Weekend Soccer Preview

No domestic leagues this weekend, just the wrap-up of World Cup Qualifying!!!

UEFA Playoffs
Legs played Saturday, November 14, and Wednesday, November 18. Home team in first leg listed first. Teams each host one match, and the away goals rule will be used.

Russia v Slovenia
Russia is in an interesting spot ahead of these qualification ties. They are heavily favored and certainly employ a talent advantage over the Slovenians, but there are some issues within the squad. Several Russian national team players have taken up spots in Western European clubs and are not receiving the playing time necessary to retain top form, such as Roman Pavulychenko (4 apperances, all as subs, for Tottenham), Diniyar Bilyaletdinov (3 starts, 2 subs for Everton), and Pavel Pogrebnyak (7 apperances, 3 subs for Stuttgart). Eleven of the twenty-four men selected for the Russia squad are from the clubs CSKA Moscow or Zenit St. Petersburg, and only 5 come from outside the Russian Premier League. Slovenia looks to qualify for their second ever World Cup, as they went winless at the 2002 World Cup in Japan/South Korea. The only thing I can say for certain about Slovenia is that I have heard of exactly 0 players on their national team.
Prediction: 1st leg: 2-2, followed by incessant and typical Russian negativism about their national team; 2nd leg: 5-1 Russia, after they remember that they are a lot better than Slovenia. Russia through to the World Cup on 7-3 aggregate.

Greece v Ukraine
Ukraine had a fairly impressive qualification campaign, but was saddled with the unfortunate draw of England into their group. They were the only team to beat England, which was a 1-0 result at home, albeit the game after England clinched first in the group. In the 6 games in which they did not play Kazakhstan or Andorra, Ukraine was 2-3-1 with a +1 goal differential. Ukraine went 4-0-0 with a +14 goal differential in the other four games, to give an idea of the polarized quality of the group. Greece has the leading scorer in UEFA qualification, Theofanis Gekas, to go along with the full support of Yogi’s Pizza of Lake Zurich. Greece is no longer the defensive stalwart they once were, but won each game in qualifying by an average score of exactly 2-1. Secondary striker Georgios Samaras of Celtic FC says they would be happy with a 0-0 in the first leg, which is entirely possible. First legs of playoffs can be tame in terms of pace of play as teams try to feel each other out and not make fatal mistakes that can ruin their chance of advancing before the return leg is played.
Prediction: 1st leg: 1-0 Ukraine, 2nd leg: 3-1 Ukraine. Ukraine to the World Cup on 4-1 aggregate.

Ireland v France
In the most anticipated match-up of these European playoffs, the Republic of Ireland is looking to take part in its first major international competition since World Cup 2002. Ireland is undefeated at home thus far in qualification, including a solid 2-2 against Italy. Not only that, but they are also undefeated away with an even more impressive 1-1 draw in Italy. On the other hand, France has struggled on the road in qualification, with a 3-1 loss at Austria and an unimpressive 1-0 win against the lowly Faroe Islands to go with two draws and a couple 1-0 wins. It may be difficult for France to come away from rowdy Croke Park with a positive result, and anything can happen on the return leg if Ireland is one game from a spot in the World Cup.
Prediction: 1st leg: 1-0 Ireland; 2nd leg: 1-1 draw. Ireland to the World Cup on 2-1 aggregate score.

Portugal v Bosnia-Herzegovina
Portugal will be without superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, who was apparently ordered to be hexed by Paris Hilton, and is subsequently injured. No matter why he’s gone, he is gone and it will be a tough pair of matches for Portugal to navigate through. Bosnia finished second in a scary group involving Spain, Turkey, and Belgium. They gave Spain a tough test in Spain, losing only 1-0. They did manage 25 goals from ten games, led by an attack of rising stars Edin Dzeko , Vedad Ibisevic, Zvejdzan Misimovic, and Zlatan Muslimovic (no, not Ibrahimovic). Portugal was unimpressive in their qualifying group, managing only 5 wins in 10 games, including a loss at home to Denmark, and way draws to Denmark and Sweden and a home draw to Albania!!! These will definitely be two interesting matchups.
Prediction: 1st leg: 1-1, 2nd leg: 2-2. Unfortunately, Portugal to the World Cup on the away goals rule.

OFC & AFC Playoff
2:00 AM ET Saturday (That is late Friday Night)
New Zealand v Bahrain, second leg
First leg was played almost a month ago and came to a 0-0 draw in Bahrain. New Zealand will need an outright win, as any non-goalless draw will lead to Bahrain advancing on the away goals rule. A 0-0 draw will lead to the most important penalty shootout in either country’s history, but a spot in the World Cup should never be decided on penalties. Neither country has ever qualified for the World Cup, so expect a cracker down under.
Prediction: New Zealand 3-2 Bahrain after extra time.

CONMEBOL & CONCACAF Playoff
Costa Rica v Uruguay
Costa Rica is looking to qualify for its third consecutive World Cup. This is the third consecutive qualification process in which Uruguay needs a playoff to advance to the Finals. For 2002, they got past Australia to make it, but in 2006 Australia returned the favor and defeated them on the way to the World Cup. Costa Rica only lost once at home in qualifying, a 3-0 defeat against Mexico. However, Uruguay is more intimidating than any stadium they will have visited in the qualification campaign besides possibly Estadio Azteca in Mexico. These will be high-energy, hard-fought matches.
Prediction: 1st leg: 2-1 Costa Rica, 2nd leg: 1-1 between two tired teams playing in two hemispheres in a 5 day span. Costa Rica through to the World Cup on 3-2 aggregate.

Africa
Group A
Morocco v Cameroon
Togo v Gabon
Cameroon leads this group 10 (+5) to 9 (+3) over Gabon. They are the only two teams with a chance left to win this group and both must go on the road to do so. A win by Cameroon or a loss by Gabon sees Cameroon through to the World Cup, as do draws by both teams. A Gabon draw and Cameroon loss would see things get messy, but you can do the math. Cameroon drew Morocco 0-0 in Cameroon earlier in qualification, while Gabon defeated Togo 3-0 in Gabon. Still, I don’t see either team losing these vital matches, and if one does, it will be Gabon in Togo.
Prediction: Cameroon 3-1 Morocco, Gabon 1-1 Togo. Cameroon advances to the World Cup.

Group B
Kenya v Nigeria
Mozambique v Tunisia
Tunisia leads Nigeria 11 (+4) to 9 (+4). I will not pretend to know anything about any of these teams, but Tunisia has qualified for the last three World Cups, never making it past the group stage. Nigeria made the 1994, 1998, and 2002 World Cups, making it to the Round of 16 in the first two of those. Nigeria also has notable players such as Nwankwo Kanu, Yakubu, Mikel John Obi, Obafemi Martins, and Taye Taiwo.
Prediction: Nigeria 4-1 Kenya, Tunisia 0-0 Mozambique. Nigeria miraculously qualifies for the World Cup.

Group C
Egypt v Algeria
Algeria leads Egypt 13 (+7) to 10 (+3). Simply put, Algeria must win, draw, or lose by one to qualify. A three-goal win for Egypt sees them through to the World Cup. A two-goal win for Egypt means a playoff will be played in Sudan next Wednesday.
Prediction: Of course I have to say a 2-0 win for Egypt to force the playoff. Then, Egypt wins 4-3 in a thrilling match in extra time.

Interesting Baseball Fact of the Day: The most HR hit in a single season by a player who was born in Illinois is 52 for Jim Thome, who was born in Peoria, Illinois. He also holds the record for most career HR for a player who was born in Illinois, with 564.