Now, we have a goalless draw in our hands from the first leg, a solidly defensive Greece side which comes from their football culture and a compact team like Ukraine. Let’s digg into some facts then…

From what we got as pre-game facts it wont be wrong to list; Greece will be OK with a penalty shoot-out contest. Ukraine won’t attack by taking too many risks especially in the beginning stage, to avoid an away goal. Since Ukraine are a compact and balanced team, still they are not a goal machine yet; so, it is also questionable if they can open the lock if they even attack by taking too many risks. Right, mixture of these known facts are heading us to another potential draw, but I am not so sure.

What makes me think there might be something unexpected happen in this match is Greece team’s lacking that spirit and organization they used to have. I wasn’t impressed with them in the first leg. Well, they were never magical on the pitch, even when they clinched Euro 2004 title; I am speaking about the spirit that lets them double their potential on the pitch. They seemed without that power in the first leg and yet they seemed to have no player that would step forward and influence the team. They looked pretty vulnerable.

Ukraine on the other hand seemed like a balanced team in the first leg, as always. Their main advantage here is most of their players’ playing in the domestic league mainly for Dinamo Kiev and Shaktar Donetsk. Teams which have also been doing pretty well in the European Cups in recent years. This is one of the key factors of their being so balanced and well organized. Another advantage is the home venue. Right, home advantage is always a factor for the hosts but not every national team uses that home venue advantage well enough as most of the top level teams’ players are playing abroad and home pitches are also a foreign pitch for most of them in a way. Ukraine with having too many domestic league based players in the squad, will be using that home venue pitch advantage pretty effectively from that point of view, at least bit more then most of the top level teams, no doubt about that.

Final words;  I am expecting Ukraine to advance to the World Cup and considering the facts  mentioned above, I think they will achieve that in the regular time.

Prediction
Ukraine | Win
Extras
Exact Score | 2-1

Ireland team are playing their hearts out, credits must go to them but that won’t bring a World Cup ticket on its own. In these kind of crucial games against experienced teams like France, you have to add something more to that characteristic. Ireland at the moment, with the available squad have nothing more to add on it. Actually, they were relying on a favor from French technical staff with a possible terrible tactical approach but French team has too many potential that can easily overcome lack of coaching in these kind of important games.

French coach will have to do a replacement in the starting line up due to an injury. Abidal will definately miss the game after picking up an injury at the first leg and wil be out for around 3 weeks. This won’t effect the team that much though.

Final words; Ireland will start this match in an attacking style of play. This will be a perfect situation for French attackers such as Anelka, Henry and Gignac.

I am expecting a France win here and unlikely in the general view; this game might produce some goals as the Irish players are not accustomed to play an offensive style against tough teams at away, a style which will also leave France too many open spaces.

Prediction
France | Win
Extras
Goals | Over 2,5
France at HT | France at FT

Fan support and home venue are their main advantages for the second leg, that is clear and no need to mention it several times. Let’s look at the main disadvantage they are going to have which will probably effect the match directly;  Lack of experience in handling the pressure.

Now, people expect them to control the game and put on some pressure to the Portugal team especially after the wasted chances in the first leg. Playing a game as an underdog might be an advantage to teams like Bosnia which have talented players as we mentioned for the first leg but when the expectations rise that might be the starting of an end for the dream. Especially if you are playing against a team like Portugal, no matter their form level is.

Portugal side is actually quite relieved after the first leg. 1-0 generally is not a result to rely on but a win at home with a clean sheet is really something against an offensively dangerous side like Bosnia. They avoid it and now they know how to play and picture is more clear for them; If they won’t lose, they are through. From that point of view; knowing how your opponent will play before the game is a great chance.

Unlike Bosnia, Portugal team can defend. They have suitable players for a defensive approach and suitable players for counter attack. Performing a solid style of play against an inexperienced Bosnian side might produce a result for them. From the start, Bosnians will start to attack, we all expect that. May be not taking too many risks at the beginning but assuming they won’t score an early goal; the game will be played in a way which will benefit Portugal’s approach to the game.

Final words; I am expecting an action pack game here especially in the second half. As for the prediction; I will go for a Portugal win; confidence given by the points I mentioned above.

Prediction
Portugal | Win
Extras
Goals | Over 2,5
Draw at HT | Portugal at FT

Republic of Ireland on the other hand look motivated and “believing” is the word coming from any fan’s mouth when asked about this match. Actually, they have their reasons to believe, their team is playing with their hearts out, fighting till the end and they have an opposing team with some potential problems.

French players are quite in a good mood considering the hard times they have been through. They sounded they want to give some answers to those criticisms on the pitch and fully motivated to turn things around.

According to the recent press statements, France team might show some extra attacking approach in this game with three offensive minded players in the up front which would be Henry and Anelka on the wings plus an attacking midfielder (probably Gourcuff) and a single striker (probably Gignac) companying. Their central defensive midfielders generally lack creativity but they add great balance and strength to the team and someone has to carry the heavy goods.

Republic of Ireland had some missings in the midfield position  such as Stephen Ireland, and that has to be mentioned because your squad quality will be effected from such missing if you don’t have too many options to replace.

The general opinion is this match’s being a close one with a draw highly possible, well, I am not so sure about that, especially after looking for the recent possible starting line-ups. In my opinion there is really too much class difference between these two squads and especially the midfield of Ireland will have hard times. That area will be the key for this game and an upper hand in this midfield will give France a big chance.

If to go for a result; my vote would go to France here, the value is on that but also the factor that this match’s being the first leg;  better to be cautious and better to add the draw possibility into consideration; So, I got a France double chance in hand.

Prediction
France | X2 Double Chance
Extras
Draw at HT | France at FT

As mentioned in other play-off previews, the key factor in these kind of do-or-die games is motivation and better to state it at the beginning; the motivation factor is on the Bosnia side. They are named the underdog in this clash which will also add some extra push to their performance. Bosnia came here from tough series of matches by knocking out last Euro semi-finalist Turkey in a group which dominated by last Euro champions, Spain. Bosnia ’s performance in a group like that was pretty impressive and their morale are at the top level.

Portugal will be without C. Ronaldo as he is ruled out due to an injury. Since the squad has options in that position, the miss of Ronaldo is something to be underlined. Bosnia on the other hand is with full squad.

According to the reports and press statements, Portugal will have an attacking mentality as expected with three attackers up front and one more attacking minded midfielder of total three.

Bosnia will also play in an attacking minded tactic from what we got. Actually, they seem to have no choice as their best part is their offensive power and creativity. As they can’t suddenly form a rock solid defensive team from that squad, the sensible outcome is they will try to play in a way that they do best.If they somehow try to defend and play a counter attack style; that would probably be an end for their campaign.

All roads lead to an action-pack game if Portugal’s approach to the game doesn’t change. They have the ability to play both defensive and offensive approach while Bosnia have only offensive approach in their hands.

For the conclusion, I am expecting a good match with some goals in it. The odds for a Portugal win are quite ridiculously low and doesn’t worth the risk in my opinion. If you are looking for something juicy; a handicap in favor of Bosnia might carry a value. Still, going for goals looks like the best option.

Prediction
Goals | Over 2,5
Extras
Goals | Both Teams to Score
Bosnia(+1,5) | Win

Greece have a football mentality relies on defence and they do it perfectly when necessary. We all know it pretty well from Euro 2004. They will play with the same kind of mentality as Rehhagel sounds like he will try a 5-4-1 (or a flexible 3-6-1) tactics on the pitch. The team has experienced players as well as some above average forwarders but as always, they lack creativity in the midfield.

Ukraine on the ther hand look like a compact team with a very solid defence, a good goalkeeper and pretty much options in the midfield and attacking line. If to compare; they have more quality than the Greeks.Consistency and the balance they have will cause many troubles to Greeks even they master the defence.

So, Ukraine in this match-up are the better team. Greeks will try to keep the clean sheet and look to put away a goal likely from a set-piece. Their mentality rely on keeping it slow and find a way to score while the opponent sleeps but Ukraine is well aware of that and unlikely to fall into that trap like many teams did earlier.

I expect a low scoring game like many, under looks highly possible but I will go for a result prediction here.

Prediction
Ukraine | X2 Double Chance
Extras
Goals | Under 2,5

NEW : Second Leg Preview: Ukraine – Greece, Match Preview – World Cup Play-Off

Russia are a decent side. They have quality players in the squad and they also performed pretty well in the Euro 2008 and the World Cup Qualification Group Stage, still, failed to advance directly. The experienced coach Hiddink managed these kind of matches a lot in his career. So, the main advantage Russia have here is the experience difference on the tactical and managerial side.

Slovenia on the other hand played some good matches in the qualification group stage. They have a solid defence and a very good goalkeeper. (Better to remind; they have the best defensive record among the all teams in the group stages by conceding only 4 goals.) Some of their players are playing in tough leagues with success. Still, the squad quality on paper as a whole is no where near the Russians, but as mentioned above, the motivational factor comes on to the stage at that point. The Slovenians are more than motivated and as being the underdog; they already have the upper hand psychological wise comparing to Russians from that point of view. The pressure will be on the Russians as most expect a comfortable win from them. We all know what happens to the teams under pressure if they can’t find an early goal, don’t we? And this is a World Cup play-off game we are talking about.

So, I prefer going for a goal prediction. It is wiser. As Russia is not a goal machine despite the all talent they have plus Slovenians motivation and solid defense and goalkeeper; I don’t expect too many goals here. Even if Russia take the early lead in the game I again doubt they will keep attacking with taking too many risks while  a single away goal might cause too much trouble to cover in the second leg.

Prediction
Goals | Under 2,5