The road to Qatar is a bit thornier again, the Czech Republic has moved into the unseeded teams for the barrage! What are the possible opponents?

Europe is looking for 13 chosen ones. Exactly that many countries will travel to the small country located in the south of the Persian Gulf in Asia next winter. Jaroslav Šilhavy’s selection is also vying for tickets to Qatar, and winning them is the goal for a significant part of the Czech national team. However, after the failed qualification so far, it seems harder and harder to achieve.

The Czech selection had a clear goal after the 2022 World Cup qualifying groups were drawn, if we are talking about the real one. To finish with the smallest possible loss behind the favoured Belgium, thus securing the barrage and the best possible seeding for it.

So far, it looks like second place, but even that is not in the Czech selection’s hands. They will have to rely on Wales’ expected loss to Belgium. Moreover, the Czech Republic is only 7th in the table of second-placed teams, so they will probably enter the barrage among the unseeded teams.

Qualification system

The aim of the European qualification for the World Cup is to select the 13 strongest teams. Ten of them will know their future in mid-November, namely the teams that dominated their qualifying groups. They will therefore already occupy the first ten qualification places a year before the start of the championship.

The other three will be redistributed among the twelve countries, which will most likely include the Czech Republic. Twelve teams will be competing for these places. The ten second best teams from the groups and the top two from the Nations League rankings.

They will be drawn into the semi-final pairs. The winners of just one match will then go through to a direct battle with the winner of the other pre-drawn pairing to qualify for the World Cup.

The countries will be divided into two baskets of six each for the seeded and unseeded teams as is customary during the draw. Specifically, according to the table of second places, in which the point gains from matches with the first to fifth team of the group will be counted, due to some groups of up to six.

The bottom four will then be completed in the unseeded basket by the pair of highest-placed teams in the Nations League, which also finished outside the top two in the groups. The unseeded teams will be drawn with one of the seeded teams in the semi-finals. They will also play the match in front of an outdoor crowd.

Czech national team situation and potential opponents

The Czech Republic currently find themselves in second place in Group E due to a better score. If, as the public expects, they lose, Jaroslav Šilhavy’s team will have everything in their hands again, and all they need to do is to beat Estonia by the highest possible margin.

The Czech national team can thus be expected to finish the qualification with 14 points. And what about its competitors in the battle for the first basket? Croatia, the closest to sixth, has two more games to play. We can expect Malta to win and then play Russia for the top spot in the group. However, both of these teams would probably be higher than the Czech Republic in the final rankings of the runners-up.

The next team is fifth-placed Poland. But it has a significantly better score and a game to play in which it will be the clear favourite. Only Scotland can be next in line, but Soucek and co. would have to hope for a loss to Denmark, who are already assured of qualifying for the final tournament as the first team.

Norway, who are in a similar situation to the Czech national team, may also have a say in the game for the first basket. Latvia awaits with 11 points. However, it has an extra match to play, but the clash with the Netherlands will probably make the Nordic country’s score worse rather than add points. The score is already one goal worse than the Czech Republic.

In the event of a tie in both points and scores, which is a very realistic scenario for either Norway or Scotland, the goals scored will be decisive, and Scotland and the Czech Republic currently have five more than Norway.

Who could face the Czech team? In case of a place among the unseeded teams, Serbia, Spain/Sweden, Switzerland, Scotland, Croatia/Russia or Poland can be expected.

Romania, Ukraine, Norway, Scotland, Austria and Wales (the latter two via the Nations League) could be the most likely opponents in the semi-finals if the Czech team makes it to the top six.

Sources used: UEFA, Livesport