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World Cup Qualifying: A Look Ahead to Saturday

Russia

By TRAVIS CLARK

With just two World Cup qualifying matches left for just about every country, it's the last chance for many countries to make a push at a spot in South Africa next year. Perhaps the best match slated for this weekend is the matchup between Germany and Russia.

It's all to play for in this one. Germany has a one point lead on Russia in Group 4, having triumphed 2-1 when the two previously met in Germany just over a year ago. Guus Hiddink has a healthy Andrei Arshavin at his disposal this weekend, and the winner will have the clear advantage heading into the final round of matches next Wednesday.

Adding further intrigue, the match will take place at Luzhniki Stadium, a stadium with a turf field in Moscow. Russia has shown that they are a talented nation, and while a win wouldn't guarantee qualification, their final match is a winnable one against Azerbaijan.

Here's a look at a few other important qualifiers around the world:

Sweden vs. Denmark

Denmark seemed to have Group 1 locked up, but a surprising loss to Albania means that there is much to play for in Saturday's match in Copenhagen. If Denmark manages to pull off the victory, they'll qualify for the World Cup. If Sweden manages to win and Portugal draws, Sweden will secure at least a playoff berth.

Republic of Ireland vs. Italy

Sealing a spot in South Africa is on the minds of the defending champs, who will do so with either a win or tie against the Republic of Ireland. Getting a result won't be easy against an Irish side looking to return to the World Cup for the first time since 2002. A win won't be enough on Saturday, but it would bring Ireland closer to at least a playoff spot.

Togo vs. Cameroon

Two of the world's most well-known strikers look to keep their respective country's hopes of playing in the first World Cup held in Africa. Samuel Eto'o and Cameroon are the Group A leaders and could qualify if they defeat Emmanuel Adebayor's Togo side and Gabon also loses to Morocco. Things will come down to the final day if Togo manages to grab at least a draw.

New Zealand vs. Bahrain

The first leg of the Ocenia-AFC playoff begins Saturday in Bahrain on Saturday. New Zealand is looking to make their first World Cup since 1982 while Bahrain has never made a World Cup appearance. New Zealand might have to take care of business without former D.C. United defender Ryan Nelsen, who continues to recover from injury.

Argentina vs. Peru

Argentina finally gets some relief this weekend, hosting CONMEBOL bottom feeders Peru. Not that they'll be taking them lightly, as Lionel Messi's side only managed a 1-1 draw in the corresponding fixture. A win would bring some relief, and could guarantee at least a playoff spot for Argentina, but anything short of that could spell disaster.

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What do you think of the latest World Cup qualifiers? What will you watch? What will the best matches be?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. I think Argentina has been struggling, but knowing they’re actually a great team, here’s hoping they make it so the best will play the best!

    Go USA!

    Reply
  2. ya italy sucks and their style of playing is an insult to the sport of soccer.

    I personally would not say that qualifying for a world cup has regularly been a walk in the park for argentina.

    Reply
  3. @leftcoastmetro: I mean that Italy is boring because of their defensive style of play, and annoying because they’re world-class players who, with a few exceptions, dive and whine and take cheap shots. Of course the Azzurri are to be feared, but they don’t make for interesting matches, to me at least, except for me rooting for whoever they’re playing. Add in the whining and diving (or in this case, subtract it) and their absence would make for a more pleasurable WC. This argument doesn’t extend to all the traditional world powers – I’d watch Spain, France, and Germany over Italy every day of the week and twice on Sunday. And you can add Holland, Brazil and Argentina to that list. Argentina’s struggles aren’t interesting in that I hope they fail to qualify, only that it adds significant drama to what is usually (for them) a fairly drama-free qualification campaign.

    Reply
  4. Jim: “Let’s Go Ireland! Not only do I want them to win, but just think how much more interesting the WC would be without Italy in it…”

    Why exactly? by that logic let’s take out Spain, France and Germany and see how interesting it is. The Italians are always to be feared at World Cup time – and that’s interesting, whether you’re an Azzurri fan or not.

    Reply
  5. Let’s Go Ireland! Not only do I want them to win, but just think how much more interesting the WC would be without Italy in it…

    Reply
  6. how about Ukraine-England?

    Ukraine must beat England at home to take the 2nd place lead, if they don’t Croatia gets to walk into the playoff spot…England has a perfect record thus far, but only beat Ukraine 2-1 on a late goal from Terry in April…

    Reply
  7. It would be awesome if Peru beat Argentina.

    I would suspect that someone would pay off the Peruvians to lose (alla 1978), but it doesn’t seem like anyone involved in Argentine soccer has any money.

    Reply
  8. Nice article, but I thought I’d clean it up factually for you, as there are some errors:

    1) Denmark didn’t lose to Albania, it was a 1-1 draw away.

    Denmark is 5-3-0 for 18 points. They haven’t lost to anyone.

    2) While Ireland can’t clinch a WC spot Saturday, they can clinch a playoff spot with a win, or even a draw if Bulgaria fail to win @Cyprus. With a loss, they could still lose out on being a top 8 2nd to Norway. They are currently up 5 on Bulgaria.

    Other than that, spot on.

    Though the real action from SA is left out:

    2) Ecuador v. Uruguay. Ecaudor can clinch with a win and some help. A loss would mean Uruguay would have to hope for Argentina to fail to beat Peru at home, or Uruguay is out.

    3) Columbia v. Chile. Chile can clinch, or Columbia stays alive. Or possibly both, or neither. Depending.

    4) Venezuela v. Paraguay. Does Venezuela stay alive against already qualified Paraguay?

    3)

    Reply
  9. “A win would bring some relief, and could guarantee at least a playoff spot for Argentina, but anything short of that could spell disaster.”

    Personally, I spell disaster M-A-R-A-D-O-N-A-A-S-C-O-A-C-H.

    Reply
  10. US needs to beat honduras or tie Costa Rica and then it doesn’t matter what Argentina does, I would love to see Argentina in a playoff, I can only imagine the atmosphere (as long as they aren’t playing the US), its good for soccer to have France, Argentina, Portugal at the WC, or at least good for the bottom line

    Reply
  11. E Ihowā Atua,
    O ngā iwi mātou rā
    Āta whakarangona;
    Me aroha noa
    Kia hua ko te pai;
    Kia tau tō atawhai;
    Manaakitia mai
    Aotearoa

    Posted by: David

    I thought that was only an All Blacks thing? Didn’t know they sang it for the footy team too.

    Reply
  12. Without Ryan Nelsen, New Zealand will not get the job done.

    If Argentina don’t get a result against Peru at home, the Wednesday qualifers in SA will be VERY interesting.

    Reply
  13. Go Kiwis!!!!!!!

    E Ihowā Atua,
    O ngā iwi mātou rā
    Āta whakarangona;
    Me aroha noa
    Kia hua ko te pai;
    Kia tau tō atawhai;
    Manaakitia mai
    Aotearoa

    Reply
  14. I would love to see Argentina, France and Portugal all miss out on the Finals. Won’t happen, but I’d love to see some new blood from Europe and South America.

    Reply

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