The Un-qualified

Well, the last four teams from Europe have qualified. Personally, very disappointed that Denmark did not qualify, but at the same time gotten a bit tired of Danish news and commentators saying that Denmark were a better team.

They were not. 

Denmark had three straight chances of qualifying. Had they defeated Belarus at home, they would have qualified, but they tied. Had they not lost to Scotland away, they would have qualified. They lost after penalty kicks to the Czechs, who were both more cold-headed when taking penalties, but also seemed to want it more.

If you have that many chances and you don't make it, it is not because you are a better team. You are simply not good enough to be in the World Cup!

And if you really believe you are a better team, but did not make it, then the Manager is to blame. Mr. Brian Riemer repeatedly said that Denmark should and would qualify to the World Cup, but in the absence of qualification, he should take responsibility and leave.  

Other sides were successful in their qualification: Sweden took advantage of its Nations league option, even though they ended last in the World Cup qualifying group, to defeat Poland and make it to an unlikely World Cup where, frankly, they do not belong. 

Czechia, who lost to the Faroe Islands in the group stages, may have defeated my favourites Danes, but are not a team that will add anything in terms of football or fans to the World Cup; they are just there to take up space. 

Turkey, defeating Kosova, are in their first World Cup since their memorable 2002 World Cup, but have struggled to be there, and is unlikely to add anything either. 

Finally, while one has to respect Bosnia-Herzegovina for their heroic win against Italy, they will be nothing but an addition to a tournament with too many teams. Italy, again disappointing with another hapless qualification, is simply not good enough to be in a World Cup, despite Mr. Gattuso's previous criticism that South Americans had it too easy to qualify... I saw Bolivia play, and they were surely better than any of the eight European sides who were in the last round of play-offs, and would surely have added more to the World Cup that even the last four European teams who qualified.

The World Cup has too many teams with 48; but it has way too many European teams as well, and in a tournament of 48, it would have benefited much more with four less teams from Europe, and four more from the rest of the world. 

Report from the last qualifying match in Monterrey, NL

At half-time between Bolivia and Iraq I was a bit sad mid the great atmosphere at the BBVA stadium in Monterrey: both teams deserve to be in the World Cup, not least for the great atmosphere the fans created, complemented by many happy Mexicans who just wanted to enjoy the atmosphere of the World Cup. 

With 48 teams in the World Cup, the last spots should rather be given to non-European sides with great fans and commitment to their national sides, rather than the entitled and mediocre European sides that qualified in the European play-offs.

But it had to one of the teams, and it turned out to be an entertaining match to find the last qualified to for the World Cup. Iraq took an early lead on a header by the Luton striker Ali Al-Hamadi, and poor defending by the Bolivians. It led to the Bolivians putting pressure on the Iraqis, and following a period of dominance by the quick and technically gifted South Americans, Moises Paniagua equalized on a splendid strike. As the first half ended 1-1, the Bolivian fans had reason to be optimistic, as they were dominating, but in the second half Iraq came out more organised, and soon enough scored on a counter-attack: Aymen Hussein (extraordinary player with a difficult personal history) came ahead of a poorly placed Bolivian defender, bringing joy to the Iraqi fans, many of whom had come over from the USA.

Bolivia attacked an attacked the rest of the match, but despite possession and pressure, never managed to open up a disciplined and committed Iraqi side, who in Mexico qualified for their first World Cup since 1986, in Mexico.

Sad to see the Bolivian exit, but fans took it in good spirit, as the Iraqis were applauded and celebrated. Personally I loved being there, in a beautiful stadium, in the fantastic city of Monterrey, who will be great hosts this World Cup. 

This match represented what the World Cup will be about: celebrating, and be sure I will have a soft spot for Iraq as the face France, Senegal and Norway!