Welcome back to the Lewnau Sports Bureau!  After a week off, I’m back and raring to go!  This week and next, we’ll be immersed in November’s international break.  Nations that have already qualified for the World Cup, such as Argentina, Portugal, and Germany, as well as countries that have been eliminated, like the USA, Netherlands, and Chile, will simply be participating in friendlies.  But, for a select bunch around the world, World Cup qualifying will still be taking place.  It’s the last stage, the World Cup Play-offs, the last chance to earn a bid to the globe’s biggest event.  Thus, I’ll be providing you with four shorts focusing on UEFA’s WCP first legs, taking place Thursday through Saturday.  Without further ado, here we go!

Northern Ireland vs Switzerland
World Cup Qualifying: UEFA Play-offs
Windsor Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland
Thursday, November 9th, 2017    2:45PM EST        ESPN2

The energy and excitement around Belfast will undoubtedly be palpable as the Green and White Army aim to secure a World Cup berth for the first time since 1986!  Playing at home for the first leg, the Norn Iron will try to gain the upper hand before heading to Basel, Switzerland for leg two.  Meanwhile, the Swiss, are eyeing a fourth consecutive World Cup appearance, seeing La Nati reach the Knockout stages in two of the previous three World Cups.  On paper, the Rossocrociati are considered the better side.  Ranked 11th globally, Switzerland features standout players, such as Xherdan Shaqiri, Breel Emboli, Granit Xhaka, Ricardo Rodriguez, and  Yan Sommers, amongst many others.  Thus, the Bhoys from Belfast will have their hands full come Thursday.  

LSB Prediction:  With a squad largely filled by skyBET Championship division players, Northern Ireland will not only need to feed off its home crowd, but also hope for Switzerland to perform below their belt if the Norn Iron have any realistic chance of winning this match.  Thus, I’m taking the stars from Switzerland to get the job done in Belfast as Shaqiri will steal the show.  0-2 Switzerland

Croatia vs Greece
World Cup Qualifying: UEFA Play-offs
Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb, Coatia
Thursday, November 9th, 2017    2:45PM EST        ESPN3

Playing simultaneously to the Northern Ireland vs Switzerland game is Coatia vs Greece.  To me, this match should be even more intriguing, despite the wider spread between squad rankings.  Much like Switzerland, 18th ranked Croatia feature several high profile players, most notably World Xl Luca Modric, as well as Ivan Rakitic, Mario Mandzukic, Danijel Subasic, etc.  Conversely, even though Greece is ranked just 47th in the world, they possess some fire power of their own with striker Kostas Mitrolgou and midfielder Kostas Fortounis.  In addition, defensively the Piratiko are solid via Sokratis Papastathopoulis and Kostas Manolas.  Therefore, I suspect this match and the tie as awhile will be very tight.

LSB Prediction:  This match and series will be closer than the experts think (a tip of the cap to you Lee Corso), but in the end one side has a perennial FIFA World Xl player in Luca Modric, and that’s Croatia.  Thus, the misfielding maestro will create enough comments of magic to see Vatreni get a win.  1-0 Croatia

Sweden vs Italy
World Cup Qualifying: UEFA Play-offs
Friends Arena, Solna, Sweden
Friday, November 10th, 2017        2:45PM EST        FS1

A pairing between two opposites.  Italy, the golden standard of international football, has won four World Cups and has participated in all but two editions of the competition.  Meanwhile, Sweden has never won the World Cup.  In addition, Blagult has failed to reach futbol’s elite tournament since 2006, squandering Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s international career. Sweden’s all-time leading scorer and unanimously considered greatest ever player for the team— Zlatan appeared in just two World Cup’s (2002 and 2006), both of which came before his prime at the tender ages of 20 and 24.  Now, since Zlatan retired from international football after EURO 2016, Sweden possess a good balance talented youngsters including Emil Forsberg, Victor Lindelof, and Alexander Isak, with veterans Sebastian Larrson, Andreas Granqvist, and Martin Olsson.

As for Gli Azzuri, Italy is flat-out loaded.  A nation led by all-time great goalkeeper Gigi Buffon, Italy has a lockdown defense featuring Leonadro Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini, and Andre Barzagli.  Also, young standouts El Shaaraway, Federico Bernardeschi, and Gianluigi Donnarumma showcase the absurd depth of the present squad and highlights the blinding bright future. 

LSB Prediction:  I have a sneaky suspicion of an upset here.  Buffon, eyeing one final hurrah before hanging his cleats up, will witness a Sweden blitzkrieg in Solna.  Forsberg will strike, setting up quite the spectacle for leg two in Rome. 2-1 Sweden

Denmark vs Ireland
World Cup Qualifying: UEFA Play-offs
Telia Parken, Copenhagen, Denmark
Saturday, November 11th, 2017    2:45PM EST        ESPN3

Our fourth and final match pits 19th ranked Denmark against 26th ranked Ireland.  World Cup bids have come few and far between for both nations.  Denmark has qualified just four times and missing out in 2006 and 2014.  Meanwhile, Ireland has reached the World Cup a measly  three times, with the last appearance taking place in 2002.  The Irish have come painfully close time and again in qualifying for the World Cup.  The Emerald Isle has extended it’s record for most Play-off appearances with eight.  In the previous seven occurrences, The Bhoys in Green have a 3 and 4 record.  Will it be heart break hotel once again for The Green Army?  Or, will it be sheer ecstasy for the first time in 16 years? 

LSB Prediction:  With all the talk of The Green Army shooting blanks, I foresee the Danish Dynamite exploding offensively in Copenhagen.  Behind Hotspur attacking mid, Christian Eriksen, and a sub-appearance from Leipzig’s Yussuf Poulsen, there’ll plenty of Carlsberg flowing through the veins of Dane supporters all night long! 3-1 Denmark