Group A
Croatia, Serbia, Belgium and Scotland could all challenge in this group, while Macedonia and Wales should be the bottom feeders. At first glance this may not appear to be a very tough group but Macedonia and Wales are far from the easiest minnows that could have been drawn to this group. Belgium and Scotland are both fully capable of challenging for atleast the runner up spot in this group, if they fail then they will surely play spoiler. Croatia and Serbia will fight for the automatic World Cup berth but there's a rivalry between them that is sure to make their matchups as well as their fight for 1st competitive and thrilling. I will not rule out the possibility that the group winner will be the team that manages not to drop points against Scotland and Belgium. Focusing on the bigger picture will be more important in this group than most others. Belgium, whether they qualify or not, will be the key in this group.
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| Belgium |
Unlike Group A, Group B actually looks hard on paper and at first site is the hardest that the draw has produced. Italy, Denmark, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Armenia and Malta form this group. Italy, though they had a tough World Cup 2010, are 1st seeds for a reason and usually don't do poorly in qualifying. Whether they finish 1st or qualify through the playoffs as a runner up is another question. If they manage to falter and go the runner up route, Denmark and Czech Republic are more than capable of taking the top spot. Denmark also had a bad World Cup 2010 but are efficient enough to cruise through this group. The Czech Republic are a bit of a mystery, they usually do very well or fall apart before the end. If they play to the top of their game for the entire campaign they will be tough to stop. Bulgaria may be the key a lot like Belgium is in Group A. Not an immediate threat to qualify, Bulgaria can defeat any of the top 3 and at a crucial moment in qualifying that can change everything. Armenia and Malta should not put up much of a fight here. In this group keep an eye on the top 4 positions at all times as things should get interesting.
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| Denmark |
Group C can also be argued to be the toughest of the bunch. Germany, Sweden, Ireland, Austria, Faroe Islands and Kazakhstan were drawn together for this group. There's not much I need to say about Germany, they are top class as always and regardless of opponents they should qualify. Having Germany in your group pretty much takes automatic qualification away but that doesn't mean that Sweden, Ireland or Austria will just roll over and die. Infact, Austria has played Germany tough recently in Euro Cup qualifying and the Germans were lucky to come away with a point. Austria always seems to play Germany tough for obvious reasons but I highly doubt that they are of the quality to challenge for a runner up position. Sweden and Ireland however, will challenge for that spot. Sweden are the most likely to get that position and they will undoubtedly give Germany a good run for the group's top spot. Ireland can take points away from anyone but usually struggle to dominate the minnows in these situations. Sweden and Ireland's faith may rely directly on how they do against each other. If Germany drop points and either Sweden or Ireland get on a roll we can have an interesting race. If not, the fight for second will make for some thrilling football.
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| Sweden |
Unlike the first 3 groups, this one does not look like it will be much of a fight. World Cup 2010 runner up, The Netherlands will be joined by Turkey, Hungary, Romania, Estonia and Andorra. The Netherlands are clear favorites to win the group and could do so with full points as they did last time. Turkey technically are the most likely to challenge them and historically have done well against the Netherlands. Turkey have not exactly followed up their World Cup 2002 performance with success but can challenge when at their best. Hungary are a mystery at the moment. They have not qualified for a World Cup since the 80's and have not finished as a runner up since 1998 but they have a young talented team and have been improving. Romania have not made a World Cup since 1998 but are in the perfect group to try make it back to the big tournament. If Turkey slip and they play Holland at the right time, Romania can earn the runners up spot and try qualify through the playoffs. Estonia and Andorra won't challenge much as minnows but can play spoiler potentially.
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| Holland |
Above I mentioned that Norway and Greece were seeded and Group E was the first to be seeded by one of these teams, Norway. Slovenia, Switzerland, Albania, Cyprus and Iceland joins the Norwegians in the group. Norway, despite not qualifying for a World Cup since 1998 will benefit from being seeded in this somewhat simple group. Slovenia and Switzerland both qualified for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and will try to do the same this time around. Norway, Slovenia and Switzerland all have a chance to win the group and there's not much seperation between them. This will be one of those groups where the team that ends up 3rd will regret not seizing the opportunity. Albania, Cyprus and Iceland pose no direct threat to the top 3 but will play a direct roll in who qualifies by taking away points. Albania should be top spoiler.
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| Switzerland |
Portugal and Russia are the toughest teams in Group F. Israel, Northern Ireland, Azerbaijan and Luxembourg round out the group. Israel and Northern Ireland pose a direct threat to the top 2 teams in terms of stealing points. The best chance for either of those 2 nations however will be to try get into the playoffs and hope for a favorable matchup. Azerbaijan and Luxembourg will play the role of minnows well. Portugal and Russia will challenge each other directly and 1 match can end up deciding who goes directly to Brazil and who goes to the playoffs. Russia has not played in a World Cup since 2002, but I think this group gives them their best opportunity since.
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| Russia |
Group G is by far the easiest group overall in Europe and this is a direct result of Greece's seeding. Greece, Slovakia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Lithuania, Latvia and Liechtenstein form the group. Bosnia and Herzegovina interest me the most in this group. Bosnia have been knocking on the door for quite some time and this may be their final chance to qualify for the World Cup while they still have this generation of players. The group definitely allows for the possibility of Bosnia doing well, but Slovakia and Greece will have to falter a bit to allow that. Both Slovakia and Greece participated in the last World Cup and are going to be favoured. Slovakia and Greece will have to focus on each other's movements up and down the table while keeping an eye on Bosnia. Lithuania and Latvia are not poor in quality and should have some say in the way the group plays out. Lithuania could actually challenge for a runners up spot if they play to the best of their abilities, but that's a long shot right now. Liechtenstein can also produce a shock result that can prove costly to one of the contenders.
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| Bosnia and Herzegovina |
After 4 not so spectacular groups we have a pretty interesting one in Group H. England are the top seeds in the group, followed by upstart Montenegro. A pair of 2006 qualifiers, Ukraine and Poland, can also compete for a qualifying spot all the way to the final matchday and Moldova and San Marino round out the group. We all know of England and their capabilities so it's no surprise that they are expected to qualify from this group. Whether or not they do it with ease, or at all, is another story. The English are not a poor side at all, the group is just extremely tricky and these kinds of groups can cause a lot of problems for many of the top teams. Montenegro are a mystery to me, they were part of Serbia and Montenegro when they qualified for the 2006 World Cup but a small part at that. They have had good results in the years since their formation as a team though and earned their high seeding. Former Yugoslav republics tend to do well in World Cup qualifying however, so Montenegro should be paid attention to. While Moldova are not a threat to qualify and San Marino will shock the world if they earn a single point, Poland and Ukraine are legitimate threats. Both nations co-host Euro Cup 2012 and therefore have not been playing those current qualifiers, but once playing that tournament at home they should be ready to compete and could give England a run for their money. It will be interesting to see who plays who on the final matchday.
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| Ukraine |
Group I
Finally we get to Group I, the 5 team group and what a group it is. Defending FIFA World Cup champion, Spain and 2006 World Cup runner up, France will battle it out for the top spot. The three remaining teams in the group are Belarus, Georgia and Finland...far from the easiest group. It's inevitable that one of the top 2 will have to go through the playoffs if they are to make it to the World Cup. Belarus can make things very interesting if they were to challenge for that runner up spot essentially eliminating Spain or France, could you imagine a World Cup without its defending champion? Georgia and Finland will not be pushovers either by any means and this group will most likely go down to the final matchday, if only to seperate 1st from 2nd.
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