Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo could endure an agonising night this Wednesday when he watches from afar as Portugal launch a final bid to qualify for the 2010 World Cup.
Ronaldo aggravated a right ankle injury in Portugal’s defeat of Hungary on Saturday, a result which has put Carlos Queiroz’s side into second place on 16 points in Group 1 at the expense of Sweden, who have 15.
With Denmark already automatically qualified after their 1-0 defeat of Sweden on Saturday Portugal know they cannot afford to settle for a draw at home against Malta, especially if Denmark beat Hungary in Copenhagen.
Group 2 is one of two from the nine in the Europe zone that, ahead of the final qualifiers, still has no automatically qualified team — the other is Group 3 where Slovakia and Slovenia are both vying for top spot.
Switzerland, who lead Group 2 on 20 points from nine games, have been speculating on the various possible outcomes if they fail to claim at least a draw against Israel and Greece defeat Luxembourg.
Although the memory is 16 years old, some Swiss remember only too well when Israel stunned France 3-2 in a World Cup qualifier at the Parc des Princes in October 1993, a result which contributed to their absence from the 1994 tournament in the United States.
Switzerland host Israel in Basel knowing that even if Greece, who have 17 points, beat Luxembourg a draw should be enough to see them through as the group winners.
Sitting in third place in Group 3 on 15 points, the Czechs are virtually out of contention for a runner-up spot that could see them qualify through a two-leg play-off.
Ivan Hasek’s men would have to beat Northern Ireland on Wednesday and then depend on the unlikely scenario of San Marino beating Slovenia, to move back up to second place.
Elsewhere, Croatia, who sit third in Group 6 seven points behind leaders England but only one behind Ukraine, travel to Kazakhstan
for their final qualifier.
A win there, coupled with a unlikely victory over Andorra over Ukraine, would see Croatia jump up to second place among the play-off places.
In South American qualifying, Diego Maradona’s two-time world champions Argentina will go all out for glory and seek to stun their hosts Uruguay on the counter attack to ensure a berth in next summer’s World Cup finals, striker Martin Palermo said Tuesday.
Failure to win in Montevideo will mean either a playoff against an opponent from Central America — or potentially total elimination.
Uruguay are a point behind them while Ecuador, two points adrift, could also still bag the final automatic qualifying place, which Argentina currently occupy, with a win in Chile. — AFP
