The Sports Thread #1 For 11/15/13 (First Version) : World Cup Playoffs & Road To The World Cup Friendlies

(Image from FIFA.com)

UEFA World Cup Playoffs 

For the playoffs, France are in supreme trouble and turmoil after building fine momentum the last time out for Ukraine, as Dnipro forward Roman Zozulya certainly added to his growing reputation by being the man to score the goal and set up the penalty for a long second half for Didier Deschamps. Zozulya was Koscielny, Abidal, and Lloris' nightmare throughout the two hours, and the Arsenal centerback's frustration erupted by getting a stupid red card in the dying minutes of the game. That may just cost France a trip to Brazil 2014. What a stunner in Kiev.

Cristiano Ronaldo again showed why he is Portugal's heart, soul, and head (literally again) for his country by being in the right place on Miguel Veloso's great cross to get by Martin Olsson and finish pass by Andreas Isaksson. Still, Sweden were a firm threat in the first half beyond Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and will feel confident to go back to Stockholm and get the result they need.

Konstantinos Mitroglou continued his terrific form thus far this season with Olympiacos for his country, where even with Bogdan Stancu somehow getting his header by a poor job from keeper Orestis Karnezis, Greece look firmly in control against Romania. But Bucharest is an incredibly tough place to play, and the Romanians will give it firmly their all.

Finally, Iceland need to consider themselves fortunate that they did not concede any goal to a veteran and experienced Croatian side after Olafur Skulason was sent off early in the second half. The pressure is firmly on Niko Kovac's side at home, especially considering Iceland's terrific attacking options.

(More to come folks in the second and final, in a bit).

Image from FIFA.com

Notable Friendlies