6) A crucial match for Northern Ireland
With Germany looking untouchable, the intrigue in Group C lies in the race
to qualify for the play-offs. Opening their campaign with a 1-0 away win
against San Marino did not suggest that Azerbaijan would feature in that
conversation, but they have surprisingly risen to second place after
picking up seven points from their first three matches. They scored early
and held on for another 1-0 win when they hosted Norway last month and
demonstrated their defensive resilience by leaving the Czech Republic with
a precious draw three days later. Yet to concede a goal, it seems that they
have worked out how to frustrate their opponents and Northern Ireland will
need to be patient when Azerbaijan visit Windsor Park on Friday night.
Defeat would see Michael O’Neill’s side fall six points behind the group’s
surprise package. JS
to qualify for the play-offs. Opening their campaign with a 1-0 away win
against San Marino did not suggest that Azerbaijan would feature in that
conversation, but they have surprisingly risen to second place after
picking up seven points from their first three matches. They scored early
and held on for another 1-0 win when they hosted Norway last month and
demonstrated their defensive resilience by leaving the Czech Republic with
a precious draw three days later. Yet to concede a goal, it seems that they
have worked out how to frustrate their opponents and Northern Ireland will
need to be patient when Azerbaijan visit Windsor Park on Friday night.
Defeat would see Michael O’Neill’s side fall six points behind the group’s
surprise package. JS
7) Will Ghana’s wishes be granted in land of the Pharaohs?
Ghana are already playing catchup in the unforgiving last group stage of African qualification. Their scoreless home draw with Uganda in their opening match raised the stakes of this Sunday’s clash with Egypt, who lead the group thanks to their victory in Congo. André Ayew makes a timely return for the Black Stars but they will be still without the injured Kwadwo Asamoah, and Asamoah Gyan is also absent. Egypt’s goalkeeper, Essan El-Hadary, made no effort to underplay the importance of the match, declaring that a victory for his team, which would leave them five points clear of the country they see as their main rivals, would be “the gateway to the World Cup”. What a context, then, for Barnsley’s Andy Yiadom to make his international debut. The London-born defender received his Ghanaian passport a few days ago and has a chance of going straight into Avram Grant’s side for the duel in Alexandria. A good pep-talk would do him a power of good. It doesn’t sound like he’ll be getting one from the vice-president of Ghana’s FA. “I hadn’t heard of any player called Andy Yiadom until Avram Grant added to his list,” George Afriye told Ghanaian radio this week. “If I were to be the coach of the Black Stars, instead of Yiadom, I would’ve preferred either Samuel Inkoom, Godfred Saka of Aduana Stars or Yaw Frimpong of TP Mazembe for the right-back position because they are tried and tested. However, I’m not in that position to select players for the team so I will have to go with Grant’s decision.” PD
8) Revenge will be sweet in Group I
Croatia and Iceland have both continued to impress since the Euros, the
former shrugging off the disappointment of their tepid defeat to Portugal
in the last 16, the latter showing that their run to the last eight was no
fluke. Goal difference separates them at the top of Group I after three
qualifiers and the stakes will be high when they meet on Saturday night.
Croatia are formidable at home, possess enviable individual talent and will
start as favourites, but Iceland remain compact, organised and efficient at
both ends of the pitch. This is a tough match to call and an added
incentive for Iceland is that it was Croatia who dashed their hopes of
qualifying for the 2014 World Cup, edging a tight play-off. JS
former shrugging off the disappointment of their tepid defeat to Portugal
in the last 16, the latter showing that their run to the last eight was no
fluke. Goal difference separates them at the top of Group I after three
qualifiers and the stakes will be high when they meet on Saturday night.
Croatia are formidable at home, possess enviable individual talent and will
start as favourites, but Iceland remain compact, organised and efficient at
both ends of the pitch. This is a tough match to call and an added
incentive for Iceland is that it was Croatia who dashed their hopes of
qualifying for the 2014 World Cup, edging a tight play-off. JS
9) Will Falcao further dent Chile’s fortunes?
Chile and Peru got a major break at the start of this month when Bolivia
were found to have fielded an ineligible player, Nelson Cabrera, in two
matches in the South American qualifying league, a 2-0 win over Peru and
0-0 draw with Chile. Fifa quashed those results and awarded 3-0 victories
to Peru and Chile instead. That lifted Chile from seventh to fifth in the
table, one point below the fourth automatic qualification spot, which is
currently occupied by Colombia. And on Thursday Colombia host Chile. Less
encouragingly for Chile, Alexis Sánchez will miss that match after suffering a “low-grade muscle injury” during training this week and he may also miss next week’s home game against Uruguay. Colombia, on the other hand, are in the happy position of being able to reward Radamel Falcao’s long-awaited return to form with a recall to the national team. The fairytale scenario is for Falcao to score against either Chile or next week’s opponent’s Argentina, the other team who are currently just a point below Colombia. PD
were found to have fielded an ineligible player, Nelson Cabrera, in two
matches in the South American qualifying league, a 2-0 win over Peru and
0-0 draw with Chile. Fifa quashed those results and awarded 3-0 victories
to Peru and Chile instead. That lifted Chile from seventh to fifth in the
table, one point below the fourth automatic qualification spot, which is
currently occupied by Colombia. And on Thursday Colombia host Chile. Less
encouragingly for Chile, Alexis Sánchez will miss that match after suffering a “low-grade muscle injury” during training this week and he may also miss next week’s home game against Uruguay. Colombia, on the other hand, are in the happy position of being able to reward Radamel Falcao’s long-awaited return to form with a recall to the national team. The fairytale scenario is for Falcao to score against either Chile or next week’s opponent’s Argentina, the other team who are currently just a point below Colombia. PD
10) Heavyweights meet in Nigeria
There is little room for error in Group B in African qualifying. Nigeria
are top after the first round of matches, Algeria and Cameroon are level on
one point apiece, and Zambia are bottom. Picking a winner is far from
straightforward, although we might get a better idea of the group’s
strongest side when Nigeria host Algeria on Saturday evening. Nigeria will
look to their emerging stars. Alex Iwobi and Kelechi Iheanacho were on the
scoresheet when they beat Zambia 2-1. But Algeria’s threat will not be
underestimated and Nigeria’s back four is unlikely to relish marking Yacine
Brahimi, Riyad Mahrez and Islam Slimani. JS
are top after the first round of matches, Algeria and Cameroon are level on
one point apiece, and Zambia are bottom. Picking a winner is far from
straightforward, although we might get a better idea of the group’s
strongest side when Nigeria host Algeria on Saturday evening. Nigeria will
look to their emerging stars. Alex Iwobi and Kelechi Iheanacho were on the
scoresheet when they beat Zambia 2-1. But Algeria’s threat will not be
underestimated and Nigeria’s back four is unlikely to relish marking Yacine
Brahimi, Riyad Mahrez and Islam Slimani. JS
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