Our Draft World Cup qualifying is beginning to click into gear, as five out of six continents are underway. The other - Oceania - will be covered in a single episode so that will come later.
We've also had one team qualify thus far, Turkey, and now we'll have our second in the second European qualifying group.
We've also had one team qualify thus far, Turkey, and now we'll have our second in the second European qualifying group.
France will be the heavy favourites to qualify here, although Hungary have punched above their weight before, whilst Denmark and Slovakia are handy. Lithuania and Liechtenstein may well just be in a battle for 5th.
Will this be the way it plays out? Let's find out...
Matchday 1
Slovakia and Denmark each scored a set piece goal as they drew 1-1, whilst France were slightly underwhelming as they beat Hungary 1-0 thanks to a Edinson Cavani penalty. They were joined at the top of the table by... Liechtenstein, who beat Lithuania by the same scoreline thanks to an unfortunate own goal by Lithuania goalkeeper Martin Berkovec.
Matchday 2
Liechtenstein's bubble was swiftly and brutally burst by Hungary, who routed them 6-0. France were also in fine scoring form as they beat Slovakia 4-1, whilst Denmark needed a penalty to beat Lithuania 1-0.
Matchday 3
Andraz Sporar fired in a fine free kick for Slovakia to give them the lead in a crunch match against Hungary. But just two minutes later, Hungary had a penalty to get level, however David Lanzafame couldn't put it away, and it finished 1-0. This was the only goal of the round, as Denmark and France recorded atrocious goalless draws, at home to Liechtenstein and Lithuania respectively.
Will this be the way it plays out? Let's find out...
Matchday 1
Slovakia and Denmark each scored a set piece goal as they drew 1-1, whilst France were slightly underwhelming as they beat Hungary 1-0 thanks to a Edinson Cavani penalty. They were joined at the top of the table by... Liechtenstein, who beat Lithuania by the same scoreline thanks to an unfortunate own goal by Lithuania goalkeeper Martin Berkovec.
Matchday 2
Liechtenstein's bubble was swiftly and brutally burst by Hungary, who routed them 6-0. France were also in fine scoring form as they beat Slovakia 4-1, whilst Denmark needed a penalty to beat Lithuania 1-0.
Matchday 3
Andraz Sporar fired in a fine free kick for Slovakia to give them the lead in a crunch match against Hungary. But just two minutes later, Hungary had a penalty to get level, however David Lanzafame couldn't put it away, and it finished 1-0. This was the only goal of the round, as Denmark and France recorded atrocious goalless draws, at home to Liechtenstein and Lithuania respectively.
Matchday 4
France got back to winning ways with a 2-0 win away to Liechtenstein, whilst Denmark won a see-saw battle with Hungary 2-1. Meanwhile, Lithuania got another 0-0 draw, this time at home to Slovakia.
Matchday 5
Slovakia followed that up with another 0-0 draw against a minnow, this time at home to Liechtenstein. The theme of this group so far has been a lack of goals, and France and Hungary both scraped wins by a single goal, against Denmark and Lithuania respectively.
This leaves us with the following halfway table:
France got back to winning ways with a 2-0 win away to Liechtenstein, whilst Denmark won a see-saw battle with Hungary 2-1. Meanwhile, Lithuania got another 0-0 draw, this time at home to Slovakia.
Matchday 5
Slovakia followed that up with another 0-0 draw against a minnow, this time at home to Liechtenstein. The theme of this group so far has been a lack of goals, and France and Hungary both scraped wins by a single goal, against Denmark and Lithuania respectively.
This leaves us with the following halfway table:
So, France have edged into a comfortable lead, mainly because no one team below them has been able to rise above the pack. Denmark lead the way to the play-offs, but it's very close down there, with even Liechtenstein in with a shout.
Matchday 6
Hungary were hopeful of an upset as Ádám Gyursó scored an unbelievable solo goal (his starting position shown below) to give them the lead against France, but Neymar's four goals lead the favourites to a comprehensive 5-1 win. Moha scored both as Slovakia beat Denmark 2-0 to leapfrog them into 2nd in the table, and Lithuania got their first win of the campaign by beating Liechtenstein by the same scoreline.
Matchday 6
Hungary were hopeful of an upset as Ádám Gyursó scored an unbelievable solo goal (his starting position shown below) to give them the lead against France, but Neymar's four goals lead the favourites to a comprehensive 5-1 win. Moha scored both as Slovakia beat Denmark 2-0 to leapfrog them into 2nd in the table, and Lithuania got their first win of the campaign by beating Liechtenstein by the same scoreline.
Matchday 7
It was a swift return to 2nd place for Denmark, as their 3-0 win over Lithuania was complemented by France's 5-0 thumping of Slovakia. Hungary kept pace with a 3-0 win over Liechtenstein.
It was a swift return to 2nd place for Denmark, as their 3-0 win over Lithuania was complemented by France's 5-0 thumping of Slovakia. Hungary kept pace with a 3-0 win over Liechtenstein.
Matchday 8
France enacted revenge for their draw with Lithuania earlier in the campaign with a simple 3-0 win over the same opponents, in a win which confirmed their qualification for the finals. This left the focus on the battle for the play-offs, and Denmark kept a hold of it with a 2-0 win over Liechtenstein. Slovakia visited Hungary, with both teams really needing a win to stay in the hunt. The game remained goalless until the final 10 minutes despite Slovakia picking up a red card, when Miha Blazic's thunderous effort opened the scoring for Hungary, and Tokmac Nguen added a second in added time.
France enacted revenge for their draw with Lithuania earlier in the campaign with a simple 3-0 win over the same opponents, in a win which confirmed their qualification for the finals. This left the focus on the battle for the play-offs, and Denmark kept a hold of it with a 2-0 win over Liechtenstein. Slovakia visited Hungary, with both teams really needing a win to stay in the hunt. The game remained goalless until the final 10 minutes despite Slovakia picking up a red card, when Miha Blazic's thunderous effort opened the scoring for Hungary, and Tokmac Nguen added a second in added time.
Matchday 9
Denmark hosted Hungary knowing that a win would seal their place in the play-offs, whilst a win would leave them in a very difficult situation. Michael Santos opened the scoring for the hosts, but Hungary were soon level through Boli. The decisive winning goal came as Gyurcsó finished off a goalmouth scramble and put Hungary in touching distance of the play-offs. Slovakia, effectively eliminated by this result, stayed mathematically alive as they turned around a deficit into a 2-1 victory against Lithuania. France, meanwhile, dominated their game with Liechtenstein, but somehow only managed a single goal, and Tunahan Cicek's solo goal earned a surprising point for the minnows.
Denmark hosted Hungary knowing that a win would seal their place in the play-offs, whilst a win would leave them in a very difficult situation. Michael Santos opened the scoring for the hosts, but Hungary were soon level through Boli. The decisive winning goal came as Gyurcsó finished off a goalmouth scramble and put Hungary in touching distance of the play-offs. Slovakia, effectively eliminated by this result, stayed mathematically alive as they turned around a deficit into a 2-1 victory against Lithuania. France, meanwhile, dominated their game with Liechtenstein, but somehow only managed a single goal, and Tunahan Cicek's solo goal earned a surprising point for the minnows.
With one game to go, this is the table:
Whilst Denmark are very much in the race for 2nd, they have to beat France at home and hope Hungary fail to beat Lithuania.
Matchday 10
Slovakia needed a huge 12-goal shift, and they did their best by beating Liechtenstein 4-0. Meanwhile, in Copenhagen Denmark also did what they could by beating France 2-0. A disappointing first defeat for last year's DWC finalists, and a glimmer of hope for the Danes. However, that hope was quickly extinguished as Hungary cruised into the play-offs with a 3-0 win over Lithuania.
Here's the final table:
Matchday 10
Slovakia needed a huge 12-goal shift, and they did their best by beating Liechtenstein 4-0. Meanwhile, in Copenhagen Denmark also did what they could by beating France 2-0. A disappointing first defeat for last year's DWC finalists, and a glimmer of hope for the Danes. However, that hope was quickly extinguished as Hungary cruised into the play-offs with a 3-0 win over Lithuania.
Here's the final table:
France join Turkey in the DWC finals, whilst Hungary will be in the European play-offs.
That's two European teams qualified, and next time we get our first African team!
That's two European teams qualified, and next time we get our first African team!