The team match ups are set for the UEFA Second Round World Cup 2018 Qualifiers and Northern Ireland will be meeting Switzerland, Croatia will play Greece, Denmark and the Republic of Ireland square off, and Sweden and Italy will meet. The winners will go directly to Russia’s 2018 World Cup.
The first duo seems a good, even match up. The Irish were competitive against everyone but Germany in UEFA’s Group C and Switzerland only lost out (away) to Portugal in the last game of the round in Group B. This paring could be anyone’s guess.
Croatia should handle Greece as the former have more firepower and were unlucky in Group I, coming two points behind the still surprising Iceland, by losing two matches after the 75th minute mark.
The Republic of Ireland are a surprise team who played above their weight against a then more heralded Austria, Wales and Serbia and still managed to slip through. While Denmark, playing in a rather week group were still hard pressed to advance. This one tilts to the Irish but if the Danes can produce a repeat performance of the type that led to their 2-3 loss away to Poland on October 8th, it may well be a tossup.
Sweden and Italy are shadows of their former selves with the latter the stronger and favorite to advance. But with teams of their respective pedigrees the matches will be hard fought.
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