MEXICO — The World Cup qualifiers for Russia 2018 delivered several pleasant surprises such as Iceland and Panama qualifying for their first World Cup and the ‘curses’ that the Mexican National Team managed to break.
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However, the qualifiers also left some very bitter news for millions of fans. ESPNDigital presents you with a recount of various incidents that occurred throughout the World Cup qualifiers.
FIFA ordered a replay of Senegal vs South Africa
On November 12, 2016, South Africa beat Senegal 2-1 but the match was surrounded by much controversy because the whistle Joseph Odartei Lamptey He clearly influenced the South African victory, so FIFA opened an investigation and on September 6 ordered that the match be played again. The duel was rescheduled for November 2017 and on this occasion, Senegal took the victory and its ticket to Russia 2018. For its part, FIFA punished Joseph Odartei and he will not be able to direct a match again.
Argentina with three technicians
The Argentine National Team is always the favorite to win any competition in which it participates, but the Russia 2018 qualifiers represented serious problems for the Albiceleste and a reflection of this were the constant changes in the technical direction.
the strategist Gerardo Martino He left the national team after losing the Copa América Centenario Final and his place was taken by Edgardo Bauzawho was removed in April 2017 due to poor results in the qualifiers and Jorge Luis Sampaoli his successor was appointed. In the end, Sampaoli agonizingly sealed his ticket to the World Cup with a great performance from Lionel Messi.
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The great absentees in Russia 2018
South Africa 2010 and Brazil 2014 enjoyed having the biggest teams competing for the title, however Russia 2018 will be without powerhouses after poor performances in their respective qualifiers.
Without a doubt, the absences of Italy, Holland and Chile are the most notable due to what these teams represent for soccer lovers. On the other hand, templates such as Wales, the United States and Cameroon will not participate in the next summer fair either.
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Messi returned to the Albiceleste
The ‘Flea’ surprised millions of fans when he announced his departure from the Argentine National Team after losing the Copa América Centenario, but Messi himself acknowledged a few days ago that he did it because of the «heat of the moment» and finally returned to defend the Albiceleste.
The Barcelona player confessed that it was not easy to return but told Direct TV Sports that «El Patón (Edgardo Bauza) and my teammates made everything easier for me.»
With Lionel Messi & Cía. at the front, Argentina should guarantee moments of brilliant attacks in Russia Getty Images
Iceland surprises
After a great performance at Euro 2016 in France, Iceland once again surprised the world by qualifying for the World Cup despite having little chance of doing so. The Icelandic team finished in first place in Group I after beating teams such as Croatia, Turkey and Ukraine. Iceland will be one of the squads to watch at Russia 2018 and they certainly hope to continue to surprise fans.
«The key is to remain a team,» said the Vikings captain. EFE
First-timers in a World Cup
Speaking precisely of Iceland, the team led by Heimir Hallgrímsson will make their World Cup debut together with Panama. Both squads will play a World Cup for the first time after performing well in their qualifiers. Icelandic and canaleros fans will live with great emotion and joy the first participation of their teams in the greatest football festival.
Iceland and Panama will debut in a World Cup. Getty Images
Mexico did not return the favor to the US
In 2013, the United States managed to give Mexico the opportunity to play the Repechage against New Zealand and four years later, El Tri could not return the «favor» to the Stars and Stripes team.
Mexico lost on the last date of the Hexagonal 3-2 against Honduras, a result that was combined with the defeat of the USA against Trinidad and Tobago and allowed the Catracho team to earn their ticket to the Repechage against Australia.
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Mexico broke curses
The Spanish newspaper Marca named Juan Carlos Osorio as the ‘exorcist’ of El Tri after the Colombian managed to break several curses that had persecuted the national team for years.
For example, the coffee grower managed to beat the United States for the first time in Columbus after 15 years of not doing so. Likewise, Osorio achieved Mexico’s first victory in Honduras in 22 years and for the first time since 2006, El Tri finished in first place in the Hexagonal Final.
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Chile loses by protesting
The absence of Chile in Russia 2018 became one of the most important sports news of the year and it is that the two-time champion of America did not manage to perform well in the qualifiers but the Andean managers «made the mistake» of protesting to FIFA the Nelson Cabrera’s line-up in the tie they achieved against Bolivia.
This situation caused Chile to win three points instead of one, however, Peru also protested Cabrera’s line-up in their duel against Bolivia, so the defeat they had suffered turned into a victory.
In the end, Peru managed to qualify for the Repechage while Chile’s protest left it without a World Cup.
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A divided Spain
The Spanish National Team qualified for the World Cup in the midst of a political crisis, due to the uprising of Catalonia and its failed independence. Gerard Piqué was harshly harassed by a sector of the Spanish fans, thanks to the support he expressed for the movement.
However, the red one achieved the goal and is one of the countries that will seek the title in Russia.
EFE