In all fairness, I only watched them during the AFCON and the 2nd leg against Nigeria in which they didn't appear to be that good. I don't really know much about football situation in Ethiopia, and while yes they developped tremendously, it seems to me they're a bit behind the "powerhouses" in Africa. Ghana, Algeria and Nigeria all have relatively young suqads that should be there for 2018. Not to mention the competition from CIV, Cameroon, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Morocco, Egypt.. You have to admit they're not a shoe-in for Russia 2018 I hope the best for you tho, would be nice to see a new face in the WC.
My votes would be for Egypt, Romania, Sweden, Uzbekistan and possibly Cape Verde and Iceland. But like someone else mentioned, really hard to predict until the draws are held.
Armenia have had decent campaigns in their last two outings... euro 2012 and wc 2014, wonder if they could sustain that for the next WC cycle but it all depends on the draw again. I also wonder how things will change with expansion of the euros, some teams could make that and move up in their rankings to enhance their qualification seeding chances will see... when is the qualification draw anyway, early 2016?
It used to be in November but for World Cup 2014 it was on July 30, 2011, meaning that it could be in July 2015.
That is a moxie pick, I like it! They've certainly got some solid young players around him like Aaron Ramsey. They should also have a very good shot for at least 3rd in Euro qualifying and maybe even 2nd, which would help them get a better draw for WCQ. If Ronaldo could carry the water the last 6 years for Portugal, then Bale probably could for Wales too.
You really think you could compare Wales without Bale to Portugal without Ronaldo? Portugal minus Ronaldo is still the the ninth most expensive team. Okay fine, the transfer market isn't the best parameter, just go player for player. The whole Ronaldo does it all for Portugal, is just another way of saying I'm ignorant and this is what the media told me.
Yes they played like garbage no doubt, much like Italy, Spain and England. The point is, even if you remove Ronaldo from Portugal and keep Bale on Wales, Portugal is technically the better team. To say Bale can carry Wales like Ronaldo does Portugal is a ridiculous statement. Ronaldo has been playing for Portugal for 10 years, in that time he has had about 10-12 good games. It's a huge misconception led by the media, and blew up because of the Sweden playoffs.
Wales has a team about the same level as Ireland excluding Gary Bale and Aaron Ramsey. If they don't get a group of something like Spain+France they can very well upset. I also think we in Iceland have a better shot of qualifying this time. Last cycle we had a very young team which had just recently been promoted from the U-21, but this time both they're better and our next U-21 is producing some quality defenders (which we didn't have). I'mma go for Iraq, Uzbekistan, Turkey, Wales, Guatemala, Mali, Morocco, Serbia, Sweden, Ukraine, Iceland and the teams failing from the 2014 edition we'll be missing: Australia, Iran, Greece, Croatia, Bosnia, Portugal, Honduras, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Switzerland and Uruguay
Guatemala huh? Risky choice. They did a complete overhaul after failing to make the Hex. We'll see what they can do in the Gold Cup, if they even make it (didn't make it in 2013). Then possibly the combined Copa. I'd put more money on Honduras maintaining their place as fourth best, they have a pretty young squad. I think El Salvador is in a better position as well.
I think the only team I realistically fear that can take our four spot, is Jamaica. They have Winnie already almost a year into his process, while gaining more good EPL based players like Puncheon of Cardiff. They also play Copa America next year as an invited squad. Darkhorse to make it to Russia for sure. ES are still too weak but will give teams a helluva fight, while Panama exhausted their golden generation. Guatemala.... It'll be decades till they wright the ship.
This is just a prediction. Honduras might be strong still but Guatemala have historically not been that far away. They're probably about the same level as Panama and El Salvador and a little bit behind Honduras and then CR, Mex and USA. Don't know if Jamaica are that strong. They recently called up a youth player at my team Norwich, Jamar Loza, and lost 8-0 to France. I don't think they'll qualify. Maybe the same level as T&T was in 2006.
There were zero (0) Scandinavian teams in Brazil. I'd be willing to bet that situation will not repeat itself in 2018. Would love to see Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland as they haven't been to a major tourney in a long time (1998 IIRC)
Egypt are probably going to have the hardest time out of all the teams not named Saudi Arabia. Ukraine and Turkey managed to get themselves in a very even group. Anybody could place first in Group I. Other than Germany, the Czechs are the best team in their group and should get second for a playoff spot. Poland is also in a very manageable group. And Paraguay are usually very tough to play, people always seem to underestimate them.
Euro u19 winner 2013 and world champion u20 2015 Serbia Will Be mature enough for russia 2018 and do damages there in a country They like very much!
Bold prediction - considering that Serbia is dead last in their Euro 2016 qualifying group - with -2 pts.
So? This thread is about teams that missed out on Brazil 2014 but might make Russia 2018, not necessarily debutantes.
A team like Serbia may have all the great young talent in the World but if the manager does not know what he is doing at the Senior level then that talent can be wasted. Looking at their Qualifying Group I don't think it is as easy as some are portraying it to be. Wales, Austria and Ireland can all give them problems.