After three episodes of intensive two-legged knockout action, we are now onto the league stages of qualifying. And we're starting with a bang, as the first European group is in action today, with the winner becoming the first side to qualify for the Draft World Cup finals!
The 54 European teams are drawn into 9 groups of 6, where the winner qualifies for the finals, and the side in 2nd will go into the play-offs. This is how the draw panned out:
The 54 European teams are drawn into 9 groups of 6, where the winner qualifies for the finals, and the side in 2nd will go into the play-offs. This is how the draw panned out:
So we will go through Group A today. Turkey are top seeds, ever-presents at the DWC finals. Bulgaria and Poland will present some challenge, whilst North Macedonia are handy. Meanwhile, Luxembourg and San Marino appear set for a battle for 5th spot...
Matchday 1
Luxembourg had all eight shots as they visited San Marino, but none went in and the match finished goalless. The points were also shared in Poland, as Jakub Blaszczykowski's header cancelled out Besart Ibraimi's penalty rebound. This meant the top two seeds met in their opener. Bulgaria looked on course for a point until the 82nd minute, when Sofiane Feghouli grabbed the winning goal.
Matchday 2
Turkey repeated the trick next match, as Feghouli scored the only goal against Poland with a low drive. Luxembourg started disastrously against Bulgaria, as Tripy Makonda inexplicably miscontrolled a cross into his own goal. Bulgaria went on to win 2-0, and North Macedonia also picked up a 2-goal win as they beat San Marino 3-1.
Matchday 1
Luxembourg had all eight shots as they visited San Marino, but none went in and the match finished goalless. The points were also shared in Poland, as Jakub Blaszczykowski's header cancelled out Besart Ibraimi's penalty rebound. This meant the top two seeds met in their opener. Bulgaria looked on course for a point until the 82nd minute, when Sofiane Feghouli grabbed the winning goal.
Matchday 2
Turkey repeated the trick next match, as Feghouli scored the only goal against Poland with a low drive. Luxembourg started disastrously against Bulgaria, as Tripy Makonda inexplicably miscontrolled a cross into his own goal. Bulgaria went on to win 2-0, and North Macedonia also picked up a 2-goal win as they beat San Marino 3-1.
Matchday 3
Feghouli once again opened the scoring for Turkey, San Marino, but this time they added some more, as Steven Nzonzi and Radamel Falcao added two more. Poland hosted Bulgaria in a crucial match in the battle for second. Poland raced into a 2-0 lead, and held out for a 2-1 win. Finally, there was a curious game between Luxembourg and North Macedonia, as there was over 90 minutes with no goals. However, there was a 1st minute effort from Luxemborug and a 93rd equaliser from North Macedonia either side.
Matchday 4
Filip Mladenovic starred for Poland with two outstanding goals against Luxembourg, one a free kick one a beautiful volley, to earn a 2-0 win for his side. It was also 2-0 for Bulgaria against San Marino, despite Khaly Thiam's red card. And once again, Feghouli opened the scoring for Turkey, before Falcao (2) and Luiz Gustavo completed a 4-0 victory over North Macedonia.
Feghouli once again opened the scoring for Turkey, San Marino, but this time they added some more, as Steven Nzonzi and Radamel Falcao added two more. Poland hosted Bulgaria in a crucial match in the battle for second. Poland raced into a 2-0 lead, and held out for a 2-1 win. Finally, there was a curious game between Luxembourg and North Macedonia, as there was over 90 minutes with no goals. However, there was a 1st minute effort from Luxemborug and a 93rd equaliser from North Macedonia either side.
Matchday 4
Filip Mladenovic starred for Poland with two outstanding goals against Luxembourg, one a free kick one a beautiful volley, to earn a 2-0 win for his side. It was also 2-0 for Bulgaria against San Marino, despite Khaly Thiam's red card. And once again, Feghouli opened the scoring for Turkey, before Falcao (2) and Luiz Gustavo completed a 4-0 victory over North Macedonia.
Matchday 5
Poland set pieced their way to a 2-0 win over San Marino. This was also the score as Turkey beat Luxembourg, with the most notable fact being that Feghouli didn't score. Meanwhile, Bulgaria lost another crucial 6-pointer with a rival for 2nd, as North Macedonia scored late on to win 1-0.
Here is the halfway table:
Poland set pieced their way to a 2-0 win over San Marino. This was also the score as Turkey beat Luxembourg, with the most notable fact being that Feghouli didn't score. Meanwhile, Bulgaria lost another crucial 6-pointer with a rival for 2nd, as North Macedonia scored late on to win 1-0.
Here is the halfway table:
So Turkey look very good for qualification, whilst Poland have edged ahead in the race for 2nd.
Matchday 6
San Marino visited Luxemborug with both knowing this was their best chance of a win in this group. It was the hosts who got the lead through a freak goal as Momar N'Diaye's cross drifted into the bottom corner, and they went on to win 2-0. Turkey once again ground out a win, beating Bulgaria 2-0 with goals from Fegouli (of course) and Nzonzi. This gave Poland the chance to create a 5-point gap in 2nd, and they did so as Arvydas Novikovas' powerful shot was enough to beat North Macedonia 1-0.
Matchday 6
San Marino visited Luxemborug with both knowing this was their best chance of a win in this group. It was the hosts who got the lead through a freak goal as Momar N'Diaye's cross drifted into the bottom corner, and they went on to win 2-0. Turkey once again ground out a win, beating Bulgaria 2-0 with goals from Fegouli (of course) and Nzonzi. This gave Poland the chance to create a 5-point gap in 2nd, and they did so as Arvydas Novikovas' powerful shot was enough to beat North Macedonia 1-0.
Matchday 7
This meant Poland were as close to 1st as they were to 3rd, and they hosted Turkey next with a chance to cut that gap. In the second half they were gifted the chance, as Gael Clichy's bad backpass allowed Christian Gytkjaer in to poke home. However, Younes Belhanda equalised with a stunning long drive, and in the 82nd minute Edin Visca put away a volley to secure a scrappy Turkish win. This gave North Macedonia and Bulgaria a much-needed chance to close the gap to Poland, and they did so as North Macedonia beat San Marino 3-0 and Bulgaria overcame Luxembourg 1-0.
This meant Poland were as close to 1st as they were to 3rd, and they hosted Turkey next with a chance to cut that gap. In the second half they were gifted the chance, as Gael Clichy's bad backpass allowed Christian Gytkjaer in to poke home. However, Younes Belhanda equalised with a stunning long drive, and in the 82nd minute Edin Visca put away a volley to secure a scrappy Turkish win. This gave North Macedonia and Bulgaria a much-needed chance to close the gap to Poland, and they did so as North Macedonia beat San Marino 3-0 and Bulgaria overcame Luxembourg 1-0.
Matchday 8
This put Turkey a win away from qualification, and they did so with a 4-0 defeat of San Marino, Falcao notching a hat trick. Bulgaria hosted Poland in a must-win game, but the decisive goal went to the visitors 4 minutes from time, as Cafú headed home a free kick. And it got even better for Poland as North Macedonia laboured to a goalless draw with Luxembourg.
This put Turkey a win away from qualification, and they did so with a 4-0 defeat of San Marino, Falcao notching a hat trick. Bulgaria hosted Poland in a must-win game, but the decisive goal went to the visitors 4 minutes from time, as Cafú headed home a free kick. And it got even better for Poland as North Macedonia laboured to a goalless draw with Luxembourg.
Matchday 9
This meant Poland were 4 points clear in 2nd, needing just a win to ensure they make the play-offs. They achieved this with a 3-0 win over Luxembourg. Elsewhere, Bulgaria finally had a good game as they beat San Marino 4-0, whilst Turkey claimed another narrow win as they beat North Macedonia 1-0.
This meant that with one game to go, this is the table:
This meant Poland were 4 points clear in 2nd, needing just a win to ensure they make the play-offs. They achieved this with a 3-0 win over Luxembourg. Elsewhere, Bulgaria finally had a good game as they beat San Marino 4-0, whilst Turkey claimed another narrow win as they beat North Macedonia 1-0.
This meant that with one game to go, this is the table:
Boringly, everything is tied up except for 3rd/4th place. At least Bulgaria and North Macedonia will play each other in the final game to decide that...
Matchday 10
North Macedonia got off to the perfect start in this 3rd-place play-off, as Serginho scored after a minute. However, Bulgaria fired back impressively and ultimately won 4-1. Poland completed a solid group stage with a 3-0 win over San Marino, whilst Turkey beat Luxembourg by the same scoreline to complete a rare perfect campaign.
Matchday 10
North Macedonia got off to the perfect start in this 3rd-place play-off, as Serginho scored after a minute. However, Bulgaria fired back impressively and ultimately won 4-1. Poland completed a solid group stage with a 3-0 win over San Marino, whilst Turkey beat Luxembourg by the same scoreline to complete a rare perfect campaign.
Final table:
Poland's 22 points is probably not going to be the best 2nd-place total in Europe - which would earn them a spot in the Intercontinental Play-Off, but they did look in good shape and will be hopeful of progression in whatever play-offs they end up in. Meanwhile, Turkey looked extremely solid here, and can now look forward to the DWC finals.
Next time, we kick off the giant South American qualifying group!
Next time, we kick off the giant South American qualifying group!