Time Waits For No One In Germany

Perhaps this would have been a more appropriate bit of symbolism when Switzerland co-hosts Euro 2008 with Austria. But, beyond the fine Swiss timing, somehow it strikes me as just about right that Germany chose to mark the one year to go point in the World Cup cycle by unveiling a giant clock in Berlin.





Time does just keep on ticking on in qualifying and it's really running out for some of the pre-qualifying favorites. But, much like a team leading in injury time, others who are on top hope to just hold on for dear life.

If the UEFA qualifying ended today (which of course it wouldn't because, well, due to the silly uneven pools, there are a bunch of teams with games in hand), the qualifiers would look as follows:

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Automatic qualifiers (group leaders): Netherlands, Ukraine, Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Spain, and Croatia.

Lucky loser qualifiers (2nd place with highest point totals): Czech Republic (21 pts.), Slovakia (17 pts.)

Playoff places (other 2nd place): Turkey, Switzerland, Norway, England, Serbia, Sweden

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The Slovakia lucky loser spot is actually a little bit (okay a lot) of a misnomer since they've played not one but two more matches than England who sit a solitary point behind them.

Yes sir or maam. That's the kind of unofficial misleading coverage you'll get from me or anyone who tries to pick the 2nds at this point. That and giant clocks. :)