Estonia Set for First World Cup Qualifier Tonight (2)

Published: 07.09.2012 15:30

Photo: Scanpix

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Romania's national football team is in Tallinn today, warming up for what will be the first match in Estonia's 2014 World Cup qualification bid.

In the year-long series that determines which 13 European teams get a spot at the finals in Brazil, Estonia will also be going up against the Netherlands, Turkey, Hungary and Andorra in Group D.

The series marks Estonia's sixth attempt, since re-independence at least, at qualifying for the football's biggest event. In this, the team has never been successful and barring any flukes, this time around is not expected to be much different.

The Netherlands, currently occupying the number 8 spot in FIFA rankings, are the clear powerhouse of the group, while Turkey and Hungary, ranked 35th and 37th respectively, also have 55th-placed Estonia outgunned. Andorra, languishing in 199th position right behind Kyrgyzstan and South Sudan, is well set up to be the group's whipping boy.

The team that's most evenly matched with Estonia is in fact Romania, which could make for some interesting football tonight, even if it doesn't generate any hope that either team will be going to the big show in South America in two years.

Kickoff is at 21:00 Estonian time (18:00 UTC). It can be watched on the ETV2 feed below.

 

Steve Roman

 

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Comments (2)

  • AA

    07.09.2012 16:14

    The Netherlands will play Turkey in this group tonight and are definitely not in their best shape as they are currently building a new team. Tonights lineup will only include 4 players who played the final of the 2010 Worlcup versus Spain in South Africa. I for one wish Estonia all their best in their attempt to qualify for Brasil 2014! Lineup (expected) Netherlands: Krul; Janmaat, Heitinga, Martins Indi, Willems; Sneijder, Clasie, Strootman; Narsingh, van Persie en Robben.

  • Oranje beneden

    08.09.2012 08:48

    Van Gaal almost embarrassed Oranje here before in 2001, Eesti were so close...lets hope for more of the same this time! Holland have a huge amount of potential but always prove to be highly disappointing. :)