The 2022 World Cup in Qatar is now just over a year away.
Aside from the symbolic countdown, it means that the qualifiers are almost over. But, with there only being a few matchdays left to play, it means, across the globe, there is crucial footballing action, determining the fate of players, national teams and billion fans worldwide.
This November there was drama, teams changed direction, and the list of teams qualifying for the finals got longer and longer. Football in each continent reached its peak.
There’s no such thing as easy games in Africa. Algeria is celebrating a hard fought draw with Burkina Faso, and the place in the playoffs (Photo: Federation Algerienne de Football)
The AFC Asian Qualifiers
The third stage of qualification in Asia is already well under way, and it is becoming clear who is looking likely to be on the plane to Qatar.
In Group A, Lebanon dropped down the table with two losses at home in Saida, to Iran and the United Arab Emirates, the hype surrounding The Cedars fading every day after they gave up third place in the group to the latter. Iran struggled in their 2-1 win against Lebanon, following some bizarre tactics by coach Dragan Skočić, but added a convincing 3-0 victory against Syria, who are far away from their position in 2017.
South Korea kept their cool with two wins against the UAE and Iraq, who, on current form, could be the best kit designer in Asia, despite being unable to put together a decent side under Dick Advocaat.
Bert van Marwijk’s UAE side miraculously pulled off a victory, squeezing out three points, 1-0, against Lebanon away, in a crucial match for the Dutch coach and his players. Although the Emiratis didn’t impress, it seems the coach will get the chance to try again.
In Group B, Saudi Arabia enjoyed a superb break with a crucial point away to Australia, and an easy victory against Vietnam. The hard work that the French coach Herve Renard has been putting into this Saudi team has started bearing fruit, and the Green Falcons look like they’ll be able to guarantee their place in the World Cup next winter. Japan recovered from a poor start in their group, and managed to grab important victories including revenge in Oman, who had beaten them at the start of the round.
Australia are struggling, and with 4 games left to play, a place in the playoffs doesn’t seem unrealistic. Two draws - against Saudi Arabia and China - caps off a tough November for the Socceroos. Can they overcome the obstacles and make it to Qatar? To be continued...
CAF Africa Qualifiers
What a window it was for Mama Africa! The African qualifiers are probably the toughest of the lot. Imagine some of the best players from European leagues mixing with those playing at different levels in Africa, the Middle East and the lower leagues of Europe. Playing on poorly conditioned pitches, with referees who, in many cases, have the destiny of nations on their shoulders. It’s not easy, but 10 teams made it to the third round.
In the last matchday of the second round, Ghana and South Africa clashed with an intense atmosphere surrounding the game. Bafana Bafana needed a draw, and the Black Stars to win to qualify. A controversial penalty call gave Andre Ayew the option to score an iconic penalty on his 100th cap for Ghana, and the captain converted with coolness, taking Ghana to the through, and sending South Africa back home.
And controversial refereeing decisions were a returning theme in this window of games, with a bizarre penalty being given in a decisive match between DR Congo and Benin, helping the Congolese secure their spot in the playoffs.
Algeria extended their unbeaten run to 33 games, but looked unorganized against the stubborn stallions of Burkina Faso, in a rainy match in Blida. Riyad Mahrez scored and it felt like the Algerians would calmly trail for a victory. But the Burkinabeans had a different idea. Zakaria Sanogo and Gustavo Sangaré put on a show, pressed Algeria back to their goal, and gained a respectable 2-2 draw, leaving with hope for the up and coming Africa Cup of Nations. Djamel Belmadi will have to reignite his players in the next round, because it won’t be a walk in the park.
As Cameroon shocked the Ivory Coast with a 1-0 victory that kicked the Elephants out of the competition, and Tunisia cruised to a 3-1 win over Zambia, the 10 team list for the African Qualifiers third round is complete.
Senegal, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Nigeria are seeded for the draw, while Egypt, Ghana, DR Congo, Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea won’t be seeded. Just imagine a ‘Jollof derby’ between Nigeria and Ghana, or a remake for the 2009 clash between Algeria and Egypt, in one of the fiercest national team rivalries the world has to offer.
Five teams will qualify from Africa. Five teams will have had to overcome the hardest road to make it to the tournament. The draw will take place in the coming days, and the games, after the AFCON in Cameroon in January, will be played at the end of March.
UEFA European Qualifiers
The qualifiers in Europe were exposed to a lot of criticism this month. One-sided matches came all too often, 10-0, 7-1, and 6-0 score lines became routine.
But there was some serious drama as well. Russia needed a draw to qualify for the finals, but an 82nd minute own-goal gave Croatia the victory, and the 2018 World Cup runner-ups will be in the Middle East, hoping for a repeat.
November belonged to the Balkans apparently, as a day later Alexander Mitrovic scored right at the death to give Serbia a heroic 2-1 victory against Group A leaders Portugal at the Estadio da Luz. As a result, Serbia qualified directly for the World Cup, with Portugal becoming a surprise addition to the playoffs.
If that wasn’t enough, North Macedonia too managed to secure a historic spot in the playoffs, pipping Romania at the post. After an inspiring Euro 2020 campaign, the Macedonian sensation continues to break down barriers.
Switzerland surprised many football fans when they managed to qualify automatically for the finals, and in style, demoting Italy to the playoffs after the latter drew with Northern Ireland in a grim football display in Belfast.
With the group stage complete, France, Belgium, England, the Netherlands, Spain, Croatia, Serbia and Switzerland joined Germany and Denmark in guaranteeing their place in Qatar. One thing is for sure, the playoffs in March are going to be hot.
CONMEBOL South American Qualifiers
The South American qualifiers failed to produce a bold message this time. Argentina and Brazil managed to get through the clásico without too much mess, as the Albiceleste qualified for what will (probably) be Lionel Messi’s last World Cup.
Most of the attention was aimed at the other three direct qualifying spots, with Uruguay’s ongoing decline reaching a dangerous pinnacle - a 3-0 loss to Bolivia at the high-altitude Hernando Siles Stadium in La Paz.
Ecuador had looked like a safe bet for a ticket to Qatar, until they lost to Peru. Now there are only four points separating third and ninth place, with Colombia, Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Uruguay, and even Paraguay in the loop for a World Cup adventure.
With just four matches to go, who’ll join Argentina and Brazil in Doha?
CONCACAF North & Central America Qualifiers
At BabaGol, we’ve been warning you for a few years about the slow rise of the Canadian national team who, step by step, matchday by matchday, are becoming the most exciting North American team in decades.
The Canucks rose to first place in the octagonal following a lucrative 2-1 win over Mexico under heavy snow in Edmonton. Cyle Larin guided the Canadians to the win with a brace, in a match that saw the Mexicans struggling to show any real quality.
Speaking of Mexico, El Tri will want to forget this November break, also losing to the United States, and not just in any result but the iconic 2-0 (dos a cero), dating back to the famous victory in past World Cup qualifications. Mexico also lost first place, and dropped down to third, with both Canada and the US marching ahead.
The goal of the break belongs to West Ham’s Michail Antonio, who struck a thunderous shot into the top corner against the US. While the top spots seem to be sealed off, the Jamaicans will try to push Costa Rica and Panama, the latter currently lie in the playoff spot, when the next round of games come along in January.
As we are getting closer to the finals in Qatar a year from now, there is one continent that hasn’t even started to determine its representatives for the occasion - Oceania.
The OFC is in a difficult situation administratively, trying to organize a quick tournament in Qatar in March next year to decide who will represent Oceania in the biggest football tournament of them all.
Around 20 World Cup spots are still up for grabs, but across the globe, the picture is getting clearer, and the options are shrinking.
Don’t blink too much though. Asia and North America will be back in January, followed by Europe and Africa in March. There will be more moments like Serbia in Lisbon, Algeria in Blida and Lebanon in Saida, which will remind us why the World Cup qualifiers are more dramatic, intense, emotional, moving and fascinating, than almost every other football competition on this planet.
