Top 5 teams which may not qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup

Will Cristiano Ronaldo feature in the 2014 FIFA World Cup?

The 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers are almost over and many teams have qualified. Teams like Brazil (hosts), Japan, Australia, Iran, South Korea, Netherlands, Italy, Argentina, USA, Colombia, Belgium, Switzerland, Costa Rica and Germany have already qualified.

But with just one more qualifier left to play (and the playoff games), some teams are hinging on a lot to ensure that they advance to the World Cup Finals. Here are the top teams who could miss out on football’s grandest event!

Portugal

It’s almost a nightmare for fans and PR management firms alike if one of the best players in the world, Cristiano Ronaldo, may not feature in the showpiece event next year! Portugal could have made it a lot easier for themselves had they not conceded a late goal to Israel in a 1-1 draw. This means that they will have to settle for second place with no chance of catching up to Russia (unless Russia lose and Portugal score enough goals to overturn a 7-goal difference between the two teams).

Russia next play Azerbaijan while Portugal play Luxemborg. At the moment though, it looks like Russia will qualify automatically as group winners with Portugal looking to book a playoff spot.

Mexico have a tough road ahead.

Mexico

Just last year, Mexico had won the Olympic gold medal in football, beating Brazil 2-1 in the final. Now, they find themselves in a spot of bother needing a win to ensure that they at least get a playoff spot. The United States and Costa Rica have already qualified for the World Cup and only one more spot is left for automatic qualification.

Honduras are in third spot while Mexico are in fourth, three points behind. Honduras need only a draw against Jamaica to qualify. Mexico need a win against Costa Rica to ensure they at least make it to the playoffs. If they lose and Panama win with enough goals against USA, then Mexico will not even make it to the playoffs.

Had Raul Jimenez not won it 2-1 for Mexico with a bicycle kick in the 85th minute, they would have been in very deep trouble.

Uruguay may just make it but it isn’t guaranteed.

Uruguay

Currently, Uruguay are only assured of a playoff spot as they are in fifth place in the South American standings. After losing 1-0 to Ecuador, their final qualifying match is against another South American football force – Argentina. Uruguay need a win and Argentina have lost only one qualifier out of 15 and are at the top of the group.

If Uruguay stay in fifth place, they will face Jordan (fifth in Asia) in the inter-confederational playoffs. So Uruguay aren’t exactly out yet, but they are not guaranteed a spot yet.

France can still qualify but they haven’t scored many goals in the qualifiers to impress.

France

France were drawn in the only European group with just five teams and they would certainly not have been happy to be drawn with Spain in the same group. Spain now leads the table with 17 points while France are in second place with 14.

Unless Spain lose and France win with the goal difference tipping in their favour, they will most likely just make it to the playoffs. And this time, a Thierry Henry handball will not come to their rescue.

England are almost assured of qualification but the math never lies.

England

As of now, England are only assured of a playoff spot. They have a slim 1-point lead in their group with Ukraine close behind. And England’s next opponents are Poland while Ukraine face San Marino (A team that has lost all its 9 matches so far, conceding 46 goals in the process and scoring just 1).

This won’t be the first time England haven’t qualified for the World Cup. They failed to qualify in 1994 as well, which led to widespread outrage and was a crucial factor in the resignation of the then England manager Graham Taylor.