Tough draw for Ireland in WC 2014 Qualifying
Credit: Extratime Team (ETPhotos)
The 2014 World Cup qualifying draw took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil this evening. The Republic of Ireland have been drawn in Group C of the European section along with top seeds Germany, Sweden, Austria, Brian Kerr’s Faroe Islands and Kazakhstan.
The Boys in Green face a tough task to qualify for the finals in Brazil with difficult games anticipated against the likes of Germany and Sweden. The Germans of course are three time winners of the World Cup and will be favourites to top the group. Ireland last played Germany in the Euro 2008 qualifiers losing 1-0 in Stuttgart and playing out a goalless draw in Croke Park.
The money men at the FAI will be delighted to have drawn Germany as the game against Germany in 2007 in Croke Park was reportedly worth €10 million to the FAI and although they won’t get that much during the recession they will still receive a large sum. This World Cup is the last campaign where individual football associations and TV stations negotiate TV rights as from Euro 2016 on Uefa will negotiate a centralised TV deal for all its members.
Getting back to matters on the pitch and second seeds Sweden will, along with Ireland, fancy their chances of challenging for at least a play-off spot in the group. Sweden have a tremendous record in qualifying for major tournaments having only failed to qualify for three tournaments since 1990, Euro 1996, World Cup 1998 and last year’s World Cup in South Africa.
Another interesting point to come from this group is the return of Brian Kerr to Ireland in a World Cup qualifying campaign, Kerr of course led Ireland in the qualifying campaign for World Cup 2006 when incidentally Ireland faced the Faroe Islands, and also Euro 2004. The fact that Faroe Islands were in pot 5 for the draw for the first time speaks volumes for the work the Drimnagh man has done with the small island nation.
Austria and Kazakhstan are the other team in the group and both could be classed as outsiders, although getting to and from Kazakhstan could be troublesome, just ask Pete Mahon and his St Patricks Athletic side who recently played there.
In the other groups Group A sees Croatia and Serbia compete in what are sure to be emotionally charged games given the history between the teams. They are drawn along with two other teams who are well known to each other Scotland and Wales. A talented young Belgium side and Macedonia make up Group A.
Group B sees 2006 World Cup champions Italy come up against their neighbours Malta, Denmark, Czech Republic, Armenia and Bulgaria.
In Group D the Netherlands will be strong favourites to progress from a group containing Turkey, neighbouring countries Hungary and Romania, and also Estonia and Andorra.
Surprise top seeds Norway were drawn in Group E against two teams who played in the last World Cup, Slovenia and Switzerland. Albania Iceland and Cyprus complete this Group.
Northern Ireland will have a tough task to qualify having been drawn against Russia and Portugal, who will be expected to compete at the top of the group F. Israel, Azerbaijan and Luxembourg are the other teams who will face Nigel Worthington’s men.
Euro 2004 winners Greece face Slovakia, Bosnia Herzegovina, Baltic sides Latvia and Lithuania and Liechtenstein in Group G.
England who of course will have a new manager for this campaign are top seeds in Group H and face Euro 2012 hosts Ukraine and Poland. They will also come up against Montenegro who they are currently vying with for a place in Poland and Ukraine next year. Moldova and San Marino are also in this Group.
The last group is the only five team Group and it contains reigning European and World Champions Spain. Along with France, Belarus, Georgia and Finland. The Spanish and French are expected to compete for top spot in this group.
The top team from each group will qualify automatically for The World Cup with the eight best runners entering the play offs with the four winners also going to Brazil 2014.
The draw in full is:
Group A
Croatia
Serbia
Belgium
Scotland
Macedonia
Wales
Group B
Italy
Denmark
Czech Republic
Bulgaria
Armenia
Malta
Group C
Germany
Sweden
Rep of Ireland
Austria
Faroe Islands
Kazakhstan
Group D
Netherlands
Turkey
Hungary
Romania
Estonia
Andorra
Group E
Norway
Slovenia
Switzerland
Albania
Cyprus
Iceland
Group F
Portugal
Russia
Israel
Northern Ireland
Azerbaijan
Luxembourg
Group G
Greece
Slovakia
Bosnia-Herz
Lithuania
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Group H
England
Montengro
Ukraine
Poland
Moldova
San Marino
Group I
Spain
France
Belarus
Georgia
Finland
The Boys in Green face a tough task to qualify for the finals in Brazil with difficult games anticipated against the likes of Germany and Sweden. The Germans of course are three time winners of the World Cup and will be favourites to top the group. Ireland last played Germany in the Euro 2008 qualifiers losing 1-0 in Stuttgart and playing out a goalless draw in Croke Park.
The money men at the FAI will be delighted to have drawn Germany as the game against Germany in 2007 in Croke Park was reportedly worth €10 million to the FAI and although they won’t get that much during the recession they will still receive a large sum. This World Cup is the last campaign where individual football associations and TV stations negotiate TV rights as from Euro 2016 on Uefa will negotiate a centralised TV deal for all its members.
Getting back to matters on the pitch and second seeds Sweden will, along with Ireland, fancy their chances of challenging for at least a play-off spot in the group. Sweden have a tremendous record in qualifying for major tournaments having only failed to qualify for three tournaments since 1990, Euro 1996, World Cup 1998 and last year’s World Cup in South Africa.
Another interesting point to come from this group is the return of Brian Kerr to Ireland in a World Cup qualifying campaign, Kerr of course led Ireland in the qualifying campaign for World Cup 2006 when incidentally Ireland faced the Faroe Islands, and also Euro 2004. The fact that Faroe Islands were in pot 5 for the draw for the first time speaks volumes for the work the Drimnagh man has done with the small island nation.
Austria and Kazakhstan are the other team in the group and both could be classed as outsiders, although getting to and from Kazakhstan could be troublesome, just ask Pete Mahon and his St Patricks Athletic side who recently played there.
In the other groups Group A sees Croatia and Serbia compete in what are sure to be emotionally charged games given the history between the teams. They are drawn along with two other teams who are well known to each other Scotland and Wales. A talented young Belgium side and Macedonia make up Group A.
Group B sees 2006 World Cup champions Italy come up against their neighbours Malta, Denmark, Czech Republic, Armenia and Bulgaria.
In Group D the Netherlands will be strong favourites to progress from a group containing Turkey, neighbouring countries Hungary and Romania, and also Estonia and Andorra.
Surprise top seeds Norway were drawn in Group E against two teams who played in the last World Cup, Slovenia and Switzerland. Albania Iceland and Cyprus complete this Group.
Northern Ireland will have a tough task to qualify having been drawn against Russia and Portugal, who will be expected to compete at the top of the group F. Israel, Azerbaijan and Luxembourg are the other teams who will face Nigel Worthington’s men.
Euro 2004 winners Greece face Slovakia, Bosnia Herzegovina, Baltic sides Latvia and Lithuania and Liechtenstein in Group G.
England who of course will have a new manager for this campaign are top seeds in Group H and face Euro 2012 hosts Ukraine and Poland. They will also come up against Montenegro who they are currently vying with for a place in Poland and Ukraine next year. Moldova and San Marino are also in this Group.
The last group is the only five team Group and it contains reigning European and World Champions Spain. Along with France, Belarus, Georgia and Finland. The Spanish and French are expected to compete for top spot in this group.
The top team from each group will qualify automatically for The World Cup with the eight best runners entering the play offs with the four winners also going to Brazil 2014.
The draw in full is:
Group A
Croatia
Serbia
Belgium
Scotland
Macedonia
Wales
Group B
Italy
Denmark
Czech Republic
Bulgaria
Armenia
Malta
Group C
Germany
Sweden
Rep of Ireland
Austria
Faroe Islands
Kazakhstan
Group D
Netherlands
Turkey
Hungary
Romania
Estonia
Andorra
Group E
Norway
Slovenia
Switzerland
Albania
Cyprus
Iceland
Group F
Portugal
Russia
Israel
Northern Ireland
Azerbaijan
Luxembourg
Group G
Greece
Slovakia
Bosnia-Herz
Lithuania
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Group H
England
Montengro
Ukraine
Poland
Moldova
San Marino
Group I
Spain
France
Belarus
Georgia
Finland
