Trap’s men among third seeds for 2014 qualifiers

THE Republic of Ireland will be among the third seeds for the 2014 FIFA World Cup draw in Brazil on Saturday night. The seedings are based on FIFA’s July ranking of national teams, published yesterday, in which Giovanni Trapattoni’s men fell two places to 33rd.

A total of 53 national teams will contest the European qualifying competition and will be divided into eight groups of six and one group of five teams.

The nine group winners will qualify for the finals, with the eight best runners-up contesting two-legged play-offs. Despite assurances by FIFA president Sepp Blatter that the seeding controversy which dogged Ireland’s play-off pairing with France in 2009 would not be repeated, FIFA is again keeping its options open, saying that a decision would be made after the group matches had been completed.

While a draw that grouped Ireland with Spain and France would be commercially attractive to the FAI, Trapattoni would prefer to face Norway or Greece from Pot 1.

In the three tiers below Ireland, a replay of the Carling Nations Cup could be on the cards.

Both Scotland and Northern Ireland are possible opponents from Pot 4, with Wales now in Pot Six.

Brian Kerr, who has lifted the Faroe Islands up a level to Pot 5, could make an emotional return to Dublin. The draw in Rio de Janeiro will begin at 7pm Irish time on Saturday.

European seedings — Pot 1: Spain, Netherlands, Germany, England, Portugal, Italy, Croatia, Norway, Greece.

Pot 2: France, Montenegro, Russia, Sweden, Denmark, Slovenia, Turkey, Serbia, Slovakia.

Pot 3: Switzerland, Israel, Republic of Ireland, Belgium, Czech Republic, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Belarus, Ukraine, Hungary.

Pot 4: Bulgaria, Romania, Georgia, Lithuania, Albania, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Austria, Poland.

Pot 5: Armenia, Finland, Estonia, Cyprus, Latvia, Moldova, FYR Macedonia, Azerbaijan, Faroe Islands.

Pot 6: Wales, Liechtenstein, Iceland, Kazakhstan, Luxembourg, Malta, Andorra, San Marino.