Interesting point & post. Though FIFA's rankings are more inert and less reactive to good/bad form than ELO. Take Norway, for example. I'd be interested to look at ELO. Is Sweden any good tight now? They & Romania certainly have more of a (fairly recent) history of being good, more so than Kosovo. But now?
Iraq are in the IC POs with a win over UAE. Our resident ranking gurus say DR Congo will pass them in the rankings. The otger IC PO seed will likely cone from Panama. Though both could if Costa Rica somehow makes the PO.. I. Intercontinental PO's: Clinched (4) Playoff updates (Ranks) 1. OFC (1): New Caledonia (150) 2. CONMEBOL (1): Bolivia (76) 3. CAF: DR Congo (60) 4. AFC: Iraq (58) II. Intercontinental PO's: Undecided (2) 5. CONCACAF: atm Panama (31) 6. CONCACAF: atm Jamaica (68) ---------- CONCACAF is murkier, with 7 teams alive for 5 spots (3 direct, 2 PO). Suriname, Curacao, and Honduras lead the groups, but all are on the road for the final game: at Guatemala, Jamaica, and Costa Rica, respectively. III. UEFA POs (16) A. Group 2nds (12) 1. Clinched UEFA POs as 2nd (7) 1. Czech Republic (Group L) 2. Albania (Group K) 3. Republic of Ireland (Group F) 4. Ukraine (Group D) 5. Italy (Group I) 6. Slovakia (Group A) 7. Poland (Group G) 2. Clinched 2nd if Don't Win Group (4) 1. Group B: Kosovo (Switzerland) 2. Group C: Scotland (Denmark) 3. Group E: Turkey (Spain) 4. Group H: Bosnia Herzegovina (Austria) BH and Scotland with legit chances to win their groups. Kosovo will need a near miracle, Turkey divine intervention. 3. Clinched PO spot if don't win Group (1) 1. Group J: Wales v North Macedonia: Wales must win to get 2nd, and both have a shot to win the Group if Belgium stumble with Liechtenstein, but cannot be eliminated. II. Nation's League Places/Non Top 2 (4) A. Clinched (3) 1. Romania (Group H 3rd) 2. Sweden (Group B 4th/3rd) 3. Northern Ireland (Group A 3rd) B. Can finish 1st/2nd/3rd, but guaranteed a PO spot via NL even if 3rd (1) 1. North Macedonia/Wales (Group J)
quite an undersell. IRAQ SCORED A PENALTY WITH THE LAST KICK OF THE GAME IN THE SEVENTEENTH MINUTE OF STOPPAGE TIME TO BEAT UAE AND KEEP ITS WORLD CUP DREAM ALIVE!!!
I thought the game was later, so I missed it. But I managed to watch the first two goals and all the added time. The penalty was committed just past the original 10 minutes of added time. I was relatively close, given that the penalty was sanctioned after the added time has expired.
What a start!!! They have not played 10 minutes and there are already 4 goals scored!!!: Belgium, Spain, Scotland and even San Marino!!!
We're at half-time in all the important games: Turkiye is drawing 1-1 with Spain, but they need more 7 goals. Spain should qualify Belgium is winning 3-0, so they should qualify. Switzerland is drawing 0-0 with Kosovo, so they should qualify. Bosnia is surprisingly beating Austria 0-1, so at this moment they are qualifying. Scotland is up 1-0 agains Denmark, so they are qualifying as well. Also, Wales is now up 3-1 against North Macedonia
Just so we are able to determine who qualify first, the second half started at: 20:48 GMT: Belgium-Liechtenstein. 20:49 GMT: Austria-Bosnia. 20:50 GMT: Kosovo-Switzerland. 20:51 GMT: Spain-Turkiye. 20:52 GMT: Scotland-Denmark.