Ireland’s crucial games against Sweden and Austria did not pan out as everyone hoped after David Alaba’s injury time equalizer punctured the faint optimism that had swelled at a bitterly cold Aviva Stadium.
But there were also interesting developments outside of Europe as teams inch towards Brazil 2014.
Asia
There are two games left for most teams in the Asian confederation and as it stands Japan are almost certainly on the way to the tropical climes of South America.
The Blue Samurai have one foot on the plane despite a 2 – 1 defeat to Jordan, a game in which Manchester United's Shinji Kagawa scored. But one win from their final two games will guarantee automatic qualification.
Australia trail the Japanese by seven points in Group B and face a tough task to either get a playoff spot or automatic qualification.
Over in Group A, traditional qualifiers South Korea are currently second in the table, just behind surprise package Uzbekistan who are getting closer to a first ever World Cup appearance for a central Asian side.
However the Koreans have a game in hand and are likely to qualify due to their experience and the fact that two of their last three home games will be played in Seoul.
Africa
CAF is currently at the second round stage of qualification with the 40 remaining teams split into ten groups. The winner of each group will then proceed to a third round playoff for automatic qualification for Brazil 2014.
As it stands, most of Africa’s traditional big guns are well placed with Ivory Coast, Tunisia, Nigeria, Cameroon, Egypt, Senegal and Algeria topping their respective groups.
Ghana – who have qualified for the last two World Cups - are second in their group, just one point behind 2012 African Cup of Nations champions Zambia, while South Africa are second in Group A behind a resurgent Ethiopia side.
North and Central America
The CONCACAF federation has entered the final six team group which will see three teams qualify automatically and another taking a playoff spot against Oceania’s challengers New Zealand.
Perennial qualifiers Mexico have made a slow start, drawing their first three games including a goalless draw against rivals USA at the Azteca Stadium on Tuesday.
The Mexicans are unlikely to finish in the fifth place they currently occupy but they will need up the ante soon as surprise packages Panama top the table ahead of 2002 and 2006 qualifiers Costa Rica and Jurgen Klinsmann’s USA.
South America
Lionel Messi’s Argentina are within touching distance of the World Cup after emerging from a gruelling high altitude match against Bolivia with a creditable 1 – 1 draw in La Paz.
Ecuador and Colombia are well placed as they sit five and four points respectively above the fifth place Playoff place.
Luis Suarez’ Uruguay are in danger of missing on the World Cup after a 2 – 0 defeat in Chile that saw the Liverpool man punch an opponent. The two-time World Cup winners are sixth, two points behind up-and-coming Venezuela who have high hopes of becoming the last CONMEBOL member to reach a World Cup.
Chile occupy the final automatic qualification spot, while Paraguay are bottom of the nine-team table and look almost certain to miss the World Cup for the first time in two decades.
