Soccer

Republic unseeded for play-offs

Soccer: France, Portugal, Russia and Greece have been confirmed as the seeded teams for Monday’s World Cup play-off draw, which…

Fri Oct 16 2009 - 01:00

Soccer:France, Portugal, Russia and Greece have been confirmed as the seeded teams for Monday's World Cup play-off draw, which means the Republic of Ireland will have to defeat one of the four to book their place at the finals in South Africa next year.

The quartet, who all finished second in their respective European qualifying pools, earn their seeded status due to being the top four of the eight play-off teams in the latest Fifa world rankings.

The unseeded pot contains the other four best runners-up that includes Giovanni Trapattoni’s Ireland side, Ukraine, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Slovenia.

Raymond Domenech’s France are the top-ranked play-off team in ninth, one ahead of Portugal who clinched second place in Group One on Wednesday. Carlos Queiroz’s side have risen seven places in the rankings thanks to their positive end to the qualifying campaign.

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Guus Hiddink’s Russia, who finished second in Group Four behind Germany, slip six spots to 12th while 2004 European champions Greece lie 16th.

Ukraine, who spoiled England’s perfect qualifying record with a 1-0 win in Dnipropetrovsk last Saturday, are the top-ranked unseeded team at 22nd with the Republic 34th, Bosnia-Herzegovina 42nd and Slovenia 49th.

At the top of the Fifa world rankings issued today, Brazil have maintained a slender advantage over European champions Spain, the Netherlands and world champions Italy - who topped Groups Five, Nine and Eight respectively.

Germany dropped one place to fifth while Argentina, who clinched their place in South Africa from the South American qualifying zone with a 1-0 win over Uruguay in Montevideo on Wednesday, climb two places to sixth.

Hosts South Africa (85th) and North Korea (91st) are the only teams from outside the top 50 who will be present in South Africa.

Latest Fifa World Rankings
( seeded teams/ unseeded for play-offs)

1 Brazil
2 Spain
3 Netherlands
4 Italy
5 Germany
6 Argentina
7 England
8 Croatia
9 France
10 Portugal
11 USA
12 Russia
13 Switzerland
14 Cameroon
15 Czech Republic
16 Greece
17 Chile
18 Mexico
19 Côte d'Ivoire
20 Serbia
21 Paraguay
22 Ukraine
23 Bulgaria
24 Australia
25 Uruguay
26 Israel
27 Denmark
28 Egypt
29 Algeria
30 Colombia
30 Northern Ireland
32 Nigeria
33 Slovakia
34 Republic of Ireland
35 Honduras
36 Romania
37 Norway
38 Ghana
39 Turkey
40 Japan
41 Sweden
42 Bosnia-Herzegovina
43 Costa Rica
44 Ecuador
45 Gabon
46 Scotland
47 Latvia
48 Korea Republic
49 Slovenia
50 Hungary