UEFA Draw Pairs Final 8

A draw was held in Zurich earlier today that matched up the final 8 teams left in UEFA qualification. The draw has been surrounded by controversy after the decision to implement a seeding system just several weeks before the draw. Many felt that this was a purposeful effort by FIFA to ensure that the big teams have a better shot of making it to South Africa. Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given was particularly outspoken on the matter, saying "It’s totally unfair on us smaller nations. If they say that before a ball is kicked then at least you know the picture, you know exactly where you stand, but to change it now is absolutely ridiculous, and I don’t think it’s right at all."

Despite the fact that this decision drew a significant backlash, the draw went forward, as the 8 remaining teams were divided into two pots. In Pot 1 were France, Portugal, Russia, and Greece, while Pot 2 consisted of Ireland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, and Ukraine. After the process was complete, we were left with the following pairings: France against Ireland, Portugal against Bosnia and Herzegovina, Russia against Slovenia, and Greece against Ukraine.

While we'll offer a more in depth preview of the matchups as the first matchday draws near, here are just some brief thoughts on the draw:

Ireland were unlucky to draw France, and Shay Given and company have even more reason to be mad at FIFA now. Nevertheless, they have been able to get positive away results against Italy and Bulgaria, and they deserved a win at home against the Azzurri. So expect Giovanni Trapattoni's men to put up a good fight.

Bosnia and Herzegovina has a very dangerous striker tandem in Edin Dzeko and Vedad Ibisevic. The two Bundesliga standouts will square off against a Portugal defense that only conceded 5 goals in 10 qualifying games.

Greece got the short end of the deal, as they drew the highest ranked team in Pot 2, Ukraine. Of all the Pot 2 teams, Ukraine seems to have the best chance of progressing on to South Africa.

Russia were drawn against the lowest ranked team in Pot 2, Slovenia. They will face a stout defense, however, as Slovenia allowed only 4 goals in the first round of qualification. This total was second only to the Netherlands, who played two less games than Slovenia.

With the draw now set, managers and players will have a little less than a month to prepare for the final week of qualification, as four more teams try to punch their ticket to the 2010 World Cup. The opening leg will be played on November 14, with the second taking place on November 18.