Former world champions France will play Ukraine for a place in the World Cup finals in Brazil next year with the advantage of the second leg at home following the draw for the European play-offs yesterday.
Portugal will meet Sweden, featuring a match-up between two of the world’s most exciting players – Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic – Greece will take on Romania and Iceland, who have never played at the finals of a major tournament, are up against Croatia.
The first legs will be played on November 15 and the return four days later.
The last meeting between France and Ukraine ended in a 2-0 win for France after thunder and lightning caused their Euro 2012 match in Donetsk to be suspended last year.
France, who were unseeded in the draw and at 21st are world-ranked one place below Ukraine, boast an unbeaten record against the East Europeans with four wins and three games drawn.
“Ukraine are a team who do not concede a lot of goals, but it’s good we are playing the second leg at home,” said France coach Didier Deschamps who was relieved to have avoided Portugal in the draw.
France finished second behind world champions Spain in European Group I while Ukraine were runners-up to England in Group H.
Portugal, who finished second behind Russia in Group F and were the highest ranked team in the draw at 14 on FIFA’s list, take on Sweden at the 66,000 capacity Luz stadium in Lisbon in the first leg.
The two have met 15 times with Sweden winning six and Portugal three, but Sweden have not beaten Portugal in seven matches since 1984.
They met twice in the qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup and drew 0-0 on both occasions.
The presence of stars such as Real Madrid’s Ronaldo and Manchester United’s Nani means Portugal will go into the play-offs as favourites but they struggled in what had looked a straightforward qualifying group, finishing runners-up to Russia.
Portugal coach Paulo Bento warned that in Paris St Germain forward Ibrahimovic, Sweden have a potential match-winner.
He said in a statement: “We have two tough games against a side that, as well as having one of the best strikers in the world, plays well as a team.
“Sweden finished second in a group that contained Germany, one of the contenders to win the whole tournament.
“The key is to be prepared, and to be confident that we have a real chance of reaching the finals.”
Greece, who finished behind Bosnia on goal difference in Group G, first met Romania in 1930 and will be wary of a team who beat them 3-1 in a friendly the last time they met in late 2011.
Iceland are the lowest ranked team in the play-offs at 46.
Their only previous meetings with Croatia came in 2005 when Croatia won at home and 3-1 away in the qualifying stages for the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
Play-offs draw
Portugal vs Sweden
Ukraine vs France
Greece vs Romania
Iceland vs Croatia
Matches to be played on home and away basis on Nov. 15 and Nov. 19.
Already qualified
Europe: Belgium, England, Italy, Russia, Switzerland, Bosnia, Germany, Netherlands, Spain.
CONCACAF: Costa Rica, Honduras, US.
South America: Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Brazil, Colombia.
Asia: Australia, Japan, Iran, South Korea.