Today's episode will see the 16th team qualify for the DWC finals, which would mean half of the places will be booked!
This is how European qualifying has gone so far:
This is how European qualifying has gone so far:
The other winners of the DWC, Germany, are facing the play-offs. Surely the same fate doesn't lie in wait for the reigning champions Spain? This said, Ukraine represent one of the most difficult draws for the 2nd-ranked teams in the group, as a side who made the last 16 in last year's tournament. It feels unlikely that Sweden or Bosnia & Herzegovina will challenge particularly hard, so this may be a two horse race.
I was almost made to immediately regret such a bold prediction as Bosnia & Herzegovina took the lead against Ukraine, but Junior Moraes grabbed a hat-trick to lead Ukraine to a 3-1 victory. Spain hardly broke a sweat as they beat Luxembourg 3-0, whilst Sweden recorded a 2-0 win over San Marino.
I was almost made to immediately regret such a bold prediction as Bosnia & Herzegovina took the lead against Ukraine, but Junior Moraes grabbed a hat-trick to lead Ukraine to a 3-1 victory. Spain hardly broke a sweat as they beat Luxembourg 3-0, whilst Sweden recorded a 2-0 win over San Marino.
As you would expect, Ukraine provided a test for Spain, but the favourites opened the scoring when Luka Modric fired in at the third attempt. Luis Suarez doubled the lead in added time for a 2-0 victory. To my surprise, there was actually a goal in the San Marino vs Luxembourg clash, and it went the way of the hosts. It was a fine goal as well, Matteo Gasperi curling one in from outside the box. There were, however, no goals as Sweden visited Bosnia & Herzegovina.
France had become the first team to qualify with a perfect record this year, and Spain failed to match that, as they laboured to a 0-0 draw away to Sweden. Meanwhile, there were routine 2-0 victories for Ukraine and Bosnia & Herzegovina over Luxembourg and San Marino respectively.
Luxembourg looked on course to get off the mark as Omar Er Rafik ran clear and scored against Sweden. A draw still looked on after Paulinho's equaliser, but Sweden were able to grab victory when a 75th-minute penalty was put away by - who else - Andreas Granqvist. A single penalty was also the saviour for Ukraine, who only beat San Marino 1-0. But a more surprisingly result was brewing at the Nou Camp as poor defending from the hosts allowed Bosnia & Herzegovina to lead 2-0. Spain tried and tried, but couldn't find a way through. In the 87th minute a ball pinged around the box and eventually fell to Lionel Messi, who made no mistake. And four minutes later a low cross from Marcelo found Messi, who ruthlessly put it away to steal a draw for Spain.
It was back to business as usual for Spain, as they easily trounced San Marino 5-0. Once again, Luxembourg were on course for a win, thanks to Mario Pokar's 87th-minute penalty. Once again, they threw it away, as Ognjen Todorovic found space to smash in an equaliser three minutes later. At least a draw earned them their first points of the group. Meanwhile, Ukraine visited Sweden, and it was the hosts who took the lead - Granqvist again from the spot. Ukraine had a poor game and didn't deserve much from it, but did grab a draw thanks to Marlos' volley.
Here is the group halfway in:
It was back to business as usual for Spain, as they easily trounced San Marino 5-0. Once again, Luxembourg were on course for a win, thanks to Mario Pokar's 87th-minute penalty. Once again, they threw it away, as Ognjen Todorovic found space to smash in an equaliser three minutes later. At least a draw earned them their first points of the group. Meanwhile, Ukraine visited Sweden, and it was the hosts who took the lead - Granqvist again from the spot. Ukraine had a poor game and didn't deserve much from it, but did grab a draw thanks to Marlos' volley.
Here is the group halfway in:
It's certainly tighter than I expected.
Spain were unsurprisingly untroubled by Luxembourg, a brace from Messi taking them to a 4-1 victory. Ukraine lead against Bosnia & Herzegovina through Ismaily's free kick, but Ljuban Crepulja fired in a low shot to earn the draw specialists a 1-1 tie. This gave Sweden the opportunity to move into second, and they took it with a slightly unconvincing 1-0 win away to San Marino.
Spain were unsurprisingly untroubled by Luxembourg, a brace from Messi taking them to a 4-1 victory. Ukraine lead against Bosnia & Herzegovina through Ismaily's free kick, but Ljuban Crepulja fired in a low shot to earn the draw specialists a 1-1 tie. This gave Sweden the opportunity to move into second, and they took it with a slightly unconvincing 1-0 win away to San Marino.
The most likely route for Luxembourg to get off the bottom of the table was for them to beat San Marino, and that is what they did - another Pokar penalty earning a 1-0 victory. Spain visited Ukraine with both teams desperate to avoid dropping more points. Marcelo's fiery finish had Spain ahead early on, but Denys Garmash and Taison struck from set pieces to put Ukraine ahead by the 20th minute. Spain once again struggled to break their opponents down, but in the final few moments were awarded a penalty, and Isco - who had recently lost his place in the team - stepped up to wallop it into the top corner and earn a point. That result meant that Sweden could go level with Spain at the top, and they did as Markus Rosenberg's finish proved the winner in a 2-1 victory over Bosnia & Herzegovina.
Things went from bad to worse for Ukraine as Er Rafik fired Luxembourg ahead in their match. Marlos had Ukraine level immediately from the spot, but 1-1 was the final score - Ukraine's fourth draw leaving them in serious trouble. Spain had the chance to set upstarts Sweden in their place, and a brace from Luis Suarez helped them to a 3-0 victory. Meanwhile, San Marino pulled off a shock as a goalkeeping howler from Bojan Pavlovic allowed Gasperi to head in the only goal as they beat Bosnia & Herzegovina 1-0.
Spain moved to the brink of qualification as they cruised past Bosnia & Herzegovina, 4-0. Sweden had to win against Luxembourg to have any hope of catching the DWC champions, and despite another Pokar penalty making it 1-1, David Moberg-Karlsson scored to win it 2-1 for Sweden. Elsewhere... well, it's hard to know what to say about Ukraine. Despite 24 shots to 4, they found themselves eliminated by San Marino as Stefano Pellini's late volley earned the tiny city a 1-0 victory.
Things went from bad to worse for Ukraine as Er Rafik fired Luxembourg ahead in their match. Marlos had Ukraine level immediately from the spot, but 1-1 was the final score - Ukraine's fourth draw leaving them in serious trouble. Spain had the chance to set upstarts Sweden in their place, and a brace from Luis Suarez helped them to a 3-0 victory. Meanwhile, San Marino pulled off a shock as a goalkeeping howler from Bojan Pavlovic allowed Gasperi to head in the only goal as they beat Bosnia & Herzegovina 1-0.
Spain moved to the brink of qualification as they cruised past Bosnia & Herzegovina, 4-0. Sweden had to win against Luxembourg to have any hope of catching the DWC champions, and despite another Pokar penalty making it 1-1, David Moberg-Karlsson scored to win it 2-1 for Sweden. Elsewhere... well, it's hard to know what to say about Ukraine. Despite 24 shots to 4, they found themselves eliminated by San Marino as Stefano Pellini's late volley earned the tiny city a 1-0 victory.
This is the table with one match to play:
There is no chance in hell that that 17 goal difference is being overturned in the final round of games, so Spain are effectively qualified, meaning there's little to play for.
They did indeed confirm their qualification as they beat San Marino 3-0. Typically, Ukraine played excellently the match after their elimination, beating Sweden 3-1. Meanwhile, Bosnia & Herzegovina avoided the embarrassment of finishing below San Marino in the table as they beat Luxembourg by a single goal.
They did indeed confirm their qualification as they beat San Marino 3-0. Typically, Ukraine played excellently the match after their elimination, beating Sweden 3-1. Meanwhile, Bosnia & Herzegovina avoided the embarrassment of finishing below San Marino in the table as they beat Luxembourg by a single goal.
Final table
You have to admire how San Marino scored 3 goals in 10 games, and yet won 3 games. Anyway, the champions eventually clicked into gear, and have to go into the finals next year as favourites. Ukraine just lost it completely, and become yet another high-profile casualty from this brutal European qualifying campaign.
Next time, we see who the final team to qualify from African qualifying will be!
Next time, we see who the final team to qualify from African qualifying will be!