Europhiles Notebook - World Cup Qualifying Reaction

The World Cup Qualifying Draw threw out some interesting combinations.

53 nations face off in nine groups with the aforementioned group of Spain and France being the only one with five countries.  As has been the recent case with Eurozone qualifying, the (nine) group winners and best second placed team go through to the final.  The eight remaining nations square off in four two legged playoffs to make up the remaining four berths.  In total 14 European countries contest the finals.

Spain and France being drawn together in Group I of the 2014 European World Cup qualifying campaign is the most notable and newsworthy emergence from the draw.  The 1998 winners and powerhouses will face off against the current champions twice as they look to take the automatic spot from the group.  Belarus, who are currently locked with France in the same Euro 2012 qualifying group, Finland and Georgia make up the numbers.

Among the other big nations, England are reacquainted with Montenegro in Group H while Poland, who reached the finals in 2002 and 2006, and Ukraine, 2006 participants, are the other pedigreed teams.  Moldova and San Marino wil do no better than target practice.

Group G will provide plenty of twists and turns with any of Greece, Slovakia or Bosnia capable of going through as group winners with Latvia, Lithuania and Liechtenstein filling out the table.

Portugal and Russia make the headlines in Group F with Israel, who beat Russia in Euro 2008 qualifying, at large.  Northern Ireland, so plucky at home, Luxembourg and Azerbaijan round out the group.

Group E looks to be another open group with Switzerland the nominal favourites but Slovenia, who featured in South Africa last year, and Norway will provide stiff opposition.  Other teams are less of a threat, namely Albania, Cyprus and Iceland.

Group D is a straight fight between perennial powerhouses Holland and talented Turkey, the only team that can stop the Dutch from another perfect qualifying campaign.  Hungary and Romania are much improved and will give the Turks plenty of competition for second.  Estonia and Andorra are the two paperweights.

Germany and Ireland go head to head in Group C with Austria, always dangerous and Sweden, who always qualify, making the fight for second an interesting one.  Faroe Islands and Kazakhstan make this the most geographically disparate qualifying section.

Group B sees Italy and Czech Republic contest a close race that has Denmark on the outside looking in.  Bulgaria's latest generation of players are hardly awe-inspiring and they may just make up the numbers, along with Malta and Armenia.

Finally, Group A is the closest one with all six teams essentially in contention for the top two spots.  Serbia and Croatia (please, no fighting in the stands) renew their rivalry while Scotland and Wales engage in their own battle of Britain. Belgium and Macedonia have little past history but will fancy their chances against all the others. Interestingly three of the countries here were once part of Yugoslavia – Serbia, Croatia and Macedonia.