Big guns on field for World Cup qualifiers
Paris, Aug. 30: The race to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia is heating up with just four rounds of games remaining in the European qualifying campaign.
Here’s a glance over each group ahead of back-toback rounds of fixtures over the next week: An error by Hugo Lloris that gifted Sweden a 2-1 win in Stockholm needlessly complicated France’s qualifying hopes and left them facing a huge game against the Netherlands in Paris on Thursday. France are second on goal difference behind Sweden. Dick Advocaat’s Dutch are third and a defeat in Paris will leave them facing the prospect of missing a second straight major tournament.
Portugal to catch-up
European champions Portugal have been playing catch-up with Switzerland ever since losing 2-0 in Basel last September. They are three points behind the Swiss, who have a perfect record ahead of matches against Andorra and Latvia. Currently suspended with Real Madrid, Cristiano Ronaldo is in the Portuguese squad preparing to face the Faroe Islands and Hungary.
Roberto Martinez’s Belgium are top by four points from Greece, who are also unbeaten. Belgium host Gibraltar and then go to Greece on Sunday.
Brazil, Argies in action
Meanwhile in South America, Luis Suarez could yet line up against Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi on Thursday as South America’s battle for 2018 World Cup places resumes with Argentina’s trip to Uruguay the pick of the fixtures.
With leaders Brazil already locking up their place at next year’s tournament, attention turns to the tussle for the three remaining automatic berths on offer in the marathon 10- team qualifying tournament. Colombia are second in the standings on 24 points while Uruguay and Chile occupy the other two automatic spots on 23 points.
It means that fifth-placed Argentina have little margin for error as they head to Montevideo for the latest instalment of their historic rivalry with the Uruguayans. Jorge Sampaoli, who masterminded Chile’s victory at the 2015 Copa America, took control of the ‘Albiceleste’ in May, and began his reign with a morale-boosting 1-0 win over Brazil in a friendly in June.
Sampaoli served notice of his determination to invigorate Argentina’s ranks by axing striker Gonzalo Higuain in favour of Inter Milan’s Mauro Icardi.
Uruguay meanwhile are sweating on the fitness of Barcelona star Suarez.
If Suarez fails to win his fitness battle, Uruguay will once again turn to inform Paris Saint-Germain striker Edinson Cavani.
Elsewhere, Colombia will aim to edge closer to qualification with an away victory over already-eliminated Venezuela.
Fourth-placed Chile meanwhile host Paraguay in Santiago while Brazil will have the luxury of being able to treat their game against Ecuador as a training exercise.
France, Dutch show