The draw is in. Eight team compete for the last four spots from the European zone.
France line up against Ireland in a two match playoff next month. In the other head to head, Portugal face Bosnia, Russia play Slovenia, and Greece take on Ukraine.
Raymond Domenech who has survived innumerable calls for his dismissal gets one more chance to silence his critics. Carlos Queiroz, another manager under pressure, gets another opportunity to rally his underwhelming Portugese side fortuitously reprieved when Denmark beat Sweden to force them out. If both France and Portugal fail to qualify then surely it is curtains for these two coaches.