Netherlands
In the end we got what we had hoped for happy end for “orange“. Thanks to a win against Norway, the Netherlands secured victory in Group G with a two-point advantage over Turkey, avoided the total loss and booked the World Cup ticket. Previously, in the 2-2 in Montenegro, it had team the first matchball still given away. Goal record: 33:8. Trainer: Louis van Gaal (since July 2021).
Denmark
“Danish Dynamite” lived up to its name and dismantled Group F (Scotland, Israel, Austria, Faroe Islands, Moldova). Denmark only went bankrupt in the last group game and lost in Scotland. Goal record: 30:3. Trainer: Kasper Hjulmand (since 2020).
France
“Les Bleus” had a much harder time in Group D (Finland, Ukraine, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kazakhstan): Although the French are undefeated, they managed to draw three times. Goal record: 16:3 in seven games so far. Coach: Didier Deschamps (since 2012).
Belgium
Belgium lost in Group E (Wales, Czech Republic, Estonia, Belarus) only once points, worked in the previous seven games 24:5 goals. Of course, the football world is waiting again in 2022 for the first big hit from the highly traded Belgians. Coach: Roberto Martínez (since 2016).
Croatia
That was a neck-and-neck race in Group H: first at show down on November 14, the Croatians defeated Russia 1-0 and made direct qualification perfect. Bitter for the Russians: The goal for the Croatians was an own goal. That was only possible in the first game of the group (Slovakia, Slovenia, Cyprus, Malta) in Slovenia team around Luka Modric as a loser from the place. 23 points from ten games, 21:4 goals. Trainer: Zlatko Dalic (since 2017).
Serbia
In Group A, too, the decision was only made in the last game: Serbia sent the favored Portugal through with a 2-1 win playoffs. It was Portugal’s only but decisive defeat. Both teams went into the final with 17 points, Portugal had the slightly better goal difference. However, that didn’t help Ronaldo and Co. in the end. Trainer: Dragan Stojkovic (since 2021).
Spain
Six wins, one draw, one loss, 15-5 goals: Spain’s performance in Group B (Sweden, Greece, Georgia, Kosovo) was solid but not outstanding. 19 points in eight games, 15:5 goals. Trainer: Luis Enrique (since 2019).
Brazil
Lucas Paqueta of Olympique Lyon scored Brazil as the first South American team to reach the World Cup finals. Neymar provided the assist, but more goals were not scored in this clash with Colombia. It was Brazil’s eleventh win in twelfth games. Trainer: Tite (since 2016).
Argentina
Unadorned but efficient. The Argentines secured a ticket to Qatar with a 0-0 draw against the Brazilians four games before the end of the South American qualifiers. Lionel Messi and Co. have not conceded a goal in qualifying for six games – but have rarely shone up front. Trainer: Lionel Scaloni
England
In the end it was just a formality for England: In the last game, the “Three Lions” a 10-0 thrashing of San Marino and finished top of the table in Group I (Poland, Hungary, Albania, Andorra, San Marino). The record: no defeat, 26 points, 39:3 goals. Coach: Gareth Southgate (since 2016).
Switzerland
European champions Italy missed direct qualification because Switzerland chance used and Italy just not. The “Nati” scored three times in the dramatic “remote final” against Bulgaria, while Italy only scored in Northern Ireland draw played. Switzerland thus won Group C (bottom of group: Lithuania) ahead of Italy, which was in the playoffs got to. Coach: Murat Yakin (since 2021).
Iran
A narrow 1-0 win against neighboring Iraq was enough for Iran to secure their ticket to the World Cup finals early on. After this victory, Iran can no longer be ousted from one of the two top spots in the Asian qualifying group A. Iran are taking part in a World Cup finals for the third year in a row. Coach: Dragan Skocic (since 2020).
South Korea
A 2-0 win against Syria put them in the top two places in Asia Group A and secured them a place in the World Cup early on. South Korea thus qualified for a World Cup finals for the tenth time in a row. Trainer: Paulo Bento
Source: jo, fm