The Swiss did not lose a game and conceded only two goals in the process. Murat Yakin led the team to the top spot in its group, above the recently-anointed European champion, Italy, in his first few months in the job. How it qualified Belgium tends to draw focus as Europe’s diminutive powerhouse, but the Swiss transformation into tournament mainstays is no less admirable. Few teams are as technically adroit as Luis Enrique’s side, but qualifying proved once again that Spain’s toothlessness in front of goal is now endemic. Spain’s automatic place in the field was in doubt until the final round of qualifiers, when Sweden’s sudden collapse eased the tension. How it qualified With plenty of the ball, but not a vast amount to show for it. There are signs that another generation will follow, and Croatia will most certainly not go quietly, but a repeat of Russia does not seem likely. What can we expect in 2022? Next winter will, presumably, serve as a final hurrah for the generation of players that took Croatia to the final in Russia in 2018: Luka Modric, Ivan Perisic, Domagoj Vida and the rest may not have another tournament in them.

Topping a finely balanced group, though, one that included Slovakia and Slovenia, warrants praise.

How it qualified Croatia left it extremely late, sealing a place in Qatar only thanks to an Fyodor Kudryashev own goal with 10 minutes to play in the country’s final match, what turned out to be a 1-0 win against Russia on a sodden field in Split. Elsewhere, though nothing has been officially decided, the picture is becoming clearer.

Only two major names are still missing: Italy and Portugal, both of whom must go through the strain of playoffs to claim one of Europe’s final three spaces. They have been joined by the two great powerhouses of South America, Brazil and Argentina.

Most - if not quite all - of the traditional contenders are already there: a 10-country-strong European contingent led by France, the defending champion, and Belgium, officially the world’s best team, as well as the likes of Spain and England and Germany. The identities of the teams who will contest it, though, are remarkably familiar. Quite what the tournament, riddled with scandal and concern from the day Qatar was announced as the host, will be like cannot yet be known. 21: some with ease, cruising through qualifying, and some with a touch more drama. Thirteen countries have already booked their places for the tournament, which opens in Qatar next Nov. With a year to go, almost half the field for the 2022 World Cup is set.

Best team in fifa 21