- France and Portugal clinch last two automatic World Cup tickets from Europe
- Wins against Belarus and Switzerland sealed top spots
- Eight play-off contenders finalised
The finale of this round of qualification also saw the play-off places finalised, which will decide the remaining four spots from the continent, joining Russia and the nine group winners in representing the region. Sweden, Switzerland, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Denmark, Italy, Greece and Croatia made up the best second-placed finishers from the respective groups, with Slovakia missing out.
Didier Deschamps' side avoided any final day slip-ups as they saw off Belarus 2-1, courtesy of first-half goals from Antoine Griezmann and Olivier Giroud. A routine evening at the Stade de France was only briefly shaken by Anton Saroka's strike, though - coupled with the Netherlands' win over Sweden - even defeat would have seen their ticket stamped.
Victory means they continue a 20-year run of appearances at the finals, now at six in a row, having not been absent since winning the title on home soil since 1998. Prior to this latest sequence, they had never managed more than three consecutive trips to the tournament.
European champions Portugal had seemingly a much more challenging task awaiting them, hosting Group B leaders Switzerland - who had a 100 per cent record in the group going into the encounter - knowing that only a win would take them through. In reality, though, it proved to be smooth waters for Cristiano Ronaldo and Co., who triumphed 2-0 with relative ease.
A fantastic team goal, eventually converted by Andre Silva, was the icing on the cake as Fernando Santos' side booked their return to Russia, having finished third at the FIFA Confederations Cup Russia 2017.
Iceland and Serbia qualify for Russia 2018
- Iceland beat Kosovo to become smallest nation to reach the World Cup
- Serbia see of Georgia to secure their spot
- European group stage concludes tomorrow
The Icelanders’ feat is particularly notable as they have qualified for their first-ever FIFA World Cup™ and will become the least populous nation to compete at the global finals.
They secured that place in history with a nervy but thoroughly merited 2-0 win over Kosovo in Reykjavik, rounding off a memorable campaign that has seen them edge out the likes of Croatia, Ukraine and Turkey. Star man Gylfi Sigurdsson scored one and laid on another for Johann Gudmundsson as Heimir Hallgrimsson’s remarkable side kicked off a massive party in the Icelandic capital.
Serbia, meanwhile, return for the first time since 2010 having finished ahead of Republic of Ireland and Wales in Group D. Slavoljub Muslin’s side made sure of their place with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Georgia, with Aleksandar Prijovic’s solitary goal settling the Belgrade crowd’s nerves with 16 minutes remaining.
Iceland and Serbia are the sixth and seventh teams to emerge triumphant from the European preliminaries, and follow in the footsteps of Belgium, England, Spain, Germany and Poland. Hosts Russia’s participation is also guaranteed, as is that of Brazil, Iran, Japan, Mexico, Korea Republic, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Costa Rica and Egypt.
Five factors behind Egypt’s successful campaign
- Egypt return to the FIFA World Cup™ after a 28-year absence
- Mohamed Salah scored five goals in as many games
- The Pharaohs won their three games at the Borg el-Arab Stadium
1. Coaching stability
When the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) announced the appointment of Hector Cuper in March 2015, hopes were high despite his having just one previous stint as a national team coach with Georgia. And while on that occasion he registered just a single win during a year or so at the helm, he wasted little time in bringing successes to the Pharaohs. The 61-year-old led his charges back to the African Cup of Nations, for which they had failed to qualify in the three previous editions. At the continental championship, Cuper guided Egypt to the final, where they lost 2-1 to Cameroon. Despite the defeat, the team’s performance only strengthened the EFA’s belief in the veteran coach, who ultimately repaid that faith by securing a World Cup return.
2. Four main pillars
Throughout this campaign, Cuper has relied heavily on four key players, who helped him achieve his principal goal. Between the posts is Essam El Hadary, his first-choice keeper, who has been beaten only three times so far in the third round of qualifiers. Then there is the pacey Mohammed Abdul Shafi, who has proved indispensable on the left flank, and Arsenal’s defensive midfielder Mohamed El Neny, who has been tirelessly breaking up opposition attacks. Up front, Cuper’s go-to man is Mohamed Salah, who has netted the majority (71 per cent) of his side’s goals in these qualifiers. These four players have not missed a single minute of the third-round qualifying games, showing just how influential they have been in the triumphant journey.
3. The in-form Salah
When the African qualifiers for Russia 2018 started, Mohamed Salah was starring with Roma, where he become the club’s second top scorer with 15 goals and the Serie A’s second best in assists (11) during the 2016/17 season. Salah carried over his superb form into the national team, scoring in all the Pharaohs’ third round victories, including decisive goals against Uganda (1-0) and a brace against Congo (2-1). The 25-year-old Liverpool winger managed to shoulder this huge responsibility that comes with being his side’s attacking spearhead, fulfilling the dream of millions of Egyptians to return to the World Cup.
4. El Hadary’s comeback
When Essam El Hadary retired from international football in 2013, it seemed that the goalkeeper's national team career was finally over after becoming a second-choice for his country. However, he would make a remarkable return this year, regaining the No1 jersey in somewhat fortuitous circumstances at the 2017 African Cup of Nations. There he became the oldest player in the history of the tournament and led his team to the final of the continental showpiece. During the third round of qualifiers for Russia 2018, the tried-and-trusted custodian has not missed a single minute, playing an invaluable role in the successful campaign.
5. Fortress Borg el-ArabKnown as one of the most impenetrable castles on the shores of the Mediterranean, the Citadel of Qaitibay is one of Alexandria’s best known landmarks. Unsurprisingly, the Borg el-Arab Stadium is fast becoming another famous site in the city after it proved itself a fortress for Egypt during the qualifying campaign. There the Pharaohs registered three victories that were decisive to the campaign. First came triumphs over Ghana (2-0) and Uganda (1-0), before the venue witnessed history being made on October 8th with the dramatic late win over Congo that sealed Egypt’s passage to Russia. It now joins the ranks of Cairo International Stadium, the venue where the Pharaohs clinched a berth at the finals of Italy 1990.
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