From 14 to 18. The puzzle of Brazil 2014 is slowly being completed, but the final word on the qualifying roulette is still far away. Yes, because after all the groups have finished, it's time for the play-offs. Exciting sure, but not for everyone. At Fifa, for example, many tremble at the thought of seeing a World Cup without Cristiano Ronaldo, Ribery, Ibrahimovic and Cavani, yet this is a rather concrete risk. It is above all the positions of France and Sweden that are frightening, because Bleus and Vikings will not be seeded in the draw which, next Monday in Zurich, will establish the pairings of the European playoffs. So big matches like Portugal-France or Portugal-Sweden will be possible, which would mean great pathos, but also a poorer World Cup, in every sense. Brazil 2014 is in itself a gigantic money machine, but linked to international stars and for each of them that were to miss, the show and income would decrease. For the rest, the urn in Zurich will be able to enjoy itself at will: on the one hand, in addition to Portugal of course, Greece, Croatia and Ukraine, on the other Romania and Iceland (we have already mentioned France and Sweden). Aside from the play-offs, Europe didn't reserve any particular surprises even on the last day of qualifying. As predicted England, Russia and Spain have detached the pass for Brazil, thus reaching Belgium, Bosnia, Germany, Italy, Holland and Switzerland. The Lions got the better of Poland with a classic 2-0 (Rooney, Gerrard), the same result for the Red Furies with Georgia (Negredo, Mata), while Capello's Russians limited themselves to their homework in Azerbaijan (1- 1, decisive goal by Shirokov). Instead, a bitter smile for Italy and the Netherlands, who were playing for the role of seeded players in the draw on 6 December. But if the Oranje did their homework (0-2 in Turkey, goals from Robben and Sneijder), the same cannot be said for the Azzurri, who picked up just 2 points between Denmark and Armenia. In any case, Colombia and Uruguay took care of messing up the plans, which by winning against Paraguay (1-2 brace from Yepes, Guarin sent off) and Argentina (3-2, Cavani's goal was decisive) entered by right into bracket A.
Provided, however, that Celeste beats Jordan in the first play-off between South America and Asia-Oceania (the other is New Zealand – Mexico): conversely, it will be the thousandth Fifa who will "fish out" one between Holland and Italy, currently tied in the ranking . However, barring cataclysms, South America will bring the best possible merchandise to Brazil: in addition to the Seleçao (landlady, therefore qualified by right), there will be Argentina, Colombia and the outsider Chile of Vidal and Sanchez, plus the small but proud Ecuador. Not bad, given that Uruguay is clearly favored over New Zealand…
Booty almost full also for Central America, which lacks only Mexico to celebrate. But El Tricolor (now led by Vucetich, who took over from De La Torre) failed miserably to qualify directly and will have to try to make up for it through the play-off with New Zealand. However, the Federation smiles all the same, because the USA (primarily), Costa Rica and Honduras will also try to have their say in Brazil.
More or less the same goes for Asia and Oceania, which while waiting for New Zealand and Jordan, celebrate with Australia, Japan, Iran and South Korea.
However, everything is still at stake in Africa, where everyone must necessarily go through the playoff roulette. In some cases the first leg matches have already closed the game: this is the case for Muntari's Ghana (scoring in the 6-1 win against Egypt) and, at least in part, for Gervinho's Ivory Coast (3- 1 over Senegal) and for Moses' Nigeria (1-2 in Ethiopia). On the other hand, Algeria-Burkina Faso (2-3 in Ouagadougou) and Cameroon-Tunisia (0-0 in Tunis) are in the balance.
In short, the painting is not finished yet, but the last brushstrokes are on the way. A little patience, then it will really be World Cup.
