by Antonio Martinez

Created on: October 31, 2009   Last Updated: November 01, 2009

A fortnight from now, Europe will begin its quest to award the last four remaining World Cup spots for the tournament in South Africa. With the match-ups for the last four spots already drawn, it seems that any of the eight remaining nations have what it takes to get far in South Africa.

Of the four match-ups to take place between November 14 and November 18, France and the Republic of Ireland is by far the most intriguing and mouth-watering. It is also one with which the two nations have played each other the most times, with France boasting a record of six wins, four losses and four draws against the Republic of Ireland. Of the fourteen games the two nations have played each other, ten were World Cup qualifiers. The last time these nations met, France and Ireland were literally beating each other, along with Switzerland as Israel. Of the twelve games France, Switzerland, Israel and Ireland played each other, only one game ended up with a winning side: France's 1-0 at Croke Park in Dublin, which catapulted France into Germany 2006. Ireland will be looking for revenge, as they will play the first leg at home, and both nations have been shaky since their last encounter in Dublin over four years ago. Who will struggle and lay a giant egg? Will Ireland remain unbeaten in this campaign or will they stuggle mightily, especially two to three years ago, crashing at Cyprus 5-2 (Oct. 7, 2006) or even barely beating San Marino 2-1 (Feb. 7, 2007)? Can France roll back the clock and return to the glory days leading up to the victory at the World Cup in 1998?

Another matchup featuring teams who actually played each other in group stage play during the road to Germany 2006 is Greece and Ukraine. Both nations also met each other in qualifying during Greece's shocking journey to winning Euro 2004 in Portugal. Those four games are the only games the two nations have played each other. Although Greece is hosting the first game, it was a 1-0 victory at Piraeus, Greece, which put Ukraine on the path to Germany 2006 and Greece to a disappointing fourth place. Ukraine would love to win another critical game in Greece, but Greece is looking to complete its road to redemption and return to the World Cup for the first time since 1994.

Russia and Slovenia had played each other only three times, but two of those meeting occurred during both teams' journey to the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan. Even those Russia won their group during the 2002 campaign, Slovenia can say that

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