All the scenarios for qualifying for the World Cup

In the meantime November 11 and 16 The World Cup qualifiers in the European Zone are completed and there are several. pending issues.

It is reminded that directly in the finals of Qatar (which will take place from November 21 to December 18, 2022) the first groups of the ten groups advance, while the second ten of the groups together with the two teams that had the highest ranking in the Nations League and did not finish in the first two places of their groups, will give three… Final Four for the last three tickets for the World Cup. These matches will take place between March 24 and 29.

So far only two teams (!) have secured the qualification as first, Denmark and Germany. Another 13 teams still have hopes of qualifying directly as top of their group: Albania, Bosnia, England, Finland, France, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine and Wales.

Also others seven teams have “locked” that they will be in the top two of their groups and in the worst case will be in the barrages. These are Italy, Portugal, Russia, Serbia, Switzerland, Belgium and Croatia.

Hopes but only for the second place have the Hellas, as well as Armenia, the Czech Republic, Iceland, Israel, Montenegro, Northern Macedonia, Romania and Scotland. Finally, Austria has hopes to be in the playoffs only through the ranking of the Nations League.

Qualifying scenarios per group:

1st group: Serbia and Portugal have secured to be in the top two. The direct qualification will be judged in the match between them on November 14 at the headquarters of Portugal. Serbia is first with 17 points, but it has only the match with Portugal left, while Fernando Santos’ team has one match less, the one with Ireland away on November 11.

Grading: Serbia (7 games, 17 points), Portugal (6 games, 16 points), Ireland (6 games, 5 points), Azerbaijan (7 games, 1 point)

Next matches: November 11: Azerbaijan-Luxembourg, Ireland-Portugal and November 14: Portugal-Serbia, Luxembourg-Ireland

2nd group: Sweden has the first place with 15 points, two more than Spain, but it will host it on November 14. The two champions on November 11 have dangerous exits against Georgia and Greece respectively. The Greek team, which is at 9 points, needs two victories to hope and at the same time that Spain does not beat Sweden. Georgia and Kosovo have no hope of qualifying.

Grading: Sweden (6 games, 15 points), Spain (6 games, 13 points), Greece (6th games, 9 points), Georgia (6 games, 4 points), Kosovo (6 games, 4 points)

Next matches: November 11: Greece-Spain, Georgia-Sweden and 14 November: Spain-Sweden, Greece-Kosovo

3rd group: Italy and Switzerland have “locked” their presence in the top two and the direct qualification to the World Cup will be judged on Friday, November 12, at the “Olympic” in Rome. The two teams are tied for first place with 14 points and the Italians have the advantage of a draw, as they have a better overall goal difference (+11 instead of +9).

Grading: Italy (6 games, 14 points), Switzerland (6 games, 14 points), Bulgaria (7 games, 8 points), Northern Ireland (6 games, 5 points), Lithuania (7 games, 3 points)

Next matches: November 12: Italy-Switzerland, Northern Ireland-Lithuania and November 15: Switzerland-Bulgaria, Northern Ireland-Italy

4th group: One of the most open groups. France has the lead for direct qualification, as it is first with 12 points in 6 matches and if it beats Kazakhstan at home on November 13, it goes to Qatar. Ukraine, which is second with 9 points but in 7 matches, Bosnia with 8 in 6 matches and Bosnia with 7 in 6 matches, are essentially fighting for the second place. The Bosnia-Finland match on Saturday will decide a lot. Kazakhstan has no hope of finishing in the top two.

Grading: France (6 games, 12 points), Ukraine (7 games, 9 points), Finland (6 games, 8 points), Bosnia (6 games, 7 points), Kazakhstan (7 games, 3 points)

Next matches: November 13: France-Kazakhstan, Bosnia-Finland and 16 November: Finland-France, Bosnia-Ukraine

5th group: Belgium, with 16 points in 6 games, is one and a half feet away from the World Cup. It will be in Qatar with both., If on Saturday it defeats Estonia at home, which, like Belarus, is indifferent. The Czech Republic, which has 11 points in 7 games, and Wales, which also has 11 but 6, are fighting for the second place.

Grading: Belgium (6 games, 16 points), Czech Republic (7 games, 11 points), Wales (6 games, 11 points), Estonia (6 games, 4 points), Belarus (7 games, 3 points)

Next matches: November 13: Belgium-Estonia, Wales-Belarus and 16 November: Wales-Belgium, Czech Republic-Estonia

6th group: Denmark has already qualified as first and Scotland is the big favorite for second place. It will “lock” it from Friday if it wins in Moldova or if Israel does not win in Austria. The latter, like Moldova and the Faroe Islands, are out of contention.

Grading: Denmark (8 games, 24 points), Scotland (8 games, 17 points), Israel (8 games, 13 points), Austria (8 games, 10 points), Faroe Islands (8 games, 4 points), Moldova (8 matches, 1 point)

Next matches: November 12: Denmark-Faroe Islands, Austria-Israel, Moldova-Scotland and November 15: Scotland-Denmark, Israel-Faroe Islands, Austria-Moldova

7th group: Woe to the first place. The Netherlands has a lead of 19 points, but Norway with 17 and Turkey with 15 are in the. Bay. The “greens”, however, have a difficult program playing in Montenegro and at home with Norway. Latvia and Gibraltar have no hopes of qualifying.

Grading: Netherlands (8 games, 19 points), Norway (8 games, 17 points), Turkey (8 games, 15 points), Montenegro (8 games, 11 points), Latvia (8 games, 5 points), Gibraltar (8 games) , 0 points)

Next matches November 13: Turkey-Gibraltar, Norway-Latvia, Montenegro-Netherlands and 16 November: Netherlands-Norway, Montenegro-Turkey, Gibraltar-Latvia

8th group: Russia of 19 and Croatia of 17 points have “locked” a place in the top two. As they play on Thursday with Cyprus inside and Malta outside respectively, everything will be judged in the match between them on Sunday in Croatia.

Grading: Russia (8 games, 19 points), Croatia (8 games, 17 points), Slovakia (8 games, 10 points), Slovenia (8 games, 10 points), Malta (8 games, 5 points), Cyprus (8 games) , 5 points)

Next matches: November 11: Russia-Cyprus, Slovakia-Slovenia, Malta-Croatia and 14 November: Croatia-Russia, Slovenia-Cyprus, Malta-Slovakia

9th group: England with 20 points is the favorite, while with 17 it is followed by Poland and 15 with Albania. The “lions” have a theoretically easy task, as they welcome Albania and travel to San Marino. Poland has a big lead for the second place, which will take it with a victory in Andorra if Albania does not win in England.

Grading: England (8 games, 20 points), Poland (8 games, 17 points), Albania (8 games, 15 points), Hungary (8 games, 11 points), Andorra (8 games, 6 points), San Marino (8 matches, 0 points)

Next matches: November 12: England-Albania, Hungary-San Marino, Andorra-Poland and November 15: Albania-Andorra, San Marino-England, Poland-Hungary

10th group: Germany is already in the World Cup first. Romania is in second place with 13 points, Northern Macedonia and Armenia with 12 points, while Iceland has dim hopes with 8 points.

Grading: Germany (8 games, 21 points), Romania (8 games, 13 points), Northern Macedonia (8 games, 12 points), Armenia (8 games, 12 points), Iceland (8 games, 8 points), Liechtenstein (8 matches, 1 point)

Next matches: November 11: Armenia-Northern Macedonia, Germany-Liechtenstein, Romania-Iceland and 14 November: Northern Macedonia-Iceland, Armenia-Germany, Liechtenstein-Romania