The 2018 FIFA World Cup is still more than a year away but the final 32 teams will be decided in the coming months as teams around the world play in continental qualifiers to seal their berths in the quadrennial competition. Brazil became the first team to qualify for the World Cup in Russia when they beat Paraguay 3-0 – the Selecao’s top spot cannot be usurped by those below them who will now fight it out for the remaining spots.
However, there are a few teams who are in real danger of missing out on qualification – some of whom have been genuine heavyweights in the World Cup in recent years. We look at five such teams who may not make the trip to Russia next summer.
1) Wales
Less than two years ago, Wales celebrated after they qualified for a major tournament for the first time since 1958. Euro 2016 saw a nation’s dream realised as the likes of Gareth Bale, Ashley Williams and Aaron Ramsey led The Dragons to France.
And they were more successful than neighbours England as the Welsh side swept aside Belgium in the quarter-finals before falling to Portugal in the semis. It was a tremendous effort and the team was welcomed back home as heroes and given an open top bus parade in Cardiff on their arrival.
A year on and the Welsh dream of qualifying for their first World Cup in 60 years has hit a speed-bump. They are currently third in UEFA’s Group D with Serbia and Republic of Ireland above them at the halfway stage. The Dragons are four points behind following just one win and four draws.
In UEFA’s groups, the team that finishes top of the table qualifies for the World Cup automatically while the second-placed team has a chance of qualifying as one of the eight best runners-up from nine groups to go into the playoffs. Wales need to aim for the top two spots to even think about qualifying.
| Pos | Country | Pld | W | D | L | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Serbia | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 11 |
| 2 | Republic of Ireland | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 11 |
| 3 | Wales | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 7 |
| 4 | Austria | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 7 |
| 5 | Georgia | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| 6 | Moldova | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
2) Cameroon
The recently concluded Africa Cup of Nations saw an unfancied Cameroon go all the way and beat Egypt in the final to lift their fifth AFCON title. Nobody had expected them to win, especially after a number of stars – some playing in Europe’s top clubs – had pulled out and made themselves unavailable for selection.
Their coach Hugo Broos had been appointed after he had applied for the post when he saw an advertisement online. His plans to use young players mixed with new talents worked and Vincent Aboubakar’s 88th-minute goal in the final made the Lions indomitable again.
Now, though, in the third and final round of the CAF qualifiers, they haven’t had the best of starts. Following two draws with Algeria and Zambia, they find themselves four points behind a remarkably strong Nigeria squad who have already beaten those two sides.
However, only the top team in each group qualifies for the World Cup. But then again, there is still a long way to go.
| Pos | Country | Pld | W | D | L | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nigeria | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 2 | Cameroon | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 3 | Zambia | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 4 | Algeria | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
3) Turkey
Turkey is a team that has blown hot and cold in the international arena in recent years. Everyone remembers how they stormed into the semi-finals in 2002 and walked away with a very well-deserved third place finish. However, since then they have not qualified for the World Cup despite reaching the semi-finals of Euro 2008 with some exciting performances.
Just as the Turkish Super Lig has developed over the years, so has the national team. Led by the capable Arda Turan, they do have some exciting talents such as Emre Mor, Cenk Tosun and Nuri Sahin who could make the backbone of the side in years to come.
However, The Crescent-Stars are currently fourth in UEFA’s Group I. Since only the top two have a chance of qualifying for the World Cup, Turkey have a lot of work to do in the remaining games. And overhauling Croatia and Iceland – both of whom reached the Euro 2016 knockout stages – is no easy task.
| Pos | Country | Pld | W | D | L | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Croatia | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 13 |
| 2 | Iceland | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| 3 | Ukraine | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 8 |
| 4 | Turkey | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 8 |
| 5 | Finland | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| 6 | Kosovo | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
4) Argentina
The biggest fish of the lot, Argentina are two-time World Cup champions (1978 and 1986). However, since the retirement of Diego Maradona, La Albiceleste have won no major international tournament since 1993 – their last Copa America triumph.
While Lionel Messi is a bonafide legend in club football, he strives hard to live up to Maradona’s legacy in the international arena. And he has come so close in the last three years. Argentina have fallen at the final hurdle at the 2014 World Cup and the two Copa America editions in 2015 and 2016, falling to Germany and Chile (twice) respectively.
Messi had even announced his retirement after he was frustrated with the constant criticism but reversed his decision. The players have also boycotted the media in recent games due to “accusations and a lack of respect”.
Now, with Messi banned for four games, Argentina are fifth in the CONMEBOL standings which see five teams separated by just four points. With Brazil’s qualification already secured, only three automatic qualification spots remain while the fifth-placed team will have to go into a playoff. As things stand, with four games to go, that team is Argentina.
| Pos | Country | Pld | W | D | L | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brazil (Q) | 14 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 33 |
| 2 | Colombia | 14 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 24 |
| 3 | Uruguay | 14 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 23 |
| 4 | Chile | 14 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 23 |
| 5 | Argentina | 14 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 22 |
| 6 | Ecuador | 14 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 20 |
5) Netherlands
What can one say about Netherlands? The team has always been the bridesmaid at major tournaments and have never won the World Cup in spite of reaching the final thrice. They have finished as runners-up in 1974, 1978 and most recently in 2010.
The team seemed to have got its act together in 2014 at the World Cup in Brazil – especially when they beat defending champions Spain 5-1 in the opening group stage game. However, Louis van Gaal’s “tactical genius” only got them to the semi-finals before falling to Argentina. But they did finish third.
Since then, Netherlands have been erased off the football map when it comes to major tournaments. The Oranje failed to qualify for Euro 2016 – finishing fourth in their qualifying group behind the Czech Republic, Iceland and Turkey.
Now, with another international tournament on the horizon – the biggest of the lot – they are again in danger of missing out. France and Sweden currently hold the top two spots and the Dutch have a long way to go. With the turmoil surrounding the side following the sacking of manager Danny Blind after a loss to Bulgaria, their future is up in the air.
The only solace? The last time Netherlands failed to qualify for the Euros (1984) and World Cup (1986), they won the next edition of Euro in 1988.
| Pos | Country | Pld | W | D | L | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | France | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 13 |
| 2 | Sweden | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| 3 | Bulgaria | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 9 |
| 4 | Netherlands | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 7 |
| 5 | Belarus | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| 6 | Luxembourg | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
