In the last episode North American duo Belize and Guatemala battled through to get through to Stage 4 of the Nations Cup (if this doesn't make any sense, do go back and read the previous episode).
This is how the teams have progressed thus far:
This is how the teams have progressed thus far:
Today we'll cover Stages 4-6, setting us up perfectly for the final stages.
Stage 4
Iraq, Syria, Malta, North Macedonia, Belarus & UAE are the teams from Division D that are entering the tournament at this stage.
Round 1
Gut feeling suggests that the three European teams and UAE are the ones to watch, but there's been plenty of surprises so far. The qualifiers Guatemala and Belize draw Iraq and UAE respectively. Elsewhere, there's an all-Europe affair as North Macedonia and Belarus face off, whilst Syria take on Malta.
Stage 4
Iraq, Syria, Malta, North Macedonia, Belarus & UAE are the teams from Division D that are entering the tournament at this stage.
Round 1
Gut feeling suggests that the three European teams and UAE are the ones to watch, but there's been plenty of surprises so far. The qualifiers Guatemala and Belize draw Iraq and UAE respectively. Elsewhere, there's an all-Europe affair as North Macedonia and Belarus face off, whilst Syria take on Malta.
Álvaro Negredo scored early on for UAE to remind Belize what they were up against. However, Belize held firm and in the 85th minute Dalton Eiley got on the end of a free kick to take us to extra time. Unfortunately, Belize's run was finally ended as Ernest Asante scored the winner for UAE. Fellow Stage 3 qualifiers Guatemala also went to extra time after being tied 1-1 with Iraq, and this time the underdog came through, as Alexander Larín scored 3 minutes before the end!
North Macedonia ran up a 2-0 lead over Belarus, but were pegged back to 2-2, once again taking us to extra time. Again, this was settled by a single goal in the extra 30 minutes. Cruelly for Belarus, it was a total fluke as a badly mishit shot from Darko Micevski hit Tigran Barseghan and flew in. In the remaining game Syria also went 2-0 up. And again, Malta fired back to halve the deficit. But just as it looked like the comeback was on, Borhan Sahiouni curled an outragious shot from 30 yards over Andrew Hogg and into the top corner, sealing a 3-1 win!
North Macedonia ran up a 2-0 lead over Belarus, but were pegged back to 2-2, once again taking us to extra time. Again, this was settled by a single goal in the extra 30 minutes. Cruelly for Belarus, it was a total fluke as a badly mishit shot from Darko Micevski hit Tigran Barseghan and flew in. In the remaining game Syria also went 2-0 up. And again, Malta fired back to halve the deficit. But just as it looked like the comeback was on, Borhan Sahiouni curled an outragious shot from 30 yards over Andrew Hogg and into the top corner, sealing a 3-1 win!
Round 2
So to the second and final round of the stage. The winners will join the champions from Division C, which includes teams that were part of the DWC finals. The draw pits UAE against North Macedonia, which means that one of Syria or Guatemala will make up a fairly unlikely entrant into the next stage.
So to the second and final round of the stage. The winners will join the champions from Division C, which includes teams that were part of the DWC finals. The draw pits UAE against North Macedonia, which means that one of Syria or Guatemala will make up a fairly unlikely entrant into the next stage.
Any idea that nerves would get to Guatemala were soon put to rest as they stormed into a 3-0 lead within 16 minutes. Another couple were added just after the break for a comprehensive 5-0 victory. The other game was far cagier, looking like it was going to extra time without a goal. However, in the third minute of added time North Macedonia were given a penalty, and Ljubomir Stevanovic put it away to secure qualification for the next stage!
Stage 5
Guatemala copy Belize's fantastic achievement by battling through two stages (although Belize won 5 games to Guatemala's 4 in the process). They and North Macedonia join Japan, Kazakhstan, Ecuador, Tunisia, Senegal and New Zealand in the next round. Kazakhstan went to the most recent DWC, whilst Tunisia were in last year's event and Japan could barely have been any closer to qualifying this year. So suddenly, it feels like the quality has gone up a notch.
Round 1
North Macedonia appear to have drawn the short straw as they will take on Japan. Guatemala, meanwhile, will be relatively happy to face Senegal. Elsewhere Ecuador take on Kazakhstan and Tunisia face New Zealand.
Guatemala copy Belize's fantastic achievement by battling through two stages (although Belize won 5 games to Guatemala's 4 in the process). They and North Macedonia join Japan, Kazakhstan, Ecuador, Tunisia, Senegal and New Zealand in the next round. Kazakhstan went to the most recent DWC, whilst Tunisia were in last year's event and Japan could barely have been any closer to qualifying this year. So suddenly, it feels like the quality has gone up a notch.
Round 1
North Macedonia appear to have drawn the short straw as they will take on Japan. Guatemala, meanwhile, will be relatively happy to face Senegal. Elsewhere Ecuador take on Kazakhstan and Tunisia face New Zealand.
Senegal's defensive 5-3-2 formation meant that their game with Guatemala was low on chances. The Division E side had the better of the game, and so it was thoroughly deserved when William Velásquez rocketed in a late winner to earn his side a fifth win!
Amazingly, this was the only goal in normal time in this round, as the other three games were goalless after 90 minutes. This included North Macedonia holding Japan, and threatening at the other end. Yu Kobayashi eventually broke the deadlock for Japan, but goalkeeper Masaaki Higashiguchi allowed Samir Fazli to equalise and send the game to penalties. Kobayashi missed his penalty, but that was Japan's only missed kick, and two missed North Macedonian efforts meant that Japan scraped through in an ungainly fashion.
There were 39 shots in total in the clash between Ecuador and Kazakhstan, but no goals in 120 minutes and so this also went to a shootout. In sudden death Marin Anicic's miss proved decisive, as Ecuador claimed the win. And finally, Tunisia vs New Zealand was entertaining for the wrong reasons - 11 yellows and 2 reds, but no goals. So again, penalties. New Zealand's former Millwall winger Paul Ifill missed his kick, and when teammate Fabrizio Tavano missed it confirmed Tunisia's progression!
There were 39 shots in total in the clash between Ecuador and Kazakhstan, but no goals in 120 minutes and so this also went to a shootout. In sudden death Marin Anicic's miss proved decisive, as Ecuador claimed the win. And finally, Tunisia vs New Zealand was entertaining for the wrong reasons - 11 yellows and 2 reds, but no goals. So again, penalties. New Zealand's former Millwall winger Paul Ifill missed his kick, and when teammate Fabrizio Tavano missed it confirmed Tunisia's progression!
Round 2
Japan again draw one of the qualifiers, as they will seek to end Guatemala's brilliant run. Meanwhile, Ecuador and Tunisia will meet, hoping that one of them can actually score a goal.
Japan again draw one of the qualifiers, as they will seek to end Guatemala's brilliant run. Meanwhile, Ecuador and Tunisia will meet, hoping that one of them can actually score a goal.
Oussama Darragi's excellent free kick gave Tunisia the lead in their game, and the match looked safe when Amine Chermiti headed in a second with 10 minutes to go. However, Cristian Marínez Borja rifled in a stupendous volley to give Ecuador some hope. However, they couldn't muster another, and Tunisia progressed.
Guatemala had no reason to fear Japan, and took the lead when another mistake from Higashiguchi allowed William Zapata to nod into an empty net. But Japan soon levelled when Kobayashi squared to Fernando Torres for a tap-in. The remaining 80 minutes of the game saw no further goals... so it was penalties once again! After Guatemala's Carlos Gallardo missed in sudden death, it was a chance for Kobayashi to make up for his last shootout miss and win it, which he successfully did!
Stage 6
So to the penultimate stage. Japan and Tunisia join an all-European club of Norway, Wales, Belgium, Russia, Denmark and Slovenia. With the exception of DWC quarter-finalists Wales, these are seven teams that missed out on qualification this year, and would like to take this opportunity to shine in a cup. Only two sides can get through to join the big boys from Division A, who will it be?
Round 1
Tunisia are drawn against Belgium, whilst Japan gain their comeuppance after two 'easier' draws as they will take on Russia. Wales overcame Scandinavian opposition to qualify for the DWC finals when they beat Sweden, now they will have to face Denmark. Meanwhile, Norway and Slovenia will face off.
So to the penultimate stage. Japan and Tunisia join an all-European club of Norway, Wales, Belgium, Russia, Denmark and Slovenia. With the exception of DWC quarter-finalists Wales, these are seven teams that missed out on qualification this year, and would like to take this opportunity to shine in a cup. Only two sides can get through to join the big boys from Division A, who will it be?
Round 1
Tunisia are drawn against Belgium, whilst Japan gain their comeuppance after two 'easier' draws as they will take on Russia. Wales overcame Scandinavian opposition to qualify for the DWC finals when they beat Sweden, now they will have to face Denmark. Meanwhile, Norway and Slovenia will face off.
Wales got off to a great start against Denmark when Kenneth Zohore prodded in following a badly-cleared corner. And it ultimately proved to be the only goal of the game.
Norway also took a lead from a corner, after Slovenia had already gone down to 10 men, and this also looked to be decisive. However, in the final moments of their match Slovenia were awarded a penalty. Mitja Viler was the brave player to step up... and he just forced it home to take the game to extra time. It looked like Slovenia would hold out for penalties until the 116th minute when Pal André Helland headed Norway ahead, and a powerful Mike Jensen shot sealed a 3-1 win.
Japan also required an injury time equaliser to get to extra time, as veteran Yasuhito Endo's brilliant free kick wrong-footed Igor Akinfeev to cancel out Fedor Smolov's opener. However, Eren Albayrak picked up a second yellow in extra time and two minutes later Smolov added a second to earn Russia a scrappy 2-1 victory.
Norway also took a lead from a corner, after Slovenia had already gone down to 10 men, and this also looked to be decisive. However, in the final moments of their match Slovenia were awarded a penalty. Mitja Viler was the brave player to step up... and he just forced it home to take the game to extra time. It looked like Slovenia would hold out for penalties until the 116th minute when Pal André Helland headed Norway ahead, and a powerful Mike Jensen shot sealed a 3-1 win.
Japan also required an injury time equaliser to get to extra time, as veteran Yasuhito Endo's brilliant free kick wrong-footed Igor Akinfeev to cancel out Fedor Smolov's opener. However, Eren Albayrak picked up a second yellow in extra time and two minutes later Smolov added a second to earn Russia a scrappy 2-1 victory.
The game between Tunisia and Belgium only saw its first goal in the 73rd minute, as Alejandro Pozuelo put Belgium ahead. Again, this looked to be enough right until added time. Again, there was an equaliser, and again it was from a dead ball - this time a penalty. Tunisia were giving it their all, and took the lead through Taha Yassine Khenissa's header. But Belgium came back and levelled through a goalmouth scramble, the goal being given as a Radhouane Felhi own goal. There was still time for a red card for Belgium's Stefano Denswil, but with no more goals we went to a shootout. Belgium's takers all put their's away, and a couple of Tunisian misses meant the tournament's last African side were eliminated.
Round 2
This is today's last round, as the four winners from Round 1 do battle to see who makes the final stage of the tournament. Here's the draw:
This is today's last round, as the four winners from Round 1 do battle to see who makes the final stage of the tournament. Here's the draw:
For the second game in a row Wales struck early through Zohore and held on for a 1-0 victory. The real drama was in the other game. Russia notched first as Italian star Claudio Marchisio hit a brilliant reflex volley home. Belgium levelled when Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe's long shot hit the bar and bounced back to Wesley to score. The young Brazilian scored his second from the spot, but Russia brought us back level when Christian Cueva fired in at the near post. So we went into extra time, and within 45 seconds Belgium re-took the lead through Ruud Vormer's low shot. Surprisingly, there were no more goals in the remaining 29 minutes of extra time, meaning Belgium earned their qualification!
Wales and Belgium complete the line-up for the final stage of the Nations Cup. They will be joined by China, Argentina, Colombia, Netherlands, England and Turkey. We've seen some great matches and some weird results, so who knows how it will all pan out? Our next update will cover the rest of the tournament.