Portugal draws Sweden in World Cup playoffs

Portugal’s route to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil was blocked by the considerable frame of Zlatan Ibrahimovic when Sweden was drawn out of the tombola in Monday’s playoff draw.

Portugal was one of four seeded teams, with France’s Fifa coefficient preventing it from joining the privileged few and thus making Les Bleus the team they all will have wanted to avoid. Ukraine landed the wooden spoon in that respect, while Croatia plays Iceland and Romania faces Greece. The ties will be played on November 15 and 19, with Sweden, France, Romania and Croatia at home for the second-leg matches.

“We have been drawn against a team against whom we will be playing two difficult matches, two relatively balanced matches,” said Portugal coach Paulo Bento after the draw. “Besides having one of the best strikers in the world [Ibrahimovic], the quality of Sweden is their collective spirit. They finished second in a group that had one of the best European teams and were potential winners in Germany. However, regardless of the opponent, we will be playing these two matches with the aim of playing at the World Cup.”

Nine teams have already qualified from Europe: the Netherlands, Italy, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, England, Russia and Bosnia. The draw for the eight groups of four that will feature in the first round of the tournament will take place on December 6 in Bahia, Brazil.