On upcoming Saturday the first legs of the
World Cup qualification play-offs will be played. In the UEFA zone the play-offs brings the duel between
Portugal and
Bosnia-Herzegovina. Portugal finished the UEFA Group 1 as second, while Bosnia-Herzegovina was second in Group 5 and advanced so to the play-offs.
Portugal started the FIFA World Cup 2010 qualification as favourite of Group 1, but the team of coach Carlos Queiroz completed the group stage as second behind Denmark only through their strong finish. Portugal has won the last 3 games without receiving a goal. Queiroz´s side lost only 1 game in the running WC qualifier (5 wins, 4 draws, 1 defeat). Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz will have to pass in the play-offs on superstar Cristiano Ronaldo (ankle injury). Best Portugal´s goal scorer in the WC qualifier group stage was Simão with 4 goals.
Bosnia-Herzegovina finished Group 5 as second behind European champions Spain. So Bosnia can hope on their first World Cup final tournament. The team of national coach Miroslav Blazevic has won 6 of their 10 qualification games (6 wins, 1 draw, 3 defeats) and finished with it Group 5 in front of the strong Turkey team. The Wolfsburg-players Edin Dzeko (9 goals) and Zvjezdan Misimovic (5) were very important for Bosnia-Herzegovina. Together they scored 14 of 25 Bosnia-Herzegovina goals in the WC qualification. "Portugal are the team I really wanted to avoid. We'll have to fight to the end in both matches. It'll be a huge spectacle though, that's for sure. Both teams are well known for their flowing football," commented Bosnia coach Miroslav Blazevic the play-off draw on FIFA.com.
Portugal vs Bosnia-Herzegovina
World Cup Qualification, Play-offs UEFA zone
Saturday, 14.11.2009, 9:30 pm CET
Lisbon, Estadio Da Luz
My tip: Portugal wins their home game.
The best odd for tip 1 you find at Betsson with 1.48
