The Union of European Football Associations is where the real power lives in World Football. If you don't believe it, just ask them!Yes, while European snobbery and self-importance went out of fashion in world affairs shortly after colonialism, it is still alive and well in global athletics, no where more so than in the grand old game of futbol.
The biggest leagues: European. The most famous players: European. The greatest historical legacy: European. The richest endorsement deals: European. The fattest tv contracts: European. The most crippling debt and nastiest scandals: European!
Yes, Europe has it all, which means that Europe gets it all too! (That seems fair, right?) While the other continents battle over 4 or 5 spots in the Mundial, Europe gets 13. Sure the other confederations are just as numerous with often larger populations, but hey...Europe pays the bills so Europe gets what it wants.
This time around Europe will be getting what it wants by pitting 53 nations against one another in 9 groups--win the group win a spot in Brazil. Finish in second and you get a shot at Round 2
Round 1 Groups Are
Group A Group B Group C
Croatia Italy Germany
Serbia Denmark Sweden
Belgium Czech Republic Ireland
Scotland Bulgaria Austria
Macedonia Armenia Faroe Islands
Wales Malta Kazakhstan
Group D Group E Group F
Netherlands Norway Portugal
Turkey Slovenia Russia
Hungary Switzerland Israel
Romania Albania Northern Ireland
Estonia Cyprus Azerbaijan
Andorra Iceland Luxembourg
Group G Group H Group I
Greece England Spain
Slovakia Montenegro France
Bosnia-Herzegovinia Ukraine Belarus
Lithuania Poland Georgia
Latvia Moldova Finland
Lichtenstein San Marino
After the dust settles on those nine groups, the second place finishers will be judged on their records, the eight best get tossed into home-and-away series that make up Round 2. Survive the playoff and you're Brazil bound, fall short and you sit at home cursing the French (as per usual).
