The World Cup qualifiers are back this week and there are some seriously intriguing fixtures on the schedule.
The tournament already has a number of nations ready to compete from other continents with the likes of Japan, New Zealand, Argentina and Brazil through.
Then there are smaller nations such as Cape Verde, Uzbekistan and Jordan who will make their debut in the competition having come through the AFC Asian Cup route.
England, meanwhile, are the only nation to have qualified from the European stages thus far but this week could see multiple countries through to the World Cup in 2026 with big hitters still to make it.
Cristiano Ronaldo has records on his mind that he hopes to break next year but Portugal must first make it there.
Spain have the Euros on their list of recent accomplishments and they will want to add the most prestigious trophy in world football to their cabinet.
Again, though, they have to mathematically secure qualification, still, from Group E.
This week will see some big players square off against others and there are nations who can win their way into the tournament – hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada – with three more points.
So we at FootballBlog did the leg work to let readers know what to look out for specifically this week, starting with fixtures on Thursday evening and then games moving into Monday night.
Home nations have a chance
There is still a definite opportunity for at least a couple of the home nations to join the Three Lions at World Cup 2026.
Scotland can set up what would be an incredible Hampden Park shootout against Denmark next week if they simply avoid defeat in Greece.
The Greeks are already eliminated but are dangerous so will take a strong Tartan performance to see them off.
Wales under Craig Bellamy are in with a shout and have played one game less than North Macedonia who are just ahead of them in the group.
It’s likely Belgium will make it through so, like the Scots, it could be a shootout for the Dragons on the final matchday.
Northern Ireland are still alive in Group A and just three points behind Germany and Slovakia. Michael O’Neill’s lads will need help but they can be successful potentially through the playoffs if they are unfortunate automatically.
Erling Haaland record breaker extraordinaire
Haaland surpassed Norway’s Jørgen Juve’s long-standing record of top scorer for the country with his 51 goals in 46 caps.
And the scary thing is that 25-year-old Haaland is showing no signs of slowing down.
The Norwegians are all but qualified and it will be their first World Cup since 1998 with a humungous fall the only potential thing keeping Italy’s hopes up.
It’s highly unlikely that Norway will collapse – almost impossible, actually – but Haaland against Estonia on Thursday evening could score another barrel load to push his stats even further and build a strong record of his own.
One that will surely never be beaten.
France win takes them through
Didier Deschamps will expect his French outfit to see off Ukraine on Thursday to make it into the World Cup officially.
Kylian Mbappe will be available while the likes of Antoine Griezmann will become one of the more experienced pros next year at 35 providing he is picked in the squad or he chooses not to retire.
FUSSBALL Euro 2021 GRUPPE C Spiel 12 in Muenchen Frankreich – Deutschland 15.06.2021 Paul Pogba, N Golo Kante, Lucas Hernandez, Karim Benzema, Adrien Rabiot und Kylian Mbappe v.l., alle Frankreich jubeln nach dem 1:0 *** FOOTBALL Euro 2021 GROUP C Match 12 in Munich France Germany 15 06 2021 Paul Pogba, N Golo Kante, Lucas Hernandez, Karim Benzema, Adrien Rabiot and Kylian Mbappe v l , all France cheer after 1 0
Les Bleus have won the tournament four times including most recently in 2018 and they will want to ensure they are in the mix for the trophy in 2026.
But they have to get there, first, and a win in their next outing will see to that.
Thomas Tuchel’s England can take chances
The England manager will be pleased, proud and perhaps a little relieved to know that his side have made it with games to spare.
That means the coming fixtures against Serbia and Albania can be used as a testing ground for some of the lesser seen internationals within Tuchel’s squad.
The German, 52, has numerous England hopefuls who will want to be at the World Cup next year who are already in the squad.
Some are not yet but will use their domestic football over the course of the next number of months to convince the boss to take them.
In the next two outings, some will surely get their chance to impress knowing there’s only pride left to fight for.
Regulars at risk
We know the World Cup has been expanded for 2026 and that will help some smaller countries make it for the first time.
Others have looked particularly poor in their qualifying campaign and run the risk of missing out on the competition.
Some nations are even those who have performed more often than not on the biggest stage.
The likes of Greece, Sweden and Iceland are sitting outside of the playoff spots and will not make it.
That means Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyokeres, Kostas Tsimikas and others like Albert Guðmundsson will miss out.
Others may well be given a reprieve via the playoffs but there will almost certainly be some big name players and regular competitor nations who do not qualify.
