World Cup 2022 qualifying begins

[Sutekh]

The draw is live on BBC, FIFA and UEFA websites and apps but am not aware if it is actually live on a tv channel somewhere.

[Sanguine]

Then there’s all the restrictions to take into account as well so this sort of thing won’t be over as easily as it should. For example Kosovo won’t be allowed to be in the same group as many other teams in the Balkans area, Spain and Gibraltar is probably a no no, I can’t see Turkey v Cyprus being too popular and no doubt, given the pandemic, FIFA/UEFA will be seeking to minimise travel for this round of qualification meaning at least England should avoid those nations from the Far East of the region (but presumably increases the chances of getting Wales and Scotland or one of the Irelands).

Apparently the balls are drawn a pot at a time and each nation is allocated alphabetically into each group subject to the “restrictions”. So I presume that means England will be in Group D?

Each of the 10 group winners will qualify automatically while the 10 group runners up (plus the two best-ranked but otherwise unqualified sides in the Nations League) will compete for the remaining 3 qualification places in March 2022.

And so cue a load of interminably pointless games against 3 or 4 poorer nations meaning, as usual, all England will effectively have to do to qualify is give a good account of themselves against the second seed in their group.

Oh for the days of something like 14 groups of 4 with only the winner progressing, so much simpler and so much more interesting.

I'm not sure that was ever the case, was it? Since we expanded to so many teams the play-offs, or 'best runner-ups' has been a thing.
Had a look back - 1990 World Cup was 7 groups of four, where the group winners and six best runner-ups qualified (LOL @ being the only runner-up not to qualify). So in that year all we had to do was beat Albania and best Poland over two games to qualify.
By 1998 we were on to nine groups of five or six, with a play-offs round for the second placed teams. That year we topped a group that included Italy, but ironically again all we actually had to do was get the better end of our two games with Poland (as the group was completed by Georgia and Moldova).
Ah, found it 1978 was the last time only the Group winners qualified for the World Cup finals. Was that really the best of it, with only 30 teams taking part and qualification hopes over for most after three games? And 1978 was 'fun'. England won five and lost one of their qualifying games, same as Italy (they beat each other 2-0 at home). Italy qualified because they scored three more goals against Finland than we did.

Point is, there have always been smaller nations. Excluding them is a backward step.

[Zip]

We really shouldn’t fear Belgium. We took four points off them in the 2016 Euro qualifying campaign and then knocked them out in the quarter finals

[Sutekh]

Group A: Portugal, Serbia, Republic of Ireland, Luxembourg, Azerbaijan

Group B: Spain, Sweden, Greece, Georgia, Kosovo

Group C: Italy, Switzerland, Northern Ireland, Bulgaria, Lithuania

Group D: France, Ukraine, Finland, Bosnia, Kazakhstan

Group E: Belgium, Wales, Czech Republic, Belarus, Estonia

Group F: Denmark, Austria, Scotland, Israel, Faroe Islands, Moldova

Group G: Netherlands, Turkey, Norway, Montenegro, Latvia, Gibraltar

Group H: Croatia, Slovakia, Russia, Slovenia, Cyprus, Malta

Group I: England, Poland, Hungary, Albania, Andorra, San Marino

Group J: Germany, Romania, Iceland, North Macedonia, Armenia, Liechtenstein

[Mr Angry]

I can see England's Group coming down to whether England or Poland score goals more against Hungary, Albania, Andorra and San Marino, as I can see home victories for England v Poland.

For the team that finishes 2nd, it is the "dreaded" *tm Play Offs........which will consist of 12 teams (the 10 runners up plus the two best Nations League group winners who do not finish in the top two of their World Cup qualifying group.........nope, I don't understand the rationale behind those last 2).

The 12 teams will go into 3 mini leagues of 4, where they will be drawn to play one of the other teams - in effect, a semi final; the winner of that game plays the winner of the other game in a final, and the 3 finalists go forward.

All a bit of a palaver really.

[Mr Angry]

And as for England v Poland....England have come up against Poland in qualifying for the 1974, 1990, 1994, 2006 and 2014 World Cups, as well as in the finals in Mexico in 1986. England and Poland also met in qualifying for the 1992 and 2000 European Championships.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[Winston Biscuit]

every one of those groups looks boring as f*ck. Sanitised football.

[Zip]

I disagree Winstonian.

[Ascotexgunner]

We really shouldn’t fear Belgium. We took four points off them in the 2016 Euro qualifying campaign and then knocked them out in the quarter finals

I know but Bale and Ramsay arnt the players they were, neither is Allen. Central defence is getting more solid. One plus in our favour is we have more depth now. If we can get those youngsters playing should get second.

Wonder if we will get a 1974 all over again for England. Who will be the fruitcake in goal this time. Flappyhandski or SirChesney

Still chance to England to test the best striker in the world......not sure about Harry Kane though.

[Zip]

We really shouldn’t fear Belgium. We took four points off them in the 2016 Euro qualifying campaign and then knocked them out in the quarter finals

I know but Bale and Ramsay arnt the players they were, neither is Allen. Central defence is getting more solid. One plus in our favour is we have more depth now. If we can get those youngsters playing should get second.

I don’t think Hazard is the player he was. We are almost certain of a play off place anyway through the Nations League so let’s go for it.

[Ascotexgunner]

We really shouldn’t fear Belgium. We took four points off them in the 2016 Euro qualifying campaign and then knocked them out in the quarter finals

I know but Bale and Ramsay arnt the players they were, neither is Allen. Central defence is getting more solid. One plus in our favour is we have more depth now. If we can get those youngsters playing should get second.

I don’t think Hazard is the player he was. We are almost certain of a play off place anyway through the Nations League so let’s go for it.

Hazards a funny one. During the 2016 qualifiers Gunter and Allen literally had him in their back pockets. We didn't concede in either game. Chelsea fans droned on about how good her was but I've seen none of it at Madrid.
De Brynes the one I fear. More mature now.

[Silver Fox]

And as for England v Poland....England have come up against Poland in qualifying for the 1974, 1990, 1994, 2006 and 2014 World Cups, as well as in the finals in Mexico in 1986. England and Poland also met in qualifying for the 1992 and 2000 European Championships.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Not as bad as Scotland’s recent fixtures with Israel

[Old Man Andrews]

Group I: England, Poland, Hungary, Albania, Andorra, San Marino

Cannot wait for the San Marino and Andorra games. Love playing the weak sides, fills me with joy.

[Sanguine]

And as for England v Poland....England have come up against Poland in qualifying for the 1974, 1990, 1994, 2006 and 2014 World Cups, as well as in the finals in Mexico in 1986. England and Poland also met in qualifying for the 1992 and 2000 European Championships.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Not as bad as Scotland’s recent fixtures with Israel

Yeah it's getting there. Scotland have drawn them in qualifying for the Euros, now for the next World Cup, and both of the last two Nations League campaigns.

Tbf re England v Poland, we had a run of it some time ago, but this is only the third time we've been drawn against them in ten tournaments since 2000.

On our qualifying group, Harry Kane must be eyeing up Rooney's England goals record already, what with six games against Albania, Andorra and San Marino.

[LWJ]

Group I: Poland, Hungary,

Booked

[Old Man Andrews]

Group I: Poland, Hungary,

Booked

Seriously tempted to go to San Marino next November for my birthday.

[Stranded]

So as CAS upholds a ban on Russia from major sporting events, their football team are now left in a position that they will likely have to play their qualifying matches but won't be able to qualify.

[Winston Biscuit]

Growing number of Norweigen clubs are asking their FA to boycott the Qatar World Cup

May well be a vote this month within the Norwegian FA over whether to boycott it

[Sutekh]

Growing number of Norweigen clubs are asking their FA to boycott the Qatar World Cup

May well be a vote this month within the Norwegian FA over whether to boycott it

Would agree with that, shame money talks though otherwise I’m sure there’d be a few more FAs following suit.

[Stranded]

Be interesting to see how things shape up as far as qualifying is concerned if South America's COVID situation doesn't improve.

Next 2 rounds already cancelled as European clubs won't let players travel there, understandably. So if the Jiune games get hit as well, will quickly run out of free international dates to get them all in. Imagine they will just run a smaller qualifying tournament if so.