[ 2016-11-20 ]

Ghana, Argentina, Netherlands and Japan in danger of missing World Cup
With 12 months to go before we know the 31 teams
who will join hosts Russia at the 2018 World Cup,
we take a look at some of the major nations and
familiar names who appear to have a battle on
their hands to make the finals.

Ghana

The Black Stars have become something of a fixture
at the World Cup finals, having qualified for the
past three tournaments and reaching the
quarterfinals in 2010. But their chances of being
in Russia are already looking slim.

After being held to a 0-0 draw at home by Uganda,
and losing in Egypt, they sit third in the group
with only the group winners qualifying. Egypt have
a 100 percent record and are now firm favourites
to make the finals for the first time since 1990
and only their third appearance overall.

Argentina and Chile

Argentina's 3-0 defeat in Brazil last week left
them facing a huge crisis in their qualification
bid. However, victory at home to Colombia on
Tuesday averted this for now, as at least that win
left them fifth and that offers a playoff against
the winners of the Oceania region -- likely New
Zealand.

Head coach Edgardo Bauza obviously wants to avoid
this, but with six games to go and Brazil and
Uruguay looking favourites to take two of the four
automatic berths, there is still work to do -- and
they don't want the ignominy of not even getting a
playoff. Next up in March is the Albiceleste host
Chile, who are a point and a place ahead of them,
and defeat would make things incredibly
difficult.

Argentina do still have to play the bottom three
nations, though one of those games will be at
altitude against Bolivia in La Paz. But the last
match of qualifying in October, in Ecuador
(currently third), has all the hallmarks of a
direct battle for an automatic place.

Of course, if Argentina do force their way in it
could yet be Chile -- winners of the past two
editions of the Copa America, both times winning
finals against Argentina -- who could fall out of
the top four.

Netherlands and Sweden

After missing out on Euro 2016, there has not been
much confidence that head coach Danny Blind would
be able to guide Netherlands to the World Cup
through a qualifying group that includes France
and Sweden. Only the group winners are guaranteed
to make it with the runners-up getting a playoff
place at best.

The Dutch -- who last failed to qualify in 2002 --
have already lost at home to France, and while
they are only three points off Didier Deschamps'
side at the top of the table, they are also in a
battle for second, level points with the Swedes.
Sweden host France on June 9, then France are at
home to Netherlands on Aug. 31 -- those two games
will go a long way to deciding the 1, 2, 3 in
Group A.

Portugal

European champions Portugal have only dropped
points in one qualifier so far, but that happened
to be away to Switzerland who have a 100 percent
record. That means the Swiss could play for a draw
in the return fixture on Aug. 31, and that could
prove to be enough to qualify automatically. That
said, with Portugal's hugely superior goal
difference, qualification is still very much in
their own hands.

Hungary are also only two points behind Portugal
for second place, and with the two nations -- who
drew 3-3 at Euro 2016 -- yet to meet, the picture
could change for second place, too.

Australia and Japan

Group B in Asian qualifying is very difficult to
call, with one point separating Saudi Arabia,
Japan, Australia and United Arab Emirates at the
halfway stage. However, Australia have one more
home game than any of their three rivals, with
Japan to play away, so they will feel the odds are
in their favour.

Japan still have to go to both Saudi Arabia and
UAE, so the home game against the Socceroos could
be pivotal if they are not to miss out on the
World Cup for the first time since 1994. But
Australia are short on confidence after being held
to a daw in Thailand.

United States

Zero points from two matches, and a 4-0 thrashing
at the hands of Costa Rica, has put United States
coach Jurgen Klinsmann's job at risk. But with
three of the six nations qualifying automatically,
and the fourth playing off against a team from
Asia, all is far from lost.

In addition, the U.S. can point to the fact they
have played two of their most difficult games --
they also lost at home to Mexico -- and will
expect to be in a much healthier position once
they have met Honduras, Panama and Trinidad &
Tobago come June.

Spain and Italy

With both nations drawn together in the same
group, one was always destined to need a playoff
to make it to Russia. At present, Spain lead the
way on goal difference (superior by seven), so it
is looking like Giampiero Ventura's side might
have to win in Spain on Sept. 2 to top the group
and avoid the playoffs.

Source - espnfc.com

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