It’s been a very long week without any action to get World Cup Soccer Jersey stuck into but it ends in the best possible way with World Cup playoffs taking centre stage and eight European nations still have dreams of reaching South Africa.
Without question the most high profile tie sees Ireland battle France, the 1998 World Cup winners look in serious danger of exiting to me, but the clash between Portugal and Bosnia catches the eye from a betting perspective and the away side will fancy their chances.
Bosnia, a rapidly emerging sporting county, will be buoyed by the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo, the £80m man is missing due to an ankle injury, but they’d have held hopes of progressing even if the Real Madrid man were fit and Miroslav Blazevic’s side are a talented bunch.
Desperate to compete in their first major finals since gaining independence, Bosnia rely on the talents of Wolfsburg pair Edin Dzeko and Zvjezdan Misimovic in attack however they are solid throughout and Carlos Queiroz’s men have their work cut out.
With the first leg in Lisbon, Portugal will be looking to establish a first leg advantage but Bosnia emerged clear second best behind Spain in Group 5 from a section that also included Turkey and Belgium and they found the net 25 times in just 10 group matches.
Were it not for a final day 5-2 drubbing at the hands of the Spanish then Bosnia would have arrived in the playoffs boasting an equally impressive defensive record as their opponents, Portugal conceded just five goals in qualifying, and the hosts are tipped to find it tough going.
Ronaldo’s absence places huge pressure on the likes of captain Simao and Liedson to provide the goals but the pair are hardly prolific, Nani cannot be relied upon for a regular return either, and it could be a cagey affair. Ricardo Carvalho and his central defensive partner Pepe will be all too aware of Bosnia’s threat on the break and this is one that neither side will want to lose ahead of the return.
While Portugal scraped into the playoffs with comfortable late wins over Hungary and Malta, scoring seven without reply, they had previously been held by Albania and Sweden in front of their own fans in addition to tasting defeat at the hands of group winners Denmark and clearly Queiroz has problems. Not least Ronaldo’s injury.
One concern will be Portugal’s lack of goals, especially from midfield, but that appears not a problem for the visitors and one to keep an eye on over the two legs is youngster Miralem Pjanic. The 19-year-old Lyon midfielder is making a name for himself in France, and the Champions League, and he is fit to grace the biggest stage of all.
It would be somewhat of a surprise were he to do so next summer but Bosnia should not be underestimated and they are taken receiving 1.25 on the Asians with Ladbrokes. Portugal are not the force of old and having to cope without the world’s best may prove one step too far.
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