The big teams who might miss out on the World Cup in Qatar  

It starts with 210 teams but only three sides have so far sealed their spot at next year’s World Cup in Qatar. The hosts are already in the mix along with big performers Germany and Denmark who qualified from perfect records last month. 

 

With yet another international break bemoaned by many fans of club football for the third time this season already, it gives us a chance to take a look at the big names who are currently faltering in their efforts to book a place at international football’s biggest stage. 

 

It’s all looking set in stone for the majority of Europe’s big teams with little looking shaken up in the group standings. Although a number of the traditional big performers still have to win their closing matches to avoid an upset. Second place finishers this time round will go into knockout based playoffs. 

 

European champions Italy are currently locked on equal points with last summer’s giant killers Switzerland. Both sides are undefeated and will meet each other head on at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome in what should be their toughest test since the Euros. 

 

Their last match ended in a stalemate but victory for either side would see some important space created  going ahead into the New Year. The likes of Portugal, Spain, England, and the Netherlands have to put on strong performances after dropping points with recent draws.

 

Spain are perhaps the ones with the surprise question marks surrounding their side. Former Barcelona boss Luis Enrique has not shied away from making big calls to leave out bigger names. 

 

Losing out to eventual champions Italy in the semis of the Euros, and conceding a late goal to Brazil at the Olympics, have seen a Spain side injected with youth falter at key moments. Matched up against a strong and resolute Sweden side could see them fail to top Group E with if they don’t secure their remaining points. They face Sweden in their final match.

 

England, who made their first major final at Euro 2020 since their World Cup win in 1966 ultimately disappointed, and it’s no surprise that a number of home grown betting sites in the UK are currently backing the Three Lions to go on all the way in Qatar. 

 

Should England make it, they will have to navigate a strong set of European sides and South American heavyweights alike. Brazil and Argentina both look nailed on to qualify for the World Cup. 

 

Brazil have had a resurgence of confidence under coach Tite and are currently undefeated in qualifying. The Seleção have only dropped two points in a goalless draw away to Colombia last month. The biggest news coming out of this term’s qualifying campaign though was their suspended match at home to Argentina, which will need to be rescheduled due to complications with covid-19 restrictions. 

 

Australia are currently on a collision course with Saudi Arabia in AFC qualification which is looking like the stand out battle in Asia’s road to the World Cup. The Socceroos are chasing The Green Falcons in their group by three points, and have the chance to chip away at the Saudi’s three point lead. A solitary goal will see the Aussies usurp top spot as both are equal on goal difference. 

 

Despite the odds being stacked against them the Aussies have been fairly common fixtures at recent World Cups. The same can’t be said of Africa’s national teams, where it feels there is always at least one big absence every four years. 

 

Only Senegal and Morocco are currently blazing forth in their groups. Both countries have secured their spots in the final head to head round of qualification. This will ultimately decide the five teams chosen from Africa who will be on the plane to Qatar. 

 

For the likes of Egypt, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Ghana and Cameroon who have all lit up the World Cup in recent memory, as well as African Champions Algeria, there is still much to be done if they hope to make it to the knockout stage of qualifying. 

 

It’s no secret that covid-19 has shaken up African qualifying more than any other, with the Africa Cup of Nations delayed significantly also. Hopefuls challenging for a spot against the more established sides have meant that African qualifying has taken on a new and more exciting dimension in the lead up to the next World Cup. 

 

Ultimately we will know more after the next round of fixtures with many sides across Europe and further afield playing at least one qualifying fixture. Whether the big names will make it remains to be seen.