European groups are good. We see the best players, and there's a real range in quality. Usually there's something riding on the final round of games, although this year's there's been a general lack of upsets:
So we have one group left. Italy are strong favourites, ever-presents at the Draft World Cup who are currently ranked World #1 following disappointing group stages for Germany and Spain. Switzerland are, however, a challenging second seed to face, whilst Romania are capable of qualification. Italy were forced into the play-offs in 2018, they would expect to avoid it this time.
There is also the matter of the Intercontinental play-off. If whoever finishes second here can beat Poland's record of 22 points, they will go into the (probably easier) ICPO, otherwise they will go into the European play-offs and Poland will go into the ICPO.
Matchday 1
Italy started in confident fashion, as Cristiano Ronaldo's brace (penalty and a rebound) put them two up on Romania. Italy added late goals through Douglas Costa and Gonzalo Higuaín for a 4-0 win. Switzerland immediately lost ground as they held 0-0 at home by Iceland. Bosnia & Herzegovina looked set to also have a goalless draw against Scandinavian opposition, but goals in the 88th and 89th minutes saw them to a 2-0 win over Faroe Islands.
There is also the matter of the Intercontinental play-off. If whoever finishes second here can beat Poland's record of 22 points, they will go into the (probably easier) ICPO, otherwise they will go into the European play-offs and Poland will go into the ICPO.
Matchday 1
Italy started in confident fashion, as Cristiano Ronaldo's brace (penalty and a rebound) put them two up on Romania. Italy added late goals through Douglas Costa and Gonzalo Higuaín for a 4-0 win. Switzerland immediately lost ground as they held 0-0 at home by Iceland. Bosnia & Herzegovina looked set to also have a goalless draw against Scandinavian opposition, but goals in the 88th and 89th minutes saw them to a 2-0 win over Faroe Islands.
Matchday 2
There was a major shock in the offing as Solvi Vatnhamar crashed a shot in to put Faroe Islands ahead against Italy. However, the lead lasted for 2 minutes as Miralem Pjanic brought Italy level. It was still all-square at the break, but Italy pulled away in the second half to win 4-0. Iceland's Scottish striker Steven Lennon gave them the lead against Bosnia & Herzegovina. He thought he'd accidentally scored a second late on, but it was ruled out for offside. However, Iceland remained firm at the other end to claim a good win. Meanwhile, George Tucudean's goal saw Romania beat 10-man Switzerland 1-0, Johan Djourou the man sent off.
There was a major shock in the offing as Solvi Vatnhamar crashed a shot in to put Faroe Islands ahead against Italy. However, the lead lasted for 2 minutes as Miralem Pjanic brought Italy level. It was still all-square at the break, but Italy pulled away in the second half to win 4-0. Iceland's Scottish striker Steven Lennon gave them the lead against Bosnia & Herzegovina. He thought he'd accidentally scored a second late on, but it was ruled out for offside. However, Iceland remained firm at the other end to claim a good win. Meanwhile, George Tucudean's goal saw Romania beat 10-man Switzerland 1-0, Johan Djourou the man sent off.
Matchday 3
Italy travelled to Switzerland, and fell behind to Roger Assalé's goal just before the break. Miralem Sulejmani added another before Giorgio Chiellini's bad error allowed Guillaume Hoarau to wrap up an excellent 3-0 win. This meant that Iceland were the only team unbeaten so far, and they overcame Faroe Islands 1-0 to become the shock group leaders. Meanwhile, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Romania played out a thrilling game. Camora's perfect volley put Romania ahead, but a wonderful solo goal by Nermin Crnkic levelled matters, before Damir Sovsic's free kick completed the comeback and won the game 2-1 for Bosnia & Herzegovina.
Italy travelled to Switzerland, and fell behind to Roger Assalé's goal just before the break. Miralem Sulejmani added another before Giorgio Chiellini's bad error allowed Guillaume Hoarau to wrap up an excellent 3-0 win. This meant that Iceland were the only team unbeaten so far, and they overcame Faroe Islands 1-0 to become the shock group leaders. Meanwhile, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Romania played out a thrilling game. Camora's perfect volley put Romania ahead, but a wonderful solo goal by Nermin Crnkic levelled matters, before Damir Sovsic's free kick completed the comeback and won the game 2-1 for Bosnia & Herzegovina.
Matchday 4
Iceland fell to earth with a bump as they lost 4-1 to Romania, with braces for Tucudean and Billel Omrani. Italy couldn't really take advantage though, as Crnkic's volley cancelled out Ronaldo's rebound for a 1-1 draw. Meanwhile, Nicolas Ngamaleu's 9th-minute strike was enough for Switzerland to beat Faroe Islands 2-1. This baffling group sees Italy, Switzerland, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Iceland all on 7 points, with Romania on 6.
Matchday 5
Once again, Faroe Islands lead only to end up with a heavy defeat. This time it was against Romania, who beat them 6-1, with left back Camora adding two more volleys to his one from the previous game. Switzerland held off Bosnia & Herzegovina's fightback to hold onto a 2-1 victory. But the game with the fewest goals was the most surprising, as Iceland held on for a 0-0 draw against Italy, despite being outshot 32-2.
Iceland fell to earth with a bump as they lost 4-1 to Romania, with braces for Tucudean and Billel Omrani. Italy couldn't really take advantage though, as Crnkic's volley cancelled out Ronaldo's rebound for a 1-1 draw. Meanwhile, Nicolas Ngamaleu's 9th-minute strike was enough for Switzerland to beat Faroe Islands 2-1. This baffling group sees Italy, Switzerland, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Iceland all on 7 points, with Romania on 6.
Matchday 5
Once again, Faroe Islands lead only to end up with a heavy defeat. This time it was against Romania, who beat them 6-1, with left back Camora adding two more volleys to his one from the previous game. Switzerland held off Bosnia & Herzegovina's fightback to hold onto a 2-1 victory. But the game with the fewest goals was the most surprising, as Iceland held on for a 0-0 draw against Italy, despite being outshot 32-2.
This topsy-turvy group looks like this halfway in:
Italy find themselves out of the qualification spots. Had Switzerland and Romania been able to get maximum points against the other three sides, Italy would be in major trouble. As it is, they are only 2 points from top. Somehow, Iceland are still in the mix, easily their best DWC qualification performance thus far.
Matchday 6
Switzerland kept themselves in first place as they beat Iceland 3-1. And it proved to be a very fruitful round for the Swiss as Italy could only draw 0-0 away to Romania whilst Bosnia & Herzegovina needed an injury time goal to earn a 1-1 draw against Faroe Islands, who get their first point of the group.
Matchday 6
Switzerland kept themselves in first place as they beat Iceland 3-1. And it proved to be a very fruitful round for the Swiss as Italy could only draw 0-0 away to Romania whilst Bosnia & Herzegovina needed an injury time goal to earn a 1-1 draw against Faroe Islands, who get their first point of the group.
Matchday 7
Italy walloped Faroe Islands 7-0, with seven different scorers. Remarkably, this was their first win since they last faced the bottom side - 5 games ago. Switzerland were also in the goals as they beat Romania 4-0 - all four goals being wonderful strikes. Meanwhile, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Iceland looked at risk of going out through drawing too many games, as they tied 1-1.
Italy walloped Faroe Islands 7-0, with seven different scorers. Remarkably, this was their first win since they last faced the bottom side - 5 games ago. Switzerland were also in the goals as they beat Romania 4-0 - all four goals being wonderful strikes. Meanwhile, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Iceland looked at risk of going out through drawing too many games, as they tied 1-1.
Matchday 8
Switzerland could effectively secure qualification if they beat Italy. However, after a tense affair the game was decided by Ronaldo's 72nd-minute poacher's goal, 1-0. Romania kept in the race in style as they beat Bosnia & Herzegovina 4-0. Iceland, meanwhile, could only draw 1-1 with Faroe Islands.
Switzerland could effectively secure qualification if they beat Italy. However, after a tense affair the game was decided by Ronaldo's 72nd-minute poacher's goal, 1-0. Romania kept in the race in style as they beat Bosnia & Herzegovina 4-0. Iceland, meanwhile, could only draw 1-1 with Faroe Islands.
Matchday 9
The group formally became a three-horse race as the top three comfortably beat teams below them. Lorenzo Insigne's hat trick pushed Italy to a 5-1 win over Bosnia & Herzegovina, whilst Romania and Switzerland claimed 3-0 and 2-0 wins over Iceland and Faroe Islands respectively.
The group formally became a three-horse race as the top three comfortably beat teams below them. Lorenzo Insigne's hat trick pushed Italy to a 5-1 win over Bosnia & Herzegovina, whilst Romania and Switzerland claimed 3-0 and 2-0 wins over Iceland and Faroe Islands respectively.
This leaves us with this table going into the final round of games:
The top three sides are all at home in the final round of games. Switzerland will secure DWC finals football for the first time since the inaugural event if they beat Bosnia & Herzegovina. Italy would secure at least a play-off spot if they beat Iceland, whilst Romania need someone to slip up as they face Faroe Islands.
It should also be pointed out that only Switzerland can reach the 22-point mark, which means Poland are confirmed as the best 2nd-placed European team, and will therefore go into the ICPO.
Matchday 10
Romania did what they needed to do, as they eased to a 4-0 win over Faroe Islands. However, they weren't able to overtake Italy, as they too won 4-0, with Ronaldo notching a hat-trick against Iceland. Because of the margin of Romania's win, Switzerland would finish 3rd with a draw (unless they drew 8-8...). Switzerland took the lead in strange circumstances, as Assalé hit the post with a long-range effort, before Fabian Frei hit the same post with an open goal, before Sulejmani put away the rebound. Frei did put away his next chance, and two more goals saw Switzerland confirm their qualification with (yet another) 4-0 win.
It should also be pointed out that only Switzerland can reach the 22-point mark, which means Poland are confirmed as the best 2nd-placed European team, and will therefore go into the ICPO.
Matchday 10
Romania did what they needed to do, as they eased to a 4-0 win over Faroe Islands. However, they weren't able to overtake Italy, as they too won 4-0, with Ronaldo notching a hat-trick against Iceland. Because of the margin of Romania's win, Switzerland would finish 3rd with a draw (unless they drew 8-8...). Switzerland took the lead in strange circumstances, as Assalé hit the post with a long-range effort, before Fabian Frei hit the same post with an open goal, before Sulejmani put away the rebound. Frei did put away his next chance, and two more goals saw Switzerland confirm their qualification with (yet another) 4-0 win.
So there's very little change in the final table:
So Italy become the second of the 'big 5', after Germany, to end up in the play-offs. With the draw being unseeded, there's a 1/7 chance they'll draw each other. Romania, meanwhile, will feel a bit hard done-by as they won their final 3 games with an aggregate of 11-0 but still missed out. Their loss to Switzerland on matchday 7 proved decisive.
Next time, we see which African team will make the ICPO, as the second-placed sides from the qualification groups do battle.
Next time, we see which African team will make the ICPO, as the second-placed sides from the qualification groups do battle.