I like all the matches between obscure teams that this marathon qualifying campaign is bringing us – for example, last episode’s crucial match was between Vanuatu and Solomon Islands. However, there’s nothing like the thrill of the big-name European sides clashing into each other. European groups also have the added glamour of a place in the Draft World Cup finals being on offer. This is how European qualifying has gone so far:
Group B saw the teams finish in the exact order they were seeded. Italy will be hoping that the same happens here today. They have pedigree in the DWC, as they were semi-finalists in last year’s inaugural event, and with no squad value limit this year they have a hugely strengthened side. Turkey have also benefitted from this rule change, and will look to qualify for the finals as they did last year (we’ll not dwell on what happened once they got there).
Of the other sides last year, Slovenia had a tough group, but still performed relatively poorly. Albania were part of the Mediterranean side that made the finals, albeit incredibly unconvincingly. Wales, meanwhile, slumped to bottom of their group (which happened to contain Turkey), taking two points along the way. The final side in this group is politically sensitive, it’s Crimea! Crimea has no claims to being an independent football nation, but they are separate in FM18, and there are enough players based there to make up a team, so in they go. A side-effect of this is that Kazakhstan have had to be shunted to Asian qualifying, which is where the country is anyway.
It’s not a great start in the world of international football for Crimea, who lost their opening match 5-0 to Turkey after former Man City bruiser Fernando opened the scoring with a rocket. Italy fell behind to Slovenia, but recovered to lead 3-1 before losing Juan Cuadrado to a second yellow card. However, Slovenia couldn’t capitalise and there we no more goals. A side note from this game is that Slovenian goalkeeper Jasmin Handanovic’s cousin Samir was on the Italian bench. Meanwhile, Albania struggled slightly against Wales, but came away 1-0 winners, helped by Wales going down to 10 men for the final half-hour.
Of the other sides last year, Slovenia had a tough group, but still performed relatively poorly. Albania were part of the Mediterranean side that made the finals, albeit incredibly unconvincingly. Wales, meanwhile, slumped to bottom of their group (which happened to contain Turkey), taking two points along the way. The final side in this group is politically sensitive, it’s Crimea! Crimea has no claims to being an independent football nation, but they are separate in FM18, and there are enough players based there to make up a team, so in they go. A side-effect of this is that Kazakhstan have had to be shunted to Asian qualifying, which is where the country is anyway.
It’s not a great start in the world of international football for Crimea, who lost their opening match 5-0 to Turkey after former Man City bruiser Fernando opened the scoring with a rocket. Italy fell behind to Slovenia, but recovered to lead 3-1 before losing Juan Cuadrado to a second yellow card. However, Slovenia couldn’t capitalise and there we no more goals. A side note from this game is that Slovenian goalkeeper Jasmin Handanovic’s cousin Samir was on the Italian bench. Meanwhile, Albania struggled slightly against Wales, but came away 1-0 winners, helped by Wales going down to 10 men for the final half-hour.
Ivan Perisic was the star of the show for Italy next, as he grabbed both goals in a 2-0 win over Wales. In fact, he was the only goalscorer of the round as Crimea and Slovenia both did well to hold onto 0-0 home draws against Albania and Turkey respectively.
Albania took a second successive draw, but this was much more impressive as a late penalty allowed them to draw with Italy 1-1 away from home. Slovenia came from a goal down to get their first win by overcoming Crimea 4-2, whilst Turkey got back to winning ways with an impressive 3-0 victory over Wales.
Wales already look like contenders for a pointless campaign, and a 4-1 home reversal against Slovenia didn’t improve that impression. Much more surprising was Crimea’s performance against Italy. They took a 4th-minute lead through Olexandr Zhabokrytskyi’s deflected effort, and although Gonzalo Higuain equalised for the Azzurri, they couldn’t find another as they were held to a draw. This meant Turkey went top of the table with a 2-0 win over Albania, the opening goal coming from Gary Medel, who was once the most expensive player in Italy’s 2017 DWC side.
Wales’ best chance of points was against Crimea, and after 10 minutes the group’s bottom side were 2-0 up. However, Crimea fought back and eventually got level on the hour mark. As we headed into added time a draw appeared certain, but in the 95th minute Ivan Voytenko lashed a shot into the roof of the net to cause heartbreak in the valleys. Albania travelled away to Slovenia and were able to win 2-1. Unfortunately, this was only in red cards, as an ugly game finished 3-1 to Slovenia in goals. The big match was at the Ataturk, where Turkey could get to the halfway point top of the table with a point. But they couldn’t cope with Italy, specifically Paulo Dybala, who ran in all four Italian goals in a dashing 4-1 win.
Albania took a second successive draw, but this was much more impressive as a late penalty allowed them to draw with Italy 1-1 away from home. Slovenia came from a goal down to get their first win by overcoming Crimea 4-2, whilst Turkey got back to winning ways with an impressive 3-0 victory over Wales.
Wales already look like contenders for a pointless campaign, and a 4-1 home reversal against Slovenia didn’t improve that impression. Much more surprising was Crimea’s performance against Italy. They took a 4th-minute lead through Olexandr Zhabokrytskyi’s deflected effort, and although Gonzalo Higuain equalised for the Azzurri, they couldn’t find another as they were held to a draw. This meant Turkey went top of the table with a 2-0 win over Albania, the opening goal coming from Gary Medel, who was once the most expensive player in Italy’s 2017 DWC side.
Wales’ best chance of points was against Crimea, and after 10 minutes the group’s bottom side were 2-0 up. However, Crimea fought back and eventually got level on the hour mark. As we headed into added time a draw appeared certain, but in the 95th minute Ivan Voytenko lashed a shot into the roof of the net to cause heartbreak in the valleys. Albania travelled away to Slovenia and were able to win 2-1. Unfortunately, this was only in red cards, as an ugly game finished 3-1 to Slovenia in goals. The big match was at the Ataturk, where Turkey could get to the halfway point top of the table with a point. But they couldn’t cope with Italy, specifically Paulo Dybala, who ran in all four Italian goals in a dashing 4-1 win.
It meant that at the halfway stage, we have the following table:
So the big story from the first half of the season is Slovenia quietly challenging Italy and Turkey. Can that continue? Well, not really, as they are thoroughly outclassed at home by Italy, who win 3-1. It’s a good result for Italy, who had lost Alex Sandro to injury, and had therefore decided to change to a 3-5-1-1 formation. Turkey won 2-0 in Crimea to also pull away from Slovenia, whilst Albania cantered to a 4-1 win in Cardiff.
For all their poor results, Wales had yet to be handed a real thumping, but that shred of dignity was ripped away from them by the ruthless Italians. Dybala once again bagged four goals as the Azzurri triumphed 6-0. Meanwhile, Turkey faced a crunch match away to Slovenia. Cenk Tosun gave Turkey the lead, but it was soon cancelled out by Rok Kronaveter’s penalty. Cenk was replaced by Alvaro Negredo, and it an inspired substitution as Negredo ran clear to put Turkey in the lead, and it proved to be the winning goal. More bad news for Slovenia as Albania beat Crimea 3-0 to overtake Slovenia in third position.
For all their poor results, Wales had yet to be handed a real thumping, but that shred of dignity was ripped away from them by the ruthless Italians. Dybala once again bagged four goals as the Azzurri triumphed 6-0. Meanwhile, Turkey faced a crunch match away to Slovenia. Cenk Tosun gave Turkey the lead, but it was soon cancelled out by Rok Kronaveter’s penalty. Cenk was replaced by Alvaro Negredo, and it an inspired substitution as Negredo ran clear to put Turkey in the lead, and it proved to be the winning goal. More bad news for Slovenia as Albania beat Crimea 3-0 to overtake Slovenia in third position.
Slovenia dug deep to get back to winning ways, beating Crimea 2-1 despite losing two men to red cards. This moved them back up a place as Albania lost to Italy by the same scoreline courtesy of Higuain’s late strike. Meanwhile, Turkey sustained Welsh misery with a 5-0 away win.
Slovenia yet again won in the face of their own indiscipline, as they went down to 10 men but still easily beat Wales 3-0. However, Slovenia still needed Turkey to lose to avoid elimination, and such generosity wasn’t forthcoming as Turkey scraped past Albania 2-1, also whilst down to 10 men (Pepe the culprit, unsurprisingly). This meant Italy had to beat Crimea to stay top of the table, and Higuain’s hat-trick ensured they did with a 4-0 victory.
Slovenia yet again won in the face of their own indiscipline, as they went down to 10 men but still easily beat Wales 3-0. However, Slovenia still needed Turkey to lose to avoid elimination, and such generosity wasn’t forthcoming as Turkey scraped past Albania 2-1, also whilst down to 10 men (Pepe the culprit, unsurprisingly). This meant Italy had to beat Crimea to stay top of the table, and Higuain’s hat-trick ensured they did with a 4-0 victory.
So, with one game to go, this is how the table looks:
It all comes down the clash in Milan, as visitors Turkey need to win to steal top spot and an automatic qualification place to the DWC. We’ll start, first, with the two dead rubbers.
Albania vs. Slovenia
These two sides are confirmed in 4th and 3rd respectively, but they still served up an entertaining game. Luka Zahovic’s low shot gave Slovenia the lead, but Albania came back to lead 2-1 through Gregoric’s own goal and Emiljano Vila’s snapshot. However, Slovenia weren’t finished and Zahovic’s second of the game secured a 2-2 draw.
Albania vs. Slovenia
These two sides are confirmed in 4th and 3rd respectively, but they still served up an entertaining game. Luka Zahovic’s low shot gave Slovenia the lead, but Albania came back to lead 2-1 through Gregoric’s own goal and Emiljano Vila’s snapshot. However, Slovenia weren’t finished and Zahovic’s second of the game secured a 2-2 draw.
Wales vs. Crimea
Final chance for some Welsh points, and again they lead Crimea early through Wes Fletcher’s volley. Zhabokrytskyi’s instinctive shot levelled matters, but the match remained even. However, Crimea were still able to go ahead via Maxym Prykhodnoy’s placed finish, and Igor Zubko wrapped up the points in added time.
Final chance for some Welsh points, and again they lead Crimea early through Wes Fletcher’s volley. Zhabokrytskyi’s instinctive shot levelled matters, but the match remained even. However, Crimea were still able to go ahead via Maxym Prykhodnoy’s placed finish, and Igor Zubko wrapped up the points in added time.
Italy vs. Turkey
Perisic is injured for this clash, and with Sandro back earlier than expected Italy now change to a 5-3-1-1 formation. Meanwhile, Turkey are missing Pepe through suspension, and so Maicon comes into the back line.
Perisic is injured for this clash, and with Sandro back earlier than expected Italy now change to a 5-3-1-1 formation. Meanwhile, Turkey are missing Pepe through suspension, and so Maicon comes into the back line.
Italy start the game well, dominating possession thanks to their numbers in midfield. But Turkey eventually gain their composure and match their opponents well by the end of the half. However, there’s been no chances of note whatsoever, and the match remains scoreless.
At the start of the second half Cuadrado is forced off injured, with Florenzi coming on, whilst Turkey have to replace Fernando with Hutchinson. However, these and other changes can’t alter the flow of the match and we reach the final few minutes with both teams appearing to be bags of nerves. In the 88th minute a clever pass from Feghouli gives sub Negredo a sight of goal, but his shot is too close to Buffon who pushes it behind. As we enter a whopping six minutes of added time, a long ball from Skrtel catches Bonucci out and Cenk is able to control it and fire beyond Buffon to give Turkey the lead! Despite the extended added time, Italy can’t respond and it’s a sensation Turkish victory!
At the start of the second half Cuadrado is forced off injured, with Florenzi coming on, whilst Turkey have to replace Fernando with Hutchinson. However, these and other changes can’t alter the flow of the match and we reach the final few minutes with both teams appearing to be bags of nerves. In the 88th minute a clever pass from Feghouli gives sub Negredo a sight of goal, but his shot is too close to Buffon who pushes it behind. As we enter a whopping six minutes of added time, a long ball from Skrtel catches Bonucci out and Cenk is able to control it and fire beyond Buffon to give Turkey the lead! Despite the extended added time, Italy can’t respond and it’s a sensation Turkish victory!
Final standing
Top scorers: Cenk Tosun (TUR), Paulo Dybala (ITA) 10 goals; Zahovic (SVN) 8 goals
Highest average rating: Sofiane Feghouli (TUR) 7.82; Valbuena (TUR) 7.77; Dybala (ITA) 7.72
Next time
So after that dramatic finale, Italy join France in the play-offs, and in real danger of not making the DWC finals. How costly that draw with Crimea was. Turkey become the third side to qualify for the finals, joining Poland and Spain. Next time we go back to Africa, where another ten teams will be battling hard to make the final stages of qualifying there.
Highest average rating: Sofiane Feghouli (TUR) 7.82; Valbuena (TUR) 7.77; Dybala (ITA) 7.72
Next time
So after that dramatic finale, Italy join France in the play-offs, and in real danger of not making the DWC finals. How costly that draw with Crimea was. Turkey become the third side to qualify for the finals, joining Poland and Spain. Next time we go back to Africa, where another ten teams will be battling hard to make the final stages of qualifying there.