European qualifiers for World Cup 2022 in Qatar’s winter are underway and we are being treated to coaching experiments, unexpected great play by decent sides, controversial calls, and giants beating up on minnows for that valued goal-differential.
In Group F—Denmark, Austria, Scotland, Faroe Islands, Israel, and Moldova—it is the Danes and Austrians who are favored while Scotland will try to nab a playoff spot. The Danes are top of the group with two wins—over 2-0 away to Israel and 8-0 at home against minnows Moldova.
In Group G—Turkey, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Latvia, and Gibraltar—we have one of the most unexpectedly entertaining and competitive groups in all of the European qualifiers. The Turks, atop the group on goal differential over Montenegro (yes Montenegro), are playing the best soccer in the qualifiers.
Turkey defeated the Dutch 4-2 at Ataturk Stadium in Istanbul then went to La Rosaleda in Malaga, Spain for a Norwegian Covid-19 home game and defeated them 3-0. Meanwhile, the Dutch followed their loss with a pedestrian 2-0 home win over Latvia. Norway are suffering from not having had the time to put together either a well-drilled team or a decent game strategy against the Turks but at least with minnows to feed on they were able to pull a 3-0 away win over Gibraltar.
Erling Haaland has yet to get on track in these qualifiers and the March 20 away game to Montenegro would be just the right time to pull something off.
In Group H—Russia, Slovenia, Croatia, Slovakia, Cyprus, and Malta—it is the Croats and Russians who should be vying for top honors. The Russians were quick to take advantage of their two opening matches defeating Malta 3-1 away and Slovenia 2-1 at home. But the Croats started with an away 1-0 loss to Slovenia before squeaking by Cyprus in a 1-0 home win.
In Group I—England, Poland, Hungary, Albania, Andorra, and San Marino—the Three Lions and the Poles were supposed to be the going-away-favorites. So far, England has taken advantage of their homestand against minnows San Marino, notching a 5-0 win and then traveling to Albania for a 2-0 away victory. Poland were held to a 3-3 away draw to Hungary while Poland’s Robert Lewandowski kept scoring, albeit against minnows Andorra in the Poles 3-0 win.
March 31 sees England hosting Poland for one of the two important group games.
In Group J—the group of mirth, Germany, Armenia, North Macedonia, Romania, Iceland, and Liechtenstein attempt to pretend anyone but Germany will qualify directly. Armenia and Romania seem the better positioned to challenge for the second spot. No other group has a majority of minnows among their teams.
Of note was the fact that Germany needed more than regulation time to defeat Romania 1-0 away and slumped to substituting at the 93+ minute to waste time when Romania was controlling the match and threatening a draw. Interestingly, after qualification, Joachim Low will step down as Germany’s coach upon the conclusion of Euro 2020 (2021) allowing another coach time to put his imprint on the national team for the 2022 World Cup.
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