Portugal have been drawn against Sweden in UEFA’s playoffs for next year’s World Cup in Brazil, setting up a mouth watering clash between the two nations’ respective talismanic stars- Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. France coach Didier Deschamps, who was keen to avoid Portugal, has been granted his wish with a fixture against Ukraine. In other ties, Greece will take on Romania while Iceland have been pitted against Croatia, who will be going into the playoffs with a new coach.
In the eight team draw, Portugal, Greece, Croatia and Ukraine were the seeded teams, with France, Sweden, Romania and Iceland forming the unseeded group.
World Cup UEFA 2014 Play-offs- draw made on 21 October, 2013 at 14.00 CET
Portugal vs Sweden ( First Leg Por 1-0 Swe)
Second Leg Swe 2-3 Por
Ukraine vs France ( First Leg Ukraine 2-0 France)
Second Leg- France vs Ukraine 3-0
Greece vs Romania ( First Leg Greece 3-1 Romania
Second Leg Romania 1-1 Greece
Iceland vs Croatia
The ties will be played on 15 November and 19 November, 2013 with the team mentioned first to play the first leg at home.
I think Portugal will come good- they are at home for the first leg and unless Zlatan does something, I don’t see Sweden progressing.
France should beat Ukraine.
Unsure about Greece Romania, it’ll probably go to penalties!
Iceland v Croatia hmmm… I’d love Iceland and Eidur Gudjohnsen to script an upset, but I think the Croats have too much firepower and even with the new coach, should win comfortably. Only chance for Iceland is to win at home in the first leg.