UEFA World Cup Qualifying 2013: Predicting Which Teams Will Advance to Brazil

After the first round of playoff games in the UEFA section, we are closer to a confirmed line-up for the World Cup in 2014. 

And whilst across the globe teams like Ghana, Uruguay and Mexico have fired themselves to seemingly insurmountable first-leg leads, all four of the UEFA playoffs still could go either way. So let's take a look at the midweek second legs and make some considered predictions on which four teams from UEFA will be joining Germany, Spain, Italy and England at next summer’s showpiece.

Portugal Will Beat Sweden Again

Cristiano Ronaldo bagged the only goal against a resolute Swedish outfit. The Portuguese talisman won his own personal and somewhat manufactured duel against Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and his Portugal team go to Stockholm knowing that an away goal should be enough to see them over the line.

In some respects, 1-0 is the perfect scoreline for Paolo Bento’s team. It dangles a carrot in front of the Swedes and they will have to play much more expansive style than what we were witness to in Lisbon. In turn, this will open up space for the likes of Ronaldo and Nani use their pace and quality on the break.

The Portugal defence shackled Ibrahimovic well in the first leg, and if they can do a similar job here, another 1-0 scoreline looks on the cards. 

France To Force Extra-Time Against Ukraine

The French face a huge task if they are to qualify for the World Cup after losing 2-0 in Ukraine. 

Didier Deschamps’s men were very disappointed in the first game of this double header. They failed to bag an away goal and capitulated defensively before a baying Kiev crowd. Just to cap things off, Laurent Koscielny was sent off at the death after a clash with Oleksandr Kucher.

Naturally, it’s all doom and gloom in the immediate aftermath of this one, but France still have a decent chance. They will be much more comfortable at home and cut through the Ukrainian defence on a couple of occasions in the first leg.

This should give them some confidence ahead of the second leg and a 2-0 win will take this one to extra-time. If France can get the tie into that stage, they should have ample momentum to finish the job.

Stalemate In Bucharest Will See Greeks Through

Konstantinos Mitroglou bagged a brace to inspire Greece to a 3-1 win over Romania.

Romania dominated possession, but failed to make it tell as poor defending and incisive Greek counter-attacking mean they will have to overhaul a two-goal deficit in Bucharest.

Their superior technical ability will see Romanians boss possession again at home, but the Greeks are notoriously dogged and difficult opposition to break down. They will sit in and make it hard for Romania. This one looks like it could be a 0-0 draw.

Croatia Will End Icelandic Hopes With Comfortable Home Win

You felt that if Iceland were to have any chance of continuing their fairy tale then they needed to take a lead to Croatia following the first leg. 

They managed to hold their more illustrious opponents to a 0-0 draw, which is by no means the worst result. A draw with at least one goal will see them through.

But Croatia boast a formidable home record and should have far too much for the Icelandic players in Zagreb. As the first leg in Reykjavik wore on, players like Ivica Olic and Mario Mandzukic became more and more involved. In the return leg, Iceland will struggle to keep players of that quality at bay.