Shocks, surprises on road to Russia
MINNOWS ON THE RISE AS GIANTS CRASH Panama snatches dramatic qualifying berth as Uncle Sam’s boys wilt.
The Netherlands, Chile and the United States are the biggest casualties on the road to Russia for the 2018 World Cup, while the tournament’s qualification campaign has also produced fairy tale berths for the likes of Panama and Iceland.
Three-time runners-up the Netherlands’ fate was sealed in Amsterdam on Tuesday as they could only manage a 2-0 win against Sweden. The Dutch needed an unlikely 7-0 victory to leapfrog the Swedes into second play in Group A of European qualifying behind France, but fell short despite a valiant effort in what was captain Arjen Robben’s 96th and last international outing.
Four-time champions Italy failed to qualify automatically as group winners finishing behind Spain in Group G, but will get a second bite at the cherry during next month’s play-offs.
The eight-team play-offs will also feature Switzerland, who can consider themselves desperately unlucky not to have booked their ticket on the back of winning nine out of their 10 matches. The Swiss were edged out of top spot in Group B by Portugal, who beat them 2-0 in Lisbon on Tuesday.
Iceland, with a population of a little over 334 000, on Monday made history by becoming the smallest country ever to qualify for the World Cup by wrapping up their campaign claiming top spot in Group I, a group containing two World Cup bronze medalists in Croatia and Turkey.
South American champions Chile, who reached the last-16 of the previous two World Cups, crashed out on a dramatic night that concluded South America’s qualification race, with Uruguay, Argentina and Colombia all securing automatic berths in Russia. Chile lost 3-0 to Brazil, the only team who was assured of a spot in Russia going into the final round of qualification matches.
The North/Central American
Switzerland, Italy, Denmark, Croatia, Sweden, Northern Ireland, Greece and Ireland will next week be drawn into four play-off matches over two legs in November, with the four winners being the last teams from Europe to qualify.
Peru and New Zealand will face off in an inter-continental play-off over two legs in November with the winner advancing to Russia.
Honduras and Australia will also face off in an intercontinental playoff next month with the winners earning a spot at the World Cup.
The last three Africans teams will be decided early next month. and Caribbean qualification was thrown wide open when wooden spoonists Trinidad and Tobago shocked the United States 2-1 in Couva on Tuesday, allowing Panama, No 60 in the world rankings, to qualify for the first time with a dramatic 2-1 win against already-qualified Costa Rica.
It will be the first time since 1986 that the United States will miss out on the showpiece.