2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar - UEFA Qualifiers

[Daniel91]

The next set of matches are scheduled for next week (8th to 12th October). Each team will be playing two matches each. And after this round, we will be having a clear idea about the teams that are going to qualify for Qatar 2022 (at least for most of the groups). I have created a list of most important matches. Check out this list (only in cases which can have an impact on qualification prospects):

Finland vs Ukraine (battle for the second spot in Group D) - 9th Oct
Czechia vs Wales (for second spot in Group E) - 8th Oct
Scotland vs Israel (second spot in Group F) - 9th Oct
Turkey vs Norway (Group G, for 1st, 2nd, 3rd spot) - 8th Oct
Russia vs Slovakia, Russia vs Slovenia (RU needs to win both to gain top spot in Group H) - 8th Oct, 11th Oct.
Albania vs Poland (Group I, second spot) - 12th Oct
Romania vs Armenia (Group J, second spot) - 11th Oct

I would add game Croatia vs Slovakia. Croatia is currently sitting on top of the group with Russia second and both have 13 points. Slovakia is third with 9 points and for Croatia this is a chance to increase the point difference. Ideal outcome of this round for Croatia would be to beat Cyprus on Friday and that Slovakia beat Russia on that day. Of course, then Croatia must beat Slovakia on Monday.

We will see. Things are getting interesting as the end of qualifications is approaching. If I'm not wrong, there is only one round left (with two games for each team) after this round.

Croatia started these qualifiers very badly, but it seems to me that coach Dalic has finally found the right players and strategy, because Croatia is playing better and better, and the last match against Slovenia was the best match of Croatia since the World Cup in Russia 2018.
I think Slovakia and Russia are equal in quality and it's important for Croatia to win the next two games, and then Croatia will most likely secure first place in the group because I don't believe they can lose against Russia at home in the last game of the group.
Russia and Slovakia will fight for second place, in my opinion.

[Kusman]

I think that the most interesting games on October 8 are Germany v Romania and Turkey v Norway. Germany have been dominating their very easy group. They lost only once and won the rest of their five matches. Romania are following them 5 point behind at the third place. Germany defeated them by 1-0 away. And I think that this is even a much easier match that they can win. When it comes to the other match, Turkey have a big advantage against Norway. Because Haaland and Sörloth won't play due to injuries. This is a big chance for Turkey to win too.

[KTChampions]

In my opinion, the following matches are interesting from the betting point of view:

Malta - Slovenia
7,00 - 3,60 - 1,57

Cyprus - Croatia
10,00 - 4,90 - 1,32

Sweden - Kosovo
1,30 - 5,20 - 9,60

Switzerland - Northern Ireland
1,32 - 4,80 - 11,00

Faroe Islands - Austria
12,00 - 6,00 - 1,23

In my opinion, these matches are good even for a multi-bet, and if you take all of them, you get a good odds of 4.37 (+ bonuses for a long multi-bet, which are different in each bookmaker).
Still quite attractive odds in the match Russia - Slovakia, but Russia is unstable and I doubt that it is worth betting on it.
1,81 - 3,40 - 4,70

[tyz]

I think that the most interesting games on October 8 are Germany v Romania and Turkey v Norway. Germany have been dominating their very easy group. They lost only once and won the rest of their five matches.

Germany lost the game under the old coach Loew. Since Flick is the coach, the game is much more dominant again and all games were won clearly. Therefore, I think that Germany will win the group very easily and it will be only an exception if they will not win a game in this group. The team is too strong for that. That's why I don't really find it interesting. Norway against Turkey, on the other hand, is interesting.

[CLS63]

I really like to watch this Germany. They have started approaching the old version of them that were smashing their opponents one by one. I remember the Brazil game that ended by 7-1 too. I have really missed that Germany and it might be turning back now slowly. In their group games, they have been so successful so far. They will most probably end the group as the leader by winning all of their remaining games. And I'm curious about their performance in the World Cup in 2022 the most. If they get better and better like this, they can be one of the greatest candidates for winning the championship.

[bryant.coleman]

I really like to watch this Germany. They have started approaching the old version of them that were smashing their opponents one by one. I remember the Brazil game that ended by 7-1 too. I have really missed that Germany and it might be turning back now slowly. In their group games, they have been so successful so far. They will most probably end the group as the leader by winning all of their remaining games. And I'm curious about their performance in the World Cup in 2022 the most. If they get better and better like this, they can be one of the greatest candidates for winning the championship.

LOL... the same Germany went down to North Macedonia 1-2 a few months back (if the referees were unbiased, then they would have lost by a margin of 0-3). Now I want to see how these two teams fare again, when they come face to face on 12th October. There is no immediate danger to Germany, as they are well ahead of the other teams. And the loss against North Macedonia was the only instance when they failed to garner full three points from a group game. The real fight in group J is for the second spot - between Armenia, Romania and North Macedonia.

[mv1986]

As far as I know, Kuntz is a great coach, in addition to having and applying a lot of discipline, I think he must make the pertinent changes so that the team has a better result, Norway is a team that becomes very strong, In addition to its style football is usually something different and they don't play bad at all.

He is a good coach but he doesn't have any experience in major level. He only managed youth team. His achievement is still very successful, but we don't know how he manages Turkish first team. Player pool is not very big, some players are way behind of their club careers performance wise, some players don't give their %100 (cou.. Çalhan.. ough) purposefully. It's hard to manage Turkish national team for a foreigner. Lucescu was successful at his first stay but his last times was a big disaster. I hope Kuntz can take Turkish team to World Cup 2022, the whole nation need that.

Yes, you are right, for the moment it is imperative that they give confidence to Turkey, in fact the Turkish team has a very good level of football, perhaps the situation is as you say, there are no players who are famous or who are highly named , but that's where Kuntz's management is, in involving the whole team that he has to take him to the World Cup, looking at the qualifying standings for Qatar, Turkey is mathematically with great options to do it, and that is a great opportunity.

But at the same time there is only so much you can do as a new coach, especially with a team that itself isn't in the very best shape and only play together every now and then.

Kuntz is good, yet I am surprised he took on the challenge to become Turkish national coach. Turkey gets into trouble during those games when they get under pressure early and concede a goal. They have not really been known for famous comebacks. It's a very interesting game, but sadly Haaland will miss it. That's painful not only for the Norwegian team, but also for the audience.

While it is true that a new coach is not going to be able to do much for the team with si little time especially since we are talking about national teams and not clubs, at the same time just the hope that things could get better can be more than enough to help a team to play better than what they did with the previous coach, and if the Turkey team plays well that can be more than enough to give them confidence in the coach, which will create a reinforcing circle which could get them into a better shape really quickly.

Yes but as you said, the effect you usually can observe on club levels isn't the same for national teams. There might still be some effect, but in the end it is the little things like the state of mind and the physique on a certain day and also the portion of luck that is with you. Usually Turkey wouldn't lose 0 - 6 or something against the Netherlands, but on that day everything worked out for the Netherlands and nothing worked out for Turkey. Take that together and you know why that game ended up 0 - 6. The only thing that Flick can do is to stabilize them mentally and who knows, maybe he brings a couple of new players for the starting squad. Although I don't know whether he really has that many options.

[fullhdpixel]

WCQ matches are starting again. Group G will continue with the match between Turkey and Norway to be played in Turkey. In the first match, Turkey won 3-0 in Norway. I read that Haaland will not be in this match. Great loss for Norway. It will be the first match of Turkey with the new coach Stefan Kuntz. I'm curious about the mental and tactical changes in the game.

By looking at the rosters I could say that there won't be too much change. Turkish team has the advantage of sending its players to decent teams and get good minutes and training and that is why when they play inside the season they are better than when they are playing in the cups when they are all together.

However the roster stayed basically the same for world cup and that means the new coach probably has some of the old coaches staff or at least helpers, I doubt that he had the time to watch every single game the Turkish players around the world had, and it was seriously hated by twitter for a while as well. Which means that maybe the manager will be good later on, but since that 3-0 win against Norway, Turkey has been losing big time and I am not seeing that change the moment they end up with a brand new coach, it will probably take some time.

[Sithara007]

How is the COVID situation going to impact the matches that are scheduled for this week and next week? Many of the European countries are witnessing the third wave of the pandemic. There is a good chance that some of the key players may get infected and become unavailable for the matches. For teams with good balance, it is not much of an issue. But teams that are dependent on single players (such as Norway, Portugal, Belgium.etc), it is going to be an issue. Also, in some of the groups, the picture may not be clear even after this round. Group G and Group H are examples.

[uneng]

How is the COVID situation going to impact the matches that are scheduled for this week and next week? Many of the European countries are witnessing the third wave of the pandemic. There is a good chance that some of the key players may get infected and become unavailable for the matches. For teams with good balance, it is not much of an issue. But teams that are dependent on single players (such as Norway, Portugal, Belgium.etc), it is going to be an issue. Also, in some of the groups, the picture may not be clear even after this round. Group G and Group H are examples.

Well, COVID can be a big concern not only for this month's games, but also for the world cup next year, because I have read some players from England national team are refusing to take the vaccine. I don't know if it's really true, because no names were mentioned, but an article says 5 of them refused the vaccine justifying the virus is harmless to young, athletic people, while others use conspiracy theories as excuse.
From 32 national teams it's likely one or another player refuses being vaccinated for different reasons. I ask myself how the organizing committee is going to deal with this situation when the time comes.

England Team World Cup: England World Cup hopes in complete disarray as 5 players refuse Covid-19 Vaccine

[joker_josue]

Well, COVID can be a big concern not only for this month's games, but also for the world cup next year, because I have read some players from England national team are refusing to take the vaccine. I don't know if it's really true, because no names were mentioned, but an article says 5 of them refused the vaccine justifying the virus is harmless to young, athletic people, while others use conspiracy theories as excuse.
From 32 national teams it's likely one or another player refuses being vaccinated for different reasons. I ask myself how the organizing committee is going to deal with this situation when the time comes.

England Team World Cup: England World Cup hopes in complete disarray as 5 players refuse Covid-19 Vaccine

I think we only know what FIFA's stance will be two or three months before the competition.
Looking at the lack of rigor that occurred during the Euro2020/21, most likely they will not impose major restrictions on the National Teams.

[cryptofrka]

It is not entirely FIFA's call. Qatar already hinted that all participating players and staff will have to be vaccinated, I doubt that FIFA can influence the country's health rules in any way.

They can move the World Cup, but I assume there would be heavy penalties involved and I doubt that they are even considering it.

I would really like for World Cup to be distanced from politics and topics like these but in reality I think we will have hard Covid rules, with some important players missing because they will not want to get the vaccine. Hope I'm wrong though.

[CLS63]

I really like to watch this Germany. They have started approaching the old version of them that were smashing their opponents one by one. I remember the Brazil game that ended by 7-1 too. I have really missed that Germany and it might be turning back now slowly. In their group games, they have been so successful so far. They will most probably end the group as the leader by winning all of their remaining games. And I'm curious about their performance in the World Cup in 2022 the most. If they get better and better like this, they can be one of the greatest candidates for winning the championship.

LOL... the same Germany went down to North Macedonia 1-2 a few months back (if the referees were unbiased, then they would have lost by a margin of 0-3). Now I want to see how these two teams fare again, when they come face to face on 12th October. There is no immediate danger to Germany, as they are well ahead of the other teams. And the loss against North Macedonia was the only instance when they failed to garner full three points from a group game. The real fight in group J is for the second spot - between Armenia, Romania and North Macedonia.

These losses can happen, it is totally normal. If they maintained a huge losing streak or a very bad form, then I would criticize them highly too. You can't expect a team to win their every game, man.    Considering your example, they won the rest of their games in their group too. The most important thing will be their performance in the real tournament like I said. If they struggle in it, then I would agree with you. Otherwise, I will still believe in them.

[LGD2Business]

How is the COVID situation going to impact the matches that are scheduled for this week and next week? Many of the European countries are witnessing the third wave of the pandemic. There is a good chance that some of the key players may get infected and become unavailable for the matches. For teams with good balance, it is not much of an issue. But teams that are dependent on single players (such as Norway, Portugal, Belgium.etc), it is going to be an issue. Also, in some of the groups, the picture may not be clear even after this round. Group G and Group H are examples.

Well, COVID can be a big concern not only for this month's games, but also for the world cup next year, because I have read some players from England national team are refusing to take the vaccine. I don't know if it's really true, because no names were mentioned, but an article says 5 of them refused the vaccine justifying the virus is harmless to young, athletic people, while others use conspiracy theories as excuse.
From 32 national teams it's likely one or another player refuses being vaccinated for different reasons. I ask myself how the organizing committee is going to deal with this situation when the time comes.

England Team World Cup: England World Cup hopes in complete disarray as 5 players refuse Covid-19 Vaccine

I think they are free to not get vaccine but FIFA is also free to not accept those players in their competition. I guess it's not a big deal for federations, they have a lot of players they can use. Unless a huge group of players is unvaccinated, it won't be a problem. Vaccination is important for the health of all players and workers in the organisation. It would not be right for vaccinated people to be in the same environment as unvaccinated people just because someone is producing conspiracy theories.

[LUCKMCFLY]

As far as I know, Kuntz is a great coach, in addition to having and applying a lot of discipline, I think he must make the pertinent changes so that the team has a better result, Norway is a team that becomes very strong, In addition to its style football is usually something different and they don't play bad at all.

He is a good coach but he doesn't have any experience in major level. He only managed youth team. His achievement is still very successful, but we don't know how he manages Turkish first team. Player pool is not very big, some players are way behind of their club careers performance wise, some players don't give their %100 (cou.. Çalhan.. ough) purposefully. It's hard to manage Turkish national team for a foreigner. Lucescu was successful at his first stay but his last times was a big disaster. I hope Kuntz can take Turkish team to World Cup 2022, the whole nation need that.

Yes, you are right, for the moment it is imperative that they give confidence to Turkey, in fact the Turkish team has a very good level of football, perhaps the situation is as you say, there are no players who are famous or who are highly named , but that's where Kuntz's management is, in involving the whole team that he has to take him to the World Cup, looking at the qualifying standings for Qatar, Turkey is mathematically with great options to do it, and that is a great opportunity.

But at the same time there is only so much you can do as a new coach, especially with a team that itself isn't in the very best shape and only play together every now and then.

Kuntz is good, yet I am surprised he took on the challenge to become Turkish national coach. Turkey gets into trouble during those games when they get under pressure early and concede a goal. They have not really been known for famous comebacks. It's a very interesting game, but sadly Haaland will miss it. That's painful not only for the Norwegian team, but also for the audience.

Many are speculating that there are language barriers for Kuntz, as his language is German, however he is confident that many of the players in the squad understand German, and that he can rely on them. Everything is decisive against the Norwegian game, it is imperative that the Turkish team win.

To face Norway with Erling Haaland is a challenge, but Turkey will find answers. "Haaland is one of Europe's best strikers. But we have to remember, Turkey managed to beat Norway on their home-ground with Haaland."

Source: http://www.news.cn/english/2021-10/02/c_1310223545.htm

In any case, the coach does not yet see a panorama where Turkey is left out of the World Cup, everything is very possible, they have a chance and they can do it.

[babygun]

In my opinion, the following matches are interesting from the betting point of view:

Malta - Slovenia
7,00 - 3,60 - 1,57

Cyprus - Croatia
10,00 - 4,90 - 1,32

Sweden - Kosovo
1,30 - 5,20 - 9,60

Switzerland - Northern Ireland
1,32 - 4,80 - 11,00

Faroe Islands - Austria
12,00 - 6,00 - 1,23

In my opinion, these matches are good even for a multi-bet, and if you take all of them, you get a good odds of 4.37 (+ bonuses for a long multi-bet, which are different in each bookmaker).
Still quite attractive odds in the match Russia - Slovakia, but Russia is unstable and I doubt that it is worth betting on it.
1,81 - 3,40 - 4,70

Placing a 5 fold bet is risky (even when betting on the favorites) and chances you will win are quite low I think, as surprises can always happen. The only 2 matches that I would combine to place a bet on would be Switzerland and Sweden to win, which will give a combined odd of 1.71.

[Pulsar77]

Turkey are going to have a very critical game for them against Norway home in four days. Reportedly, Haaland and Sörloth both are still injured and won't be able to perform in this game also. This is very great news for the Turkey side actually. Because if they don't win this game, maybe they won't have another chance to promote to the World Cup. They must win this to increase their chance at a very high rate. They are going to have their first game with their new manager Stefan Kuntz here also. I believe that Turkey will manage to get a decent win here and take the 2nd place from Norway. I assume that Netherlands will beat Latvia away and maintain their lead.

[snipie]

It is not entirely FIFA's call. Qatar already hinted that all participating players and staff will have to be vaccinated, I doubt that FIFA can influence the country's health rules in any way.

They can move the World Cup, but I assume there would be heavy penalties involved and I doubt that they are even considering it.

I would really like for World Cup to be distanced from politics and topics like these but in reality I think we will have hard Covid rules, with some important players missing because they will not want to get the vaccine. Hope I'm wrong though.

Until then, many things could change but moving the World Cup from Qatar will not happen for sure.

Turkey are going to have a very critical game for them against Norway home in four days. Reportedly, Haaland and Sörloth both are still injured and won't be able to perform in this game also. This is very great news for the Turkey side actually. Because if they don't win this game, maybe they won't have another chance to promote to the World Cup.

I will be surprised to see Turkey winning vs Norway even without Haaland in honestly. They showed one of their worst performance this year.. Meanwhile Turkey odds are better @2 than Norway @3.5! we will see what they can do!

[joker_josue]

The next two rounds of qualifying matches, we can say that it will be the most decisive. Since we are only 4 rounds left in qualifying. Losing points now could mean not going to the World Cup.


MATCHDAY 7
Friday 8 October

Group E: Czech Republic vs Wales, Estonia vs Belarus
Group G: Gibraltar vs Montenegro, Latvia vs Netherlands, Turkey vs Norway
Group H: Cyprus vs Croatia, Malta vs Slovenia, Russia vs Slovakia
Group J: Germany vs Romania, Iceland vs Armenia, Liechtenstein vs North Macedonia


Saturday 9 October

Group A: Azerbaijan vs Republic of Ireland (18:00), Luxembourg vs Serbia
Group B: Georgia vs Greece (18:00), Sweden vs Kosovo (18:00)
Group C: Lithuania vs Bulgaria (15:00), Switzerland vs Northern Ireland
Group D: Kazakhstan vs Bosnia and Herzegovina (15:00), Finland vs Ukraine (18:00)
Group F: Scotland vs Israel (18:00), Faroe Islands vs Austria, Moldova vs Denmark
Group I: Andorra vs England, Hungary vs Albania, Poland vs San Marino

[Sithara007]

I will be surprised to see Turkey winning vs Norway even without Haaland in honestly. They showed one of their worst performance this year.. Meanwhile Turkey odds are better @2 than Norway @3.5! we will see what they can do!

If Håland is injured, then it will get tough for Norway. They are very heavily dependent on him. And for Turkey, let's not forget their good performances over the last few years, although their recent form is not good. I would say without Håland, Turkey would be the solid favorites against Norway. Another important factor to remember here is that the match will take place at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium in Istanbul, and Turkey will be having the home advantage. Now I don't know whether the odds are justified or not. Turkey at 2.00? Not enough to compel me to make a bet in their favor.