5 big teams in danger of missing out on the 2018 FIFA World Cup
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 |