User blog:Hexarafi/2018 FIFA World Cup qualification: Round Up

Hello, guys. Hexarafi here.

Yeah, yeah, I know most of you guys don't like association football. I just want to write my reaction here after the qualification, maybe there are some conspiracy related to political things. Let's check 'em out!

See also: Wikipedia.

Asia/Australia (AFC)
Let's start from where I am from, Asia. So far there are 4 teams are qualified: Iran, Japan, South Korea, and Saudi Arabia. Another team, Australia, which just won over a nation in heavy civil war, Syria, must defeat team from North America to reach the World Cup.

In my opinion, there are no much surprise, except for Syria. How can a war-torn nation advance to the play-off? They finish above teams like Uzbekistan, Qatar, and PR China which have good situations in their countries. Other than Syria, no surprise.

Africa (CAF)
Nigeria and Egypt are already qualified to the World Cup. There are no doubt because they are best teams in Africa. The other three big teams, Algeria, Cameroon, and Ghana, are eliminated, but they are in the same group with Nigeria and Egypt. But, the surprise is their performance, they are underperform in this qualification. Three spots are still open, there may be some surprise. My prediction, Tunisia, Cote d'Ivoire, and Senegal will follow Egypt and Nigeria to qualify to the World Cup.

North, Central America, and the Carribbean (CONCACAF)
Let's take a look... First position: Mexico, yeah Mexico is one of the 'must-qualify' team, they have very good culture at football. Second position: Costa Rica, not bad, they deserve it, can they make surprises again like in 2014? Third position: Panama, what the heck? Panama? Fourth position: Honduras, what??! Where is the United States? Yeah, they are failed to qualify to Russia 2018. I still can't believe it, United States is the big team, football, I mean soccer, is growing up in the country, they have wonderkid Christian Pulisic (Maybe some conspiracy? US v Russia?). If some of you guys ask where is Canada, they don't qualify too, remember Canada is not good at soccer.

South America (CONMEBOL)
Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, and Colombia have already qualified. But where is the Copa America champions, Chile? Yeah, they are eliminated. Another big surprises, Chile, which is in top era, must be eliminated after lost at goal differences from Peru, which advances to the play-off against New Zealand. Very sad...

Oceania (OFC)
Nothing to be discussed. Of course, New Zealand will win easily against other Oceanian teams. Can they defeat Peru at play-offs?

Europe (UEFA)
The last, and the most interesting one, this is Europe. There are some surprises.

These teams are already qualified, France, Portugal, Germany, Serbia, Poland, England, Spain, Belgium, and the most surprising, Iceland, they will make their debuts in the World Cup and become smallest nation ever to qualify to the World Cup. Sweden, Switzerland, Northern Ireland, (Republic of) Ireland, Denmark, Italy, Greece, and Croatia will play at play-offs, draw has been made, and the most interesting match is Italy v Sweden. The most surprising team that don't qualify is the Netherlands, but at least they have done their best, Sweden is good team though. Other good teams that don't qualify are Wales, Scotland, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Turkey, and Ukraine.

Well, that's it. Football is just "mystery", every teams can make it into the next rounds, it is sad too to see good teams aren't qualified. Thank you very much. Bye.