For the 179 members of FIFA who did not qualify, here is a summary of what they did the day they were eliminated: Did not play: 6 Draw: 20 Extra time loss on aggregate: 1 Extra time loss on away goals: 1 Forfeit loss: 1 Loss in regulation: 125 Did not enter: 7 Expelled: 1 (Russia) Penalty kicks loss: 3 Win: 14 Here are the types of elimination: Aggregate: 28 Did not enter: 7 Expelled: 1 (Russia) Group stage before the last matchday: 102 Group stage on the last matchday: 27 (I arbitrarily put group stage eliminations in two categories) One game: 14 (UEFA, OFC, and interconfederational) Here are the elimination dates in month/day/year format and the number with the first date being Day 1: 1. 6/11/2019 (Day 1): 5 2. 6/27/2019 (Day 17): 1 to make 6 3. 9/8/2019 (Day 90): 4 to make 10 4. 9/10/2019 (Day 92): 10 to make 20 5. 11/19/2019 (Day 162): 3 to make 23 6. 12/4/2020 (Day 543): 1 to make 24 7. 3/22/2021 (Day 651): 1 to make 25 8. 3/25/2021 (Day 654): 1 to make 26 9. 3/28/2021 (Day 657): 2 to make 28 10. 3/29/2021 (Day 658): 1 to make 29 11. 3/30/2021 (Day 659): 5 to make 34 12. 5/16/2021 (Day 706): 1 to make 35 13. 5/30/2021 (Day 720): 1 to make 36 14. 6/2/2021 (Day 723): 1 to make 37 15. 6/3/2021 (Day 724): 4 to make 41 16. 6/4/2021 (Day 725): 7 to make 48 17. 6/5/2021 (Day 726): 2 to make 50 18. 6/7/2021 (Day 728): 5 to make 55 19. 6/8/2021 (Day 729): 5 to make 61 20. 6/11/2021 (Day 732): 5 to make 66 21. 6/15/2021 (Day 736): 8 to make 74 22. 9/7/2021 (Day 820): 1 to make 75 23. 9/8/2021 (Day 821): 1 to make 76 24. 10/8/2021 (Day 851): 4 to make 80 25. 10/9/2021 (Day 852): 9 to make 89 26. 10/10/2021 (Day 853): 4 to make 93 27. 10/11/2021 (Day 854): 8 to make 101 28. 10/12/2021 (Day 855): 12 to make 113 29. 11/11/2021 (Day 885): 5 to make 118 30. 11/12/2021 (Day 886): 5 to make 123 31. 11/13/2021 (Day 887): 3 to make 126 32. 11/14/2021 (Day 888): 4 to make 130 33. 11/16/2021 (Day 890): 7 to make 137 34. 11/29/2021 (Day 903): 2 to make 139 35. 1/27/2022 (Day 962): 1 to make 140 36. 1/28/2022 (Day 963): 1 to make 141 37. 1/30/2022 (Day 965): 1 to make 142 38. 2/1/2022 (Day 967): 5 to make 147 39. 2/2/2022 (Day 968): 1 to make 148 40. 2/28/2022 (Day 994): 1 to make 149 (Russia) 41. 3/19/2022 (Day 1,013): 2 to make 151 42. 3/21/2022 (Day 1,015): 1 to make 152 43. 3/24/2022 (Day 1,018): 7 to make 159 44. 3/27/2022 (Day 1,021): 3 to make 162 45. 3/29/2022 (Day 1,023): 11 to make 173 46. 3/30/2022 (Day 1,024): 1 to make 174 47. 6/1/2022 (Day 1,087): 1 to make 175 48. 6/5/2022 (Day 1,091): 1 to make 176 49. 6/7/2022 (Day 1,093): 1 to make 177 50. 6/13/2022 (Day 1,099): 1 to make 178 51. 6/14/2022 (Day 1,100): 1 to make 179 2019: 23 (12.85 percent) 2020: 1 (0.56 percent) 2021: 115 (64.25 percent) 2022: 40 (22.35 percent, it adds up to 100.01 percent because of rounding)
I remember Guatemala being eliminated despite being undefeated, not giving up a goal, and tying for 1st in their "preliminary" group. IMHO, that should not happen.
The funny thing is that since CONCACAF intentionally scheduled the games in all groups so that the top seed would play the second seed at home on the final day, they could even have just put a rule where the teams would play extra time and penalties if there was a tie on points for 1st place.
Argentina would be eliminated tomorrow if they lose to Mexico. Australia would be eliminated tomorrow if they lose to Tunisia. And I think Costa Rica and Germany would end up being eliminated simultaneously since Costa Rica losing to Japan doesn't officially eliminate them unless Germany also loses to Spain. Canada and Ghana are the other two teams that could be eliminated by the end of MD2 if they lose.
Ah, I forgot about Australia. I don't think Argentina will lose to Mexico. I believe Costa Rica are also out with a loss to Japan and a draw in the Germany-Spain game. Japan would have 6 points, and Spain 4. Costa Rica would be able to get 3 max.
Welp, the grim reaper tried some Vegemite and decided to let the Socceroos live another day All eyes on Messi and co. now...
Canada can be the next eliminated nation if they lose against Croatia. Remaining potential eliminations of Matchday 2: The loser of Serbia v Cameroon if Brazil v Switzerland ends in a draw Ghana if they lose against South Korea Gernany can't be eliminated today even if they lose 10-0 against Spain
Just for some perspective about how competitive this year's group stage has been, at Russia 2018, five teams had clinched a spot in the knockout rounds and eight teams had been eliminated by the end of Match Day 2. At Brazil 2014, seven teams had clinched a spot in the knockout rounds and six teams had been eliminated by the end of Match Day 2.
And so.....after Matchday 2 of Qatar 2022, only three teams (France, Brazil, Portugal) have clinched sport in the knockout rounds, and only two teams have been eliminated (Qatar & Canada)! Matchday 3 is going to be veeeeeeeeeeeeeeery stressful......
Hey! There's no room for that kind of language around here. ...that John Herdman fella you're talking about 's gonna get a serious warning
You need more high quality players. At the World Cup it isn't enough to have a couple of good players. You need at least 6-7 players playing at the highest level (feature week in week out in a top 5 league or in the best case play CL football). Iran just don't have that. There is a bit more quality than in 2014 and 2018 but overall it wasn't enough. They will now have to make an overhaul of their squad. This squad is just too old. If no major changes are made they won't stand a chance for glory at the 2024 Asian Cup either.
Iran's footballing future is as uncertain as many other things about the country, but what is very clear is that Iran's team will go through a rebuilding phase with new players replacing many of the veterans on this squad.
I am sorry to say it, but I told you many months ago that it was going to happen. There seems to be some sort of "curse" (you can call it as you wish, but it is something unrelated to football) that Iran (and Scotland, and Tunisia) cannot advance to the second round. Maybe the next WC will be different, as the first round group would consist of 3 teams...
tough luck mate, and again just a shot away from it as well. And they are starting to get wins now... But Iran always play well and are a tough opponent at the World Cup. One of these days it'll happen....