International Football
HOW THEY FOUND THEIR WAYS TO RUSSIA 2018
The 32 teams for the Russia 2018 World Cup have not only emerged, they have been allocated to four pots awaiting the final draw coming up at Moscow’s State Kremlin Palace on December 1.
The qualifying series have been exceptional, offering the longest route ever to World Cup finals apart from having the highest number of entries, it had one more match than the projected 870 as a match involving South Africa and Senegal had to be replayed owing to manipulation of the result by the referee.
Sports Village Square examines, in chronological order, the path taken by the 32 teams jostling for one object, the 18-carat gold FIFA World Cup trophy.
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- Russia (Hosts)Russia, the host nation, was the first qualifier as stipulated by the rules. It is the first time the competition is holding in the country, which as part of the Soviet Union had hosted its first FIFA tournament in 1985, the then World Youth Championship which is now the FIFA U-20 World Cup.As in tradition established since 2006 World Cup when defending champions had to also go through the qualifying series, Russia will play the opening match on June 14 next year. The Russian team had been inactive in the past two years as the three group matches played at the FIFA Confederations Cup being the only competitive engagement the team has hBest Previous Finish: Group Stage (1994, 2002, 2014)Top Scorer in Qualifying: N/A
2.Brazil (CONMEBOL Winners
- Russia (Hosts)
Brazil was the first team to emerge from the 871-match qualifying series. Brazil remains the only country to have featured in all the previous 20 World Cup finals is heading to its 21st appearance. Even though ever constant and chalking up the highest number of victories as five-time champions, Brazil had not been lucky on home soil losing as hosts in 1950 and being humiliated 7-1 on home soil by Germany in the 2014 semi-finals.
Best Previous Finish: Winners (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002)
Top Scorer in Qualifying: Gabriel Jesus (7)
- Iran (AFC Group A Winners)Iran surprisingly held Nigeria to a goalless draw in its opening match at Brazil 2014. Iran booked a place in Russia in June this year after comfortably topping an Asian Football Confederation qualifying group ahead of South Korea, Syria, Uzbekistan, China and Qatar.Best Previous Finish: Group Stage (1978, 1998, 2006, 2014)Top Scorer in Qualifying: Sardar Azmoun (11)
- Japan (AFC Group B Winners)
This is Japan’s fifth consecutive appearance in the World Cup. Japan’s place in Russia 2018 was secured three months ago ahead of Saudi Arabia, Australia, UAE, Iraq and Thailand in Asia’s other final qualifying group.
Best Previous Finish: Round of 16 (2002, 2010)
Top Scorer in Qualifying: Keisuke Honda (7)
- Mexico (CONCACAF Winners)
This is Mexico’s seventh consecutive World Cup appearance after missing out from the 1990 finals in Italy.
Mexico set a World Cup hosting record as the first nation to host the World Cup twice – 1970 and 1986. Mexico qualified for Russia 2018 topping, with three games to spare, the fifth and final round of CONCACAF qualifying series in September
Best Previous Finish: Quarter Finals (1970, 1986)
Top Scorer in Qualifying: Hirving Lozano (4)
- Belgium (UEFA Group H Winners)
The first country to qualify from Europe was Belgium. The allure of the qualification was that the country had nine points ahead of second placed Greece in Group H. The number of points speaks little about the efforts. Belgium amassed 43 goals in 10 matches.
Best Previous Finish: 4th Place (1986)
Top Scorer in Qualifying: Romelu Lukaku (11)
7. South Korea (AFC Group A 2nd Pl
South Korea have never quite managed to repeat their home soil heroics after reaching the last four in 2002, but will relish the chance to try again in 2018. In the end, they only had a two-point cushion over Syria for the second automatic spot in their final qualifying group.
Best Previous Finish: 4th Place (2002)
Top Scorer in Qualifying: Son Heung-min (7)
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- Germany (UEFA Group C Winners)Saudi Arabia (AFC Group B 2nd Place)Saudi Arabia will be returning to the World Cup for the first time since Germany 2006. They trailed group winners Japan by a point, but it was only goal difference that gave them the second automatic place over Australia in AFC Group B.Best Previous Finish: Round of 16 (1994)
Top Scorer in Qualifying: Mohammad Al-Sahlawi (16)
- Germany (UEFA Group C Winners)
Germany became the fourth defending champions that have to pass through the qualifying series. The previous ones being Brazil, the 2002 champions, Italy winners in 2006 and Spain, the 2010 champions.
The Germans had little trouble in booking their place in Russia to defend their title. They were the only European nation to emerge with a 100% record in qualifying and finished as many as 11 points clear at the top of their group.
Best Previous Finish: Winners (1954, 1974, 1990, 2014)
Top Scorer in Qualifying: Thomas Muller, Sandro Wagner (5)
- England (UEFA Group F Winners)
For all the criticism of the team and the unsettling nature of Sam Allardyce’s early departure as manager, England were comfortable qualifiers. They were unbeaten in 10 games, dropped only four points and finished eight points clear of second place Slovakia.
Best Previous Finish: Winners (1966)
Top Scorer in Qualifying: Harry Kane (5)
- Spain (UEFA Group G Winners)
Looking to make amends for a disastrous 2014 World Cup which saw them knocked out at the group stage as defending champions, Spain made light work of a potentially difficult qualifying group that included Italy. La Roja dropped just two points along the way.
Best Previous Finish: Winners (2010)
Top Scorer in Qualifying: Diego Costa, Isco, Alvaro Morata, David Silva (5)
- Nigeria (CAF Group B Winners)
After comfortably topping their group ahead of Zambia, Cameroon and Algeria, all strong teams in recent years, Nigeria were the first African country to secure passage to Russia. Last time out in 2014, the Super Eagles made it through to the Last 16.
Best Previous Finish: Round of 16 (1994, 1998, 2014)
Top Scorer in Qualifying: Victor Moses (3)
- Costa Rica (CONCACAF 2nd Place)
Costa Rica were the surprise package in 2014, coming within a penalty shootout of the semi finals and will hope to repeat their heroics next year. Only Mexico finished ahead of them in CONCACAF qualifying, with second place secured early.
Best Previous Finish: Quarter Finals (2014)
Top Scorer in Qualifying: Christian Bolanos, Michael Urena (4)
- Poland (UEFA Group E Winners)
Poland failed to reach the World Cup in 2014, but will be competing at their fourth major tournament in a decade in Russia after playing in each of the last three European Championships. Qualifying was relatively comfortable with a five-point cushion.
Best Previous Finish: 3rd Place (1974, 1982)
Top Scorer in Qualifying: Robert Lewandowski (16)
- Egypt (CAF Group E Winners)
Emotions were running high on the streets of Egypt in October as the national team qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1990. They won three straight Africa Cup of Nations between 2006 and 2010, but World Cup qualification was always just out of reach until now.
Best Previous Finish: First Round/Group Stage (1934, 1990)
Top Scorer in Qualifying: Mohamed Salah (5)
- Iceland (UEFA Group I Winners)
With a population of just 330,000, Iceland became the smallest ever country to qualify for the World Cup when they secured their place in October. They beat Croatia to top spot in their group to do it, with the achievement coming just over a year after an impressive Euro 2016.
Best Previous Finish: N/A
Top Scorer in Qualifying: Gylfi Sigurdsson (4)
- Serbia (UEFA Group D Winners)
Serbia got the better of the Republic of Ireland and Wales to seal automatic qualification. Only six points separated the top four teams in Europe’s tightest qualifying group, with the Balkan nation hoping to do better than their group stage exit in 2010.
Best Previous Finish: Group Stage (2010)
Top Scorer in Qualifying: Aleksandar Mitrovic (6)
- Portugal (UEFA Group B Winners)
Portugal got the better of Switzerland in a ‘win and you’re in’ scenario in the final qualifying fixture in their group. Cristiano Ronaldo and Andre Silva scored 24 of the team’s 32 goals between them – only Spain, Belgium and Germany scored more overall.
Best Previous Finish: 3rd Place (1966)
Top Scorer in Qualifying: Cristiano Ronaldo (15)
- France (UEFA Group A Winners)
With a pool of young talent considered by many to be the best in the world at this moment in time, France secured top spot in their group by finishing four points ahead of Sweden and the Netherlands. They were quarter finalists in 2014 and will go to Russia among the favourites.
Best Previous Finish: Winners (1998)
Top Scorer in Qualifying: Olivier Giroud, Antoine Griezmann (4)
- Uruguay (CONMEBOL 2nd Place)
Fourth place finishers in 2010, Uruguay took second place in the final CONMEBOL standings behind Brazil. They were 10 points back from the top of the table, but still enjoyed a five-point cushion over Peru and Chile in 5th and 6th respectively.
Best Previous Finish: Winners (1930, 1950)
Top Scorer in Qualifying: Edinson Cavani (10)
- Argentina (CONMEBOL 3rd Place)
Argentina were in serious danger of missing out on a place at the World Cup for the first time since 1970. It took a last ditch win courtesy of a hat-trick from Lionel Messi away in Ecuador and favourable results elsewhere on the final matchday to make sure of an automatic place.
Best Previous Finish: Winners (1978, 1986)
Top Scorer in Qualifying: Lionel Messi (7)
- Colombia (CONMEBOL 4th Place)
Colombia were bumped down into fourth place in the CONMEBOL standings behind Argentina as a result of a draw against Peru to finish qualifying, but it was still enough to hold onto the fourth automatic South American berth.
Best Previous Finish: Quarter Finals (2014)
Top Scorer in Qualifying: James Rodriguez (6)
- Panama (CONCACAF 3rd Place)
The year 2018 will be a first ever World Cup for Panama after they capitalised on the United States’ disastrous qualifying campaign to claim the third and final automatic CONCACAF place. A win over Costa Rica sealed with a late goal in the last round of games was decisive.
Best Previous Finish: N/A
Top Scorer in Qualifying: Gabriel Torres (3)
- Senegal (CAF Group D Winners)
It was only in the latter stages of their group that Senegal put good results together to seal a return to the World Cup for the first time since a memorable debut in 2002. That included winning a replayed game against South Africa after the referee who took charge was banned.
Best Previous Finish: Quarter Finals (2002)
Top Scorer in Qualifying: Mame Biram Diouf, Sadio Mane, Cheikh N’Doye, Diafra Sakho (2)
- Morocco (CAF Group C Winners)
After consecutive World Cup appearances in the 1990s, Morocco will be back on the global stage in Russia for the first time in 20 years. They got the better of Ivory Coast and Gabon in their final CAF group and have only once before been beyond the World Cup’s first round.
Best Previous Finish: Round of 16 (1986)
Top Scorer in Qualifying: Khalid Boutaib (4)
- Tunisia (CAF Group A Winners)
Tunisia are another African country that has been absent from the World Cup in recent tournaments. Their last appearance came in 2006 after also reaching the tournament in 1998 and 2002. Never have they been further than the group stage.
Best Previous Finish: Group Stage (1978, 1998, 2002, 2006)
Top Scorer in Qualifying: Youssef Msakni (3)
- Switzerland (UEFA Playoff)
Switzerland will be at their 10th World Cup in Russia after narrowly beating Northern Ireland over two legs in one of the UEFA playoffs. The Swiss had earlier finished second to Portugal in their qualifying group on goal difference only after winning nine of 10 games.
Best Previous Finish: Quarter Finals (1934, 1938, 1954)
Top Scorer in Qualifying: Haris Seferovic (4)
- Croatia (UEFA Playoff)
Croatia held onto the comfortable 4-1 aggregate lead they had opened up against Greece in the first leg of their UEFA playoff to book a place at their fourth World Cup. Since being accepted into FIFA, 2010 is the only World Cup they have missed to date.
Best Previous Finish: 3rd Place (1998)
Top Scorer in Qualifying: Mario Mandzukic (5)
- Sweden (UEFA Playoff)
The Swedes are going to Russia at the expense of Italy after winning a closely fought two-legged playoff by an aggregate score-line of 1-0. They had earlier finished second in Group A behind France and above the Netherlands.
Best Previous Finish: Runners-Up (1958)
Top Scorer in Qualifying: Marcus Berg (8)
- Denmark (UEFA Playoff)
Denmark became the 12th and final European country to book their place in Russia after hammering the Republic of Ireland 5-1 in Dublin in the second leg of their playoff. The Danes famously won Euro ’92, but are yet to go beyond the quarterfinals on a global stage.
Best Previous Finish: Quarter Finals (1998)
Top Scorer in Qualifying: Christian Eriksen (11)
31. Australia (AFC/CONCACAF Intercontinental Playoff)
Australia will be competing at a fourth consecutive World Cup after prevailing 2-0 against Honduras over two legs. The Socceroos had finished third in their final Asian group and needed to beat Syria in an AFC playoff just to get to the intercontinental tie.
Best Previous Finish: Round of 16 (2006)
Top Scorer in Qualifying: Tim Cahill (11)
- Peru (CONMEBOL/OFC Intercontinental Playoff)
Peru were the 32nd and final country to seal their qualification after defeating New Zealand in a two-legged playoff. They finished above Chile on goal difference in the CONMEBOL standings to reach that playoff and it will their first World Cup since 1982.
Best Previous Finish: Quarter Finals (1970)
Top Scorer in Qualifying: Paolo Guerrero, Edison Flores (5)
- Germany (UEFA Group C Winners)Saudi Arabia (AFC Group B 2nd Place)
Nigeria’s Super Eagles put up a spirited performance but were edged 2-1 by Portugal in an international friendly at the Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa in Leiria on Wednesday night.
The match served as Portugal’s final tune-up ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America and offered the Nigerians a chance to test themselves against one of Europe’s leading sides led by veteran captain Cristiano Ronaldo.
Portugal drew first blood in the 23rd minute when Pedro Neto broke the deadlock, firing past Nigerian goalkeeper Maduka Okoye after a lively opening period in which both teams created opportunities.
The Super Eagles responded positively and were rewarded eight minutes before halftime when striker Akor Adams found the equaliser. The goal capped an impressive Nigerian fightback and ensured the teams went into the break level at 1-1.
Ronaldo, making a rare appearance against Nigeria, started the match and remained on the pitch until the 67th minute. The 41-year-old was given a standing ovation by the home crowd when he was replaced by Gonçalo Ramos.
Portugal made several changes after the interval as coach Roberto Martinez rotated his squad in preparation for the World Cup. Despite the substitutions, the hosts continued to press for a winner.
Their persistence paid off in the 75th minute when Francisco Conceição struck the decisive goal, restoring Portugal’s lead and ultimately securing victory for the European side.
Nigeria battled to find another equaliser in the closing stages but Portugal’s defence held firm to preserve the 2-1 result.
The defeat means Portugal have now won both meetings between the two countries. Their first encounter came in Lisbon in November 2022, when the Portuguese recorded a convincing 4-0 victory in a pre-World Cup friendly.
While the result will disappoint Nigerian supporters, the Super Eagles can take encouragement from their resilient display against one of the teams widely tipped to make a strong impact at the World Cup. Akor Adams’ goal and Nigeria’s competitive showing against a star-studded Portuguese side provided positive signs as the team continues its rebuilding process under the national team set-up.
For Portugal, the victory provides a confidence boost as they head to North America, where they hope their talented midfield and experienced squad can propel them to a successful World Cup campaign.
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Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo will be in the starting line-up when the Selecao take on Nigeria in an international friendly match which kicks off in a few minutes tonight.
The 41-year-old forward, who remains a key figure in the Portuguese national team, has been named among the starters as Portugal continue preparations for upcoming competitive fixtures.
Ronaldo’s inclusion is expected to add further excitement to the encounter, with Nigerian fans eager to see one of football’s greatest players in action against the Super Eagles.
The match offers Nigeria another opportunity to test themselves against top European opposition, while Portugal will look to sharpen their squad ahead of future international assignments.
Kick-off is scheduled for later tonight, with both teams expected to field strong line-ups in what promises to be an entertaining contest.
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By Kunle Solaja
Nigeria’s Super Eagles and Portugal will meet for only the second time at the senior level when they clash in an international friendly in Leiria on Wednesday night.
The encounter comes under remarkably similar circumstances to their first meeting in November 2022, when Portugal defeated Nigeria 4-0 in Lisbon just days before the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Once again, Portugal are using Nigeria as their final warm-up match before the World Cup. Four years ago, the Portuguese selected the Super Eagles to prepare for a group-stage clash against Ghana, the team that denied Nigeria a place at Qatar 2022.
History appears to be repeating itself. This time, Portugal are preparing for a World Cup opening fixture against the Democratic Republic of Congo, another team that shattered Nigeria’s World Cup ambitions by eliminating the Super Eagles from the qualification race.
The match at the 29,000-capacity Estádio Dr Magalhães Pessoa offers Nigeria an opportunity to avenge the heavy defeat suffered four years ago and test themselves against one of Europe’s strongest sides.
Portugal coach Roberto Martinez has assembled a star-studded squad featuring five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias, Rafael Leão and João Félix.
The Portuguese head into the encounter unbeaten in their last four matches, having recorded victories over the United States and Chile while drawing with Mexico.
Nigeria, under coach Eric Chelle, have also enjoyed an impressive run. Since taking charge 15 months ago, the Franco-Malian tactician has overseen 24 matches and suffered only one defeat in regulation time.
With both teams carrying impressive recent records, Wednesday’s friendly promises to be far more competitive than the scoreline from their last meeting suggests.
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