International Football
Spain are among five big national teams at risk of missing the 2022 World Cup
The World Cup qualifiers are in full swing in almost all the confederations -Africa, Europe and South America.
There’s still a long way to go until the 2022 finals in Qatar, with fans having to wait a few extra months for next year’s tournament due to it being held in the winter. That said, there are some big-name countries already at risk of missing out on qualification.
Having failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup but going on to win Euro 2020, Italy have shown that failure to reach the greatest show on earth isn’t always as bad as it first appears, but the following countries will nonetheless be desperate to avoid the humiliation of missing out.
Spain
It may be pain for Spain as the La Roja suffered their first World Cup qualifying defeat since 1993 on Thursday in Sweden, ending a 66-game streak, but that is just the latest of Luis Enrique‘s concerns.
The national team haven’t enjoyed the same success in his second spell as the promise they showed in his first might have hinted at, and there is a need to find a regular goalscorer who can deliver at international level.
Alvaro Morata has had his share of criticism since before Euro 2020, while other options have endured similar complications when handed a place in the XI.
Spain must now win all their matches and hope Sweden slip up in order to have a chance of taking first place in their group, but even winning all their remaining games could be a tough task.
Colombia
Almost at the mid-way point of South American qualification, Colombia are in a position that they’d rather not find themselves in, sitting fifth and out of the automatic qualification places.
Currently occupying the spot that would take them into an inter-confederation play-off, Colombia are level on points with Uruguay ahead of them, but just two ahead of Paraguay behind them.
Controversy surrounding the national team and James Rodriguez from before the summer’s Copa America hasn’t helped things.
Netherlands
The European qualifiers are still at their early stages, but the Netherlands have found a lot of stiff competition in Group G.
Currently second on seven points – level with Montenegro and Norway – the Dutch trail leaders Turkey, following their underwhelming European Championship performance.
Ronald Koeman‘s time in charge is just a memory now. They haven’t hit those same heights since he left his job.
Chile
Another South American side who find themselves in trouble. Chile are seventh from 10 sides in qualification and don’t look as though they’ll make it, despite there being time for them to make up ground.
Having enjoyed success in recent Copa Americas and having been an exciting side at a couple of World Cups, their participation in Qatar is very much at risk.
Japan
Japan are a side who should be at every World Cup and they always offer a lot to the tournament.
Just one matchday into Group B of the third round of qualification in Asia, though, they are pointless behind Australia, Saudi Arabia and Oman, who all won their opening games.
There is plenty of time left, but Japan have started in the worst possible way by losing to Oman. The top two teams make the World Cup, with the third team advancing to a fourth round.
-Marca
Well-travelled Portuguese coach Paulo Duarte has been named as Guinea’s new coach, less than a month before their next round of World Cup qualifiers.
Duarte, 56, has twice previously coached Burkina Faso and taken charge of Gabon and Togo, while also coaching at clubs in Portugal, France, Tunisia, Angola and Saudi Arabia.
Guinea’s football federation gave no contract details when they made the announcement on Monday, but said they would be looking for Duarte to “restructure their national team”.
Guinea trail leaders Algeria by eight points in their World Cup qualifying group with four games remaining, leaving them with only a slim chance of qualification.
They play Somalia away on September 5 and then Algeria at home on September 8 in their next two qualifiers although a stadium ban means Guinea have moved their home game to Casablanca, Morocco.
-Reuters
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Veteran coach Louis van Gaal says he has been cured of cancer and is keen for a return to the higher levels of the game.
The 73-year-old announced three years ago that he was suffering from prostate cancer, but told a Dutch television talk show, “I’m no longer bothered by cancer.”
When he announced his illness, Van Gaal was the coach of the Dutch national team, but he has not worked since the last World Cup in Qatar in 2022.
“Two years ago, I had a few operations. It was all bad then. But it all worked out in the end. I have check-ups every few months, and that’s going well. I’m getting fitter and fitter,” he said.
Van Gaal, whose career has included stints at Ajax Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester United, reiterated a lack of interest in returning to club management but said becoming the national coach of a top-tier country could tempt him back.
He now serves as a special advisor to Ajax.
-Reuters
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In a compelling twist of football destiny, Davide Ancelotti is stepping into his own spotlight as he begins his first head coaching role at Brazilian club Botafogo—just months after parting ways with his legendary father, Carlo Ancelotti, at Real Madrid.
The 35-year-old has been appointed as Botafogo’s new manager, the club announced on Tuesday, following the sacking of Renato Paiva. Davide, who has spent the last decade working alongside his father at some of Europe’s top clubs—including Bayern Munich, Napoli, Everton, and Real Madrid—has signed a one-year deal with the Rio-based team.
This marks a significant milestone for the younger Ancelotti, whose career has long been shaped by his father’s influence, but who now faces the challenge of carving his own identity on the touchline.
The move comes shortly after both father and son departed Real Madrid at the end of last season, with Carlo taking over the Brazilian national team. Now, in a poetic alignment, father and son find themselves on different paths within Brazilian football—one leading the Seleção, the other steering the fortunes of a storied domestic club.
Botafogo’s decision to appoint Davide follows a controversial parting with Paiva, who was dismissed just days after their exit from the Club World Cup. Though he oversaw a stunning win over Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain, a 1-0 extra-time loss to Palmeiras in the round of 16 proved to be his final act after just four months in charge.
As Davide Ancelotti begins this new chapter, all eyes will be on whether the son of one of football’s most decorated managers can step out from his father’s shadow—and perhaps, in time, build a legacy of his own.
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