32 teams have qualified for the World Cup 2022 and fans can look forward to a festival of football in November and December when the best players in the world will put on a show to remember in Qatar.
For the likes of the favourites Brazil and France, there was a comfortable passage to the finals but many other nations had to battle hard and some went by the wayside.
As the qualification groups neared their conclusions and the play-offs were completed, there were cheers and tears for the winners and losers with many a dramatic turn of event.
Here at SBOTOP, we followed all the big stories as the action unfolded, and here are four of the best.
Uruguay’s dramatic recovery
Consecutive defeats to Brazil, Argentina twice, and Bolivia at the end of 2021 left Uruguay in a precarious position of seventh in the CONMEBOL table and at serious risk of missing out.
La Celeste scored just one goal and conceded 11 in that depressing run and the worrying state of their campaign saw the end of Oscar Tabarez, who had spent a record 15 years at the helm.
Former Inter Miami boss Diego Alonso took over and with immediate results, winning the next four to see La Celeste on the way to Qatar.
Flamengo midfielder Giorgian de Arrascaeta scored the crucial winner over rivals Peru which confirmed Uruguay’s qualification with a game to spare, and that result also booked outsiders’ Ecuador’s ticket to Qatar, leaving Peru to fight it out in the play-offs unsuccessfully – losing to Australia.
With South American heavyweights Colombia and Chile trailing in their wake, Ecuador booked their place despite losing to Paraguay, thanks also to Brazil’s 4-0 thumping of Chile.
Italy out again
Nobody wants to miss out on the World Cup finals, and this time in Qatar is no different. But arguably the biggest World Cup 2022 news story came in Palermo in March when Roberto Mancini’s Italy crashed out in a play-off battle with the minnows from North Macedonia, who were ranked 67th in the world.
And it could hardly have been more exciting as Aleksandar Trajkovski picked up the ball in midfield before driving forward and unleashing a stoppage time winner from outside the area.
The goal sparked wild celebrations in the Macedonian camp while the Azzurri players fell to their knees with the realisation that they had missed out for the second World Cup finals in succession.
It could hardly be more galling for the proud football nation after they won the 2020 European Championships and, since losing to North Macedonia, they have drawn in Nations League clashes with fellow European giants England and Germany.
The World Cup 2022 betting odds won’t give Macedonia much hope when they arrive in Qatar, but at least they made it there.
Wales through at Ukraine’s expense
The most emotional night in qualification came in Cardiff where Wales beat Ukraine to make it to the World Cup finals for the first time in 64 years. Rob Page led the Dragons to Qatar with the eyes of the world on the game as the Ukraine players battled heroically, just as their compatriots are doing following the outbreak of war in Europe.
And sadly, it was an Andriy Yarmolenko own goal which ended Ukraine’s dreams while Wales started to prepare for the finals.
Keeper Wayne Hennessey was the Welsh hero as Ukraine threw everything at the hosts in search of an equaliser. Qatar will welcome Wales but Ukraine will be sorely missed, as much for their heart as for their undoubted ability on the pitch.
Canada young guns top CONCACAF
Mexico and USA, ninth and 15th in the FIFA World Rankings, were expected to take the first two spots in the CONCACAF qualifying group while Canada fought with the likes of Costa Rica for the final qualification place.
The Maple Leafs are ranked 38th in the world behind Costa Rica too at 31st and they stormed to the top of the table to finish above the two big guns and also ahead of Costa Rica.
Even a final day defeat to Panama couldn’t dampen Canada’s celebrations as John Herdman’s men finished ahead of Mexico on goal difference, while USA edged out Costa Rica in third place also on goal difference.
Canada’s attack will be led by top scorer Cyle Larin in Qatar. The Club Brugges man has 24 goals for his country and he will be alongside the exciting Lille striker Jonathan David.
Meanwhile, 21-year-old Bayern Munich wide-man Alphonso Davies will be a man to watch too at the finals.
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
