World Cup 2010 / Jamie "The Pacman" Pacheco / 19 October 2009 / Leave a comment

Giovanni Trapattoni heard the news he didn't want to hear as France's name was pulled out of the hat as the Republic of Ireland's opponents in the World Cup play-offs. Meanwhile, Portgal won't be ecstatic about their draw either as they will have to face Bosnia-Hercegovina.

"France are currently priced at [23.0] to lift the World Cup and that may look big if as expected, they dispose of Robbie Keane and co. Meanwhile, Euro 2004 runners-up Portugal drew the side that secretly all seeded teams were keenest to avoid – Bosnia-Hercegovina."

The Republic of Ireland will have to beat 1998 world champions France over two legs if they are to qualify for football's blue-riband event in South Africa next year. After FIFA decided at the very last-minute that there were to be seedings for the play-offs, Giovanni Trapattonis' side knew that they'd be underdogs against whoever they drew - Portugal, Greece, Russia were the other 'premier' sides - but France represented the worst-case scenario.

Despite constant criticism of French coach Raymond Domenech (whose unusual methods include the use of astrology in determining team selection) amongst the French media, former and present players, there is no doubting the team's pool of talent which includes Karim Benzema, Thierry Henry, Nicolas Anelka and Franck Ribery. France finished second to Serbia in their group, losing just once and go into the play-offs, played 14th and 18th November, as the [1.33] favourites on Betfair to qualify, with the Republic of Ireland chalked up at [3.7]. France are currently priced at [23.0] to lift the World Cup and that may look big if as expected, they dispose of Robbie Keane and co.

Meanwhile, Euro 2004 runners-up Portugal drew the side that secretly all seeded teams were keenest to avoid - Bosnia-Hercegovina. In an extremely competitive group that included current European Champions Spain, perennial qualifiers Belgium and Euro 2008 semi-finalists Turkey, Bosnia finished four points clear of the latter in second-place and lost three times, two of those to Spain, who won all their matches. With partisan home support, an experienced coach in Miroslav Blazevic and a talented set of players mostly based in Germany, they are arguably the best-value bet of the lot to qualify, at odds of [3.5].

Their opponents Portugal needed to win their last three matches as well as relying on Denmark beating Sweden just to make the play-offs. After almost six years under Luis Felipe Scolari, they are still adjusting to life under former Manchester Utd number two Carlos Queiroz. Their main problems have been scoring goals and deciding where to play star man and skipper Cristiano Ronaldo, who has been used as a winger, second striker and more recently lone striker under the new regime.

Portugal are the [1.32] favourites to progress but there will be plenty looking to take them on at that price, especially after hearing Bosnia coach Blazevic's reaction to the draw: "I think that the Portuguese are the favourites to win this tie. However, it's a known fact that the favourites do not always come out winners. Portugal are a great team and they have a number of excellent players. Nevertheless, I feel like we have what it takes to beat them. We can qualify for South Africa."

In the other ties, Greece will face the Ukraine who finished as runners-up to England in a match-up that is being priced up as evens the pair while Guus Hiddink's Russia will have to overcome Slovenia. The latter is the most one-sided contest of the lot if the betting is to believed with Slovenia available at [4.3] to be in South Africa next summer.

Tags: football tips, Giovanni Trapattoni, Ireland v France, play-off draw, play-offs betting World Cup, Portugal World Cup, World Cup play-off fixtures, world Cup play-offs betting