The 2014 World Cup Qualifying Draw Recap - Europe

The meat and potatoes of any World Cup are always the participants from Europe. Armed with the most entrants at the World Cup, Europe always has a strong showing at the world's foremost footballing competition. The key as always with any European soccer team is to ensure that they do not beat each other up in the run-up to the actual tournament itself. Here is our first look at the 2014 World Qualifying draw from the European region.

Europe

First Round

The qualifying cycle for Europe is really quite simple team. Each country is placed in a group of either five or six teams. Those teams will then play each other home and way. The top team in each group automatically qualifies for the World Cup while the eight best runner-ups will battle in a home and away playoff for the remaining four slots at the World Cup. So in total 13 teams qualify from Europe. It is pretty straightforward, however there are always one or two big names that don't qualify. Here are our very early fearless predictions at what could happen during this qualification cycle.

Group A

Croatia

Serbia

Belgium

Scotland

FYR Macedonia

Wales

Group B

Italy

Denmark

Czech Republic

Bulgaria

Armenia

Malta

Group C

Germany

Sweden

Ireland

Austria

Faroe Islands

Kazakhstan

Group D

Netherlands

Turkey

Hungary

Romania

Estonia

Andorra

Group E

Norway

Slovenia

Switzerland

Albania

Cyprus

Iceland

Group F

Portugal

Russia

Israel

Northern Ireland

Azerbaijan

Luxembourg

Group G

Greece

Slovakia

Bosnia - Herzegovina

Lithuania

Latvia

Liechtenstein

Group H

England

Montenegro

Ukraine

Poland

Moldova

San Marino

Group I

Spain

France

Belarus

Georgia

Finland

Group of Death - Spain, France, Belarus, Georgia, Finland (Group I)

Group of Weakness - Greece, Slovakia, Bosnia - Herzegovina, Lithuania, Latvia, Liechtenstein (Group G)

Game I Would Love to Attend - Spain v. France

Game I Even Know Nothing About - Moldova v. San Marino

Minnow That Could Surprise - Austria . . . a young team that did well at the U21 level could mature in a hurry

Fearless Predictions (Group Winner & Runner-Up)

Serbia, Croatia

Italy, Denmark

Germany, Ireland

Netherlands, Turkey

Norway, Switzerland

Portugal, Russia

Greece, Bosnia - Herzegovina

England, Ukraine

Spain, France

This is going to be a fun fun qualifying cycle.