Finally Europe, where two teams were controversially
making their debut.
After years of legal battles, mainly opposed
by the Spanish, Gibraltar was finally granted
membership of FIFA.
And there was late changes to the groups after
UEFA and FIFA controversially recognised Kosovo
too.
Two decades ago the tiny nation fought a war
of independence against Serbia (a country
that sees Kosovo as a spiritual centre and
who do not recognise its independence).
As a result Kosovo had to be placed in a group
that caused no political problems.
It couldn't be with Serbia, obviously, nor
Bosnia, which has a large Bosnian Serb population.
In the end Gibraltar was place in Group H
with Belgium and Bosnia, where they would
lose all ten games and concede 47 goals (although
they were within three minutes of a historic
first ever point before Cyprus won 2-1).
Kosovo was in I Group I with Iceland, Finland,
Turkey and Ukraine, a country that didn't
recognise it.
Despite not being recognised, Kosovo had still
produced a wealth of talent.
Switzerland's Xherdan Shaqiri, Granit Xhaka
and Valon Behrami were all either born in
Kosovo or raised by Kosovar parents.
All had supported the recognition of Kosovo
and all eyes were on FIFA.
Would they allow players to switch nationalities?
FIFA dragged its feet and only allowed those
to switch who hadn't been at Euro 2016, ruling
out the Swiss and Albanian players.
Still, with a few hours to go before the first
match against Finland in Turku, several players
still didn't know if they could play.
Including Valon Berisha, who had played for
Norway, and Samir Ujkani, who had represented
Albania.
At the last minute, their switch was approved.
And, historically, Kosovo drew their first
ever game: perhaps inevitably, it was Valon
Berisha who scored the vital penalty.
That was as good as it got for Kosovo.
In the next game their lost 6-0 to a rampant
Croatia.
They would lose the rest of their matches,
but gained valuable experience along the way.
Elsewhere the underdogs bloodied a few noses.
Andorra ended a 66 -match winless run after
beating Hungary 1-0, completing just 44 passes
in the process.
Luxembourg drew 0-0 with France and later
1-1 with Bulgaria.
But there would be no improvement for Europe's
worst team.
Just like in qualification for Brazil 2014,
San Marino lost all ten games.
Conceding 51 goals.
Many of the usual suspects qualified comfortably.
France saw off Sweden, who clinched a play
off spot from the hapless Dutch.
The Netherlands, semi-finalists in 2014 under
Louis Van Gaal, missed their second major
tournament in a row, sparking soul searching
back home.
European champions Portugal won nine of ten
matches as they topped the group and Switzerland
finished second.
Germany won every game as Northern Ireland
surprisingly finished runners up.
Poland, now one of the top ten teams in the
world with Robert Lewondowski banging in the
goals, topped their group ahead of Denmark.
England and Belgium went unbeaten as Scotland
again failed to qualify, as did 2014 finalists
Bosnia.
Spain too easily qualified, relegating Italy
to a play off spot, in a group that saw the
strangest moment in qualification when a match
between Albania and Israel was moved due to
a terrorist threat from ISIS against the Israel.
The team was forced to train in their heavily
guarded hotel gym.
In Group D Serbia were the surprise package,
winning the group thanks to a 1-0 victory
over Georgia at a cold but boisterous Maracana
stadium.
Behind them Wales and the Republic of Ireland
fought for the final spot, which the Republic
won.
But the story of qualification was in Group
I. Iceland has a population of little more
than 300,000, about the size of a large English
town.
Yet over the past few years, the tiny island
has produced a team of players that can compete
at the highest level.
Alongside Everton's Gylfi Siggurdson, there
was goalkeeper Hannes Halldorsson [HAN-EZ
HAL-DER-SHON], who was also a film director
and directed the 2012 Eurovision song contest
entry for his country (Video is on You Tube!).
When they qualified for Euro 2016 they shocked
the world by reaching the knock out stages
and beating England.
Their famous Thunder Clap celebration was
copied by fans around the world.
It came down to the final game, in Reykjavik,
against Kosovo.
A full house of 10,000 watched as Iceland
won 2-0 and with it qualification for Russia
2018.
They are the smallest nation to qualify for
the finals, a record that is unlikely to ever
be broken.
And so to the play offs.
Denmark easily dispatched the Republic of
Ireland 5-1 thanks to a hat trick from Cristian
Eriksson.
Switzerland eased past Northern Ireland thanks
to a controversial penalty.
Croatia dismantled Greece 4-1.
But, most shockingly, Sweden beat Italy 1-0.
It was the first time Italy had missed the
finals since 1958.
“Apocalypse,” read the front page of La
Stampa.
After the game, legendary goalkeeper Gigi
Buffon retired from international football,
in tears.
Later he would tweet: “Best wishes to everybody,
and especially to those with whom I have shared
this beautiful journey.”
