2009, 4:59 PM

I think the FIFA Ranking predictive table has Portugal well ahead of Greece after these 2 games.

**mypost** · 08/10/2009, 5:05 PM

This all reminds me of that time we were studying the Asian qualifiers for getting to the WC.

It's too hard to call who we'll get, there's about 16 options. Ideally we'll get someone beatable and for travelling, where it's not freezing in November. Slovenia and Bosnia fits the category.

Alternatively, we could get Russia, which would be the worst of both worlds.

**noddy102** · 08/10/2009, 5:32 PM

I'd take France, Croatia or Greece.
I would not like to be up against Russia/Germany.

**carloz** · 08/10/2009, 8:10 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

How many of fergies number 2s have proved to be just that?! When given the chance to be no1 they have failed, mostly terribly.

McClaren may have been a disaster with England, but he has done wonders with a nothing Middlesborough team, taking them to the UEFA cup final, and is doing a great job with FC Twente now

**carloz** · 08/10/2009, 8:12 PM

Originally Posted by Arnold Layne

Greece are ranked higher then Portugal.

The likely posts are;

Pot 1, Russia, Croatia, France, Greece
Pot 2, Portugal, Ireland, Bosnia, Slovenia

I know Sweden and Denmark are playing each other this weekend, but its still very much in their hands to finish in the top 2. Id give Portugal a less than 50% chance of making it

**Noelys Guitar** · 10/10/2009, 4:49 PM

Watching Russia v Germany. Glad the Germans will now qualify and leave the Russians in second. The Russians are good but by no means great. Spoke too soon. Stonewall peno for Russia not given. Germany win 1-0.