Other European Nations league

Its got massively easier . 1974 a three team group of England, Poland, Wales only one qualifies . No play off . Poland came 3rd in the main tournament.
1978 Italy , England , Luxembourg, Finland yes only one qualifies . England failed on goal difference!
Italy had to blow up massively not to qualify not once but twice this time.

The only difference in 2022 is the second chance (and the massive increase in additional fixtures against minnows).

You still had to win your group this time in UEFA qualifying to make it automatically, just like 1974.

So in 1974 we had to finish above Poland (& Wales) to qualify, and we failed.
In 2022, we had to finish above Poland (& Hungary & Albania plus a couple of city states) to qualify and we did.

In 1974, Italy had to finish above Switzerland (and what was, in those days, a terrible Turkey team) to qualify, and did.
In 2022, they had to finish above Switzerland (and Bulgaria, and Northern Ireland) and messed it up.


As I said, the only difference was the playoff - in 2022, you also get a second chance if you can win two more games against other 2nd placed teams.
But whilst Italy undoubtedly blew up spectacularly by losing to North Macedonia......they would still have had to then win in Portugal to make it.

World Cup qualification is still not - at least in Europe - a piece of cake.......
 
The only difference in 2022 is the second chance (and the massive increase in additional fixtures against minnows).

You still had to win your group this time in UEFA qualifying to make it automatically, just like 1974.

So in 1974 we had to finish above Poland (& Wales) to qualify, and we failed.
In 2022, we had to finish above Poland (& Hungary & Albania plus a couple of city states) to qualify and we did.

In 1974, Italy had to finish above Switzerland (and what was, in those days, a terrible Turkey team) to qualify, and did.
In 2022, they had to finish above Switzerland (and Bulgaria, and Northern Ireland) and messed it up.


As I said, the only difference was the playoff - in 2022, you also get a second chance if you can win two more games against other 2nd placed teams.
But whilst Italy undoubtedly blew up spectacularly by losing to North Macedonia......they would still have had to then win in Portugal to make it.

World Cup qualification is still not - at least in Europe - a piece of cake.......
Hmmm one slip up and you were out , now you get the massive safety net of a play off against very beatable opposition. Finishing below Switzerland was a shocker for them then to blow it against North Macedonia....and very unfortunate to then have gone to play Portugal . But more chances there comfortably.
 
Hmmm one slip up and you were out , now you get the massive safety net of a play off against very beatable opposition. Finishing below Switzerland was a shocker for them then to blow it against North Macedonia....and very unfortunate to then have gone to play Portugal . But more chances there comfortably.

Hey, not arguing with the notion that it's easier - just with the notion that it's easy (or almost impossible to fail to, as you originally suggested!)

After all, this Swiss side only lost on penalties to Spain in the Euro quarters last summer after having already knocked out France. They're no pushovers.
Almost certainly a lot better than the Swiss side that Italy had to beat to secure qualification in 1974 - that Swiss side only managed to score two goals in six qualification games, despite being in the same group as Luxembourg! Italy didn't concede a goal in the whole of qualifying for the 1974 WC!!
 
Hey, not arguing with the notion that it's easier - just with the notion that it's easy (or almost impossible to fail to, as you originally suggested!)

After all, this Swiss side only lost on penalties to Spain in the Euro quarters last summer after having already knocked out France. They're no pushovers.
Almost certainly a lot better than the Swiss side that Italy had to beat to secure qualification in 1974 - that Swiss side only managed to score two goals in six qualification games, despite being in the same group as Luxembourg! Italy didn't concede a goal in the whole of qualifying for the 1974 WC!!
1974 non qualifying teams ...England , France,Spain , Belgium , Yugoslavia . Certainly times different but one slip up and you were out of qualifying. Now you really need to blow up a couple of times to fail .
 
1974 non qualifying teams ...England , France,Spain , Belgium , Yugoslavia . Certainly times different but one slip up and you were out of qualifying. Now you really need to blow up a couple of times to fail .

Sure, but Scotland, Sweden & Bulgaria did qualify in 1974, but not in 2022 (so did East Germany!)

Sweden are a good example, because they never 'blew up' this year.
They finished 2nd in their group behind Spain. Then beat the Czechs in the playoff semis. And then lost a playoff final in Poland.

Not an impossible task.....but not exactly a piece of cake either!
 
Sure, but Scotland, Sweden & Bulgaria did qualify in 1974, but not in 2022 (so did East Germany!)

Sweden are a good example, because they never 'blew up' this year.
They finished 2nd in their group behind Spain. Then beat the Czechs in the playoff semis. And then lost a playoff final in Poland.

Not an impossible task.....but not exactly a piece of cake either!
True but the top sides ( who I don't class Sweden as although always competent ) shouldn't really fail to qualify with the set up .
 
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