Portugal loom large in play-off picture

AN untimely ankle injury permitting, Cristiano Ronaldo could be heading for Croke Park next month after Portugal knocked Sweden off second spot in qualifying Group One with a 3-0 win against Hungary.

Under the seeding system announced for the play-off matches, based on the Fifa world ranking to be published on Friday, Portugal (currently ranked 17) have joined Russia (6), France (10) and Greece (12) as the likely Pot One teams.

Ukraine (25), Republic of Ireland (38), Bosnia-Herzegovina (46) and Slovenia (54) are currently in line to be placed in Pot Two when the draw is made in Zurich on October 19.

Portugal and Ukraine were the big second-place movers on Saturday, displacing Sweden and Croatia in Groups 1 and 6, respectively. Ronaldo and co, who finish at home to bottom team Malta on Wednesday, need only equal Sweden’s result against Albania to book their place in the draw next Monday. Norway have emerged as the lowest-ranked runner-up who will definitely miss out on the play-offs.

The other facts established on Saturday were:

* Ireland will finish second in Group 8 and are guaranteed to contest the play-offs.

* Bosnia-Herzegovina, who will finish second to Spain in Group 5, are also certain to make the play-offs.

* Ireland’s slim hope of being designated a top seed in the play-off draw is dead.

* Russia (Group 4) and France (Group 7) are certain to be ranked among the top seeds for the draw, with Greece and Portugal in pole position to join them.

* Denmark, Germany and Serbia, who clinched automatic qualification by winning Groups 1, 4 and 6 respectively, are out of the play-off picture.

Although issues remain to be resolved in four groups on Wednesday, it is likely that Portugal (Group 1), Greece (Group 2) and Ukraine (Group 6) will retain second place to reach the play-offs

The position in Group 3 is more complicated. Long -time leaders Slovakia probably need to win in Poland to top the group, because fast-finishing Slovenia will otherwise overtake them by romping to victory in San Marino. The Czech Republic, who host Northern Ireland, are likely to miss out.

Current momentum suggests Slovenia will win the group, leaving Slovakia to contest the play-offs, as they did unsuccessfully four years ago.