As I further research UEFA WCQs most teams who have qualified for the Qatar WC only played 8-10 games.

Aus played 18 games with two further play offs - one against UAE and the other again Peru. This is a total of 20 games. Twice the number of Denmark!

We have twice the experience in qualifiers  as a team unit than the UEFA teams do.

Interesting, JS.

Unfortunately the stats do seem to bear out that europe could do with more places. 

The solution to these complaints are more intercontinental playoffs. I'd love to see all of the new spots become intercontinental playoffs.
AFC - 5+5
CAF - 5+5
CONCACAF - 5+5
CONMEBOL - 6+4 (it's a bit shit to have the whole confed, but also unfair not to)
OFC - 1+3 (3 mostly just to make the numbers work)
UEFA 10+10

Then for the intercontinental playoffs you could have 8 groups of 4 with top 2 going through, or 16 2-legged playoffs. I prefer the former because I'd like to see more cross-confederation competitive matches.

As it stands Qatar (there by default) and Iran are likely to go home. 

S.korea out
Qatar out 
looks like Iran is going out as they are currently 1-nil down to the USA 
i'd say Japan shit the bed against CR and are out Spain should put them to the sword if not best case they get a draw but Germany will have a better GD after playing CR 
only hope left is Australia and Saudi both not favoured to win but both could progress with a draw - Saudi probably need to win  

overall i think we have 'played' better then most people expected us and got more points but there is a real chance every side is out in the group stage.....

i honestly hope to God we get something out of the Denmark match but lets be 'frank' it is unlikely and it is unlikely Saudi will beat Mexico

South Korea isn't out.

Yep I agree with this Davstar. 

It seems like when it really matters, Asian teams struggle to deal with the pressure/expectation. 

i think UEFA for +14 and OFC for 4 play off spots but otherwise this is probably about right 

yes they are ....even if they beat Portugal which they probably wont they need Uruguay to beat Ghana and still have a lesser GD then them 

they are pretty much out as best case they might draw against the Portuguese  

Iran's end product is non-existent in this game against the USA.

KSA tried playing for the draw, completely different game plan from their other 2 games fucked them.

Sorry I meant iran

Queiroz is really an overrated coach, IMO. 

Ah good, so they're not out yet. 

Usa are rediculously good on paper


Unless there is another win this will be a below average xampaign for afc despite starting well in terms of win percentage

Meanwhile usa have scored as many goals as us yet advance 

someone pointed out it was a really low scoring world cup

USA are an extremely strong defensive team but impotent going forward. 

lmao ok 

thats like saying Japan is not out - they need to beat Spain and hope Germany dont beat Costa Rica but sure they are 'not out too' 

fuck me some people here are dumb 

If Japan win they are on 6. If Germany win they are on 4. Japan need to beat Spain (big ask) - but purely in their own hands 

realistically Aus and SA  are the only teams they might get out of the group at this stage bar minor miracles no one else has a real shot. 

 and i'd even say Aus and SA are odds on to not make it out but they have a 'decent' shot 

I would argue agree Asia has 'performed' better then expected but 0-2 team in the rd of 16 is not 'really' under-rated esp if the answer is 0 or 1 if anything i would probably say with 6 sides out of the 32 that is under performing.... (although it might be unfair to account Qatar as they never would qualify naturally and imho have disgraced themselves this WC) 

CONCACAF has 1 USA

Africa currently has 1 and will likely have 2 as i reckon Ghana will at least draw their last game 

South America looks to have 1 probably 2 as Argentina 'should' beat Poland (but you never know there) 

Europe essentially has the rest....

Asia was on track to do very well but definitely shat the bed in Rd 2

Japan being the biggest culprit by a mile but even SK should have done better 

Both teams, for all their improvements, still seem to just lack that clinical finish that has held them back forever

Their players all play o/s in good teams but I don't think many are leaders  in those teams (besides Son who I found disappointing)

Japan's issue wasn't so much their lack of finishing rather they went completely into their shell against Costa Rica, routinely recycling the ball through the goalkeeper which seemed pointless as they have the players to shift a deep-lying block out of position. 

They basically played beta-male football and got hit on the counter.

Costa Rica, one shot one kill. 

I think Japan really f--ked up - Costa Rica are garbage to not even get a point from that game imho they deserve to be knocked out 

Regarding S.Korea there is 'no shame' in losing to Ghana they are a solid outfit and i reckon they will 2nd the group  

But i agree the 'killer instinct' is still very much lacking 

Oh yeah for sure I agree it's just you saw near the end they could have easily jagged at least one more

one 'good' showing 20 years ago isnt really something you can keep calling back to you need consistent performances i mean Costa Rica has a final 8 apperence a few world cups ago doesnt mean they are actually any good  

That is football i guess - S.Korea imo are the strongest  side from Asia but they had a super competitive group Ghana is prob the best side from Africa when you consider Sadio was injured for Senegal 

Portugal have one of the strongest sides on paper in the world 

Uruguay have been average but also have a very good team on paper. 

Japan obviously has a 'harder group' but Costa Rica was a 'throw away' side in which they should of easily got 3 points. 

Yeah Japan were pathetic.
I'd feel insulted if I was one of their fans

I think they just got 'ahead' of themselves they beat Germany in which they were 'largely' outplayed but still did a solid job and had 1 eye on the rd of 16 before 'actually' getting the points on the board. 

I hope we do not do the same however i feel with us no one expects us to draw/beat Denmark 

My understanding of how the Intercontinental Playoffs will work is:

6 nation mini tournament featuring one nation from each confederation (bar Europe + 1 extra for host confederation) competing for two spots

1 X AFC
1 X CAF
1 X CONMEBOL
2 X CONCACAF
1 X OFC