Big Teams Missing Out On The 2022 World Cup

The 2022 World Cup in Qatar was full of surprises, wasn't it? While we cheered on our favorite teams and watched incredible matches, it's easy to forget that some major footballing nations didn't even make it to the party. So, let's talk about the big teams that were surprisingly absent from the World Cup, and what happened to them.

Italy: The Reigning European Champions' Shocking Absence

Italy's failure to qualify for the 2022 World Cup was arguably the biggest shock of the qualifying stages. Seriously, guys, imagine being the reigning European champions and not making it to the World Cup! It's like winning the lottery and then immediately losing the ticket. What makes this even more surprising is Italy's rich footballing history. They've won the World Cup four times, and are usually a team that everyone expects to see competing at the highest level. So, what went wrong?

Well, their qualifying campaign was a rollercoaster. They were in a group with Switzerland, Northern Ireland, Bulgaria, and Lithuania. Sounds manageable, right? But they drew too many games, including two crucial ones against Switzerland. This meant they finished second in their group and had to go through the playoffs. In the playoffs, they faced North Macedonia, a team that, with all due respect, Italy should have beaten. But football is unpredictable, and North Macedonia pulled off a stunning 1-0 victory, sending Italy crashing out of the World Cup. It was a truly historic upset.

Italy's absence highlighted a few issues within the team. Firstly, their attack lacked bite. They struggled to score goals consistently throughout the qualifying campaign. Secondly, they seemed to lack a Plan B when things weren't going their way. They relied too heavily on their established style of play and didn't adapt well when faced with stubborn defenses. Thirdly, and perhaps most importantly, they may have suffered from complacency. After winning the Euros, maybe they thought qualifying for the World Cup would be a breeze. Whatever the reasons, their failure to qualify was a massive disappointment for Italian fans and a stark reminder that no team, no matter how good, is guaranteed a place at the World Cup.

Nigeria: The Super Eagles Grounded

Another big team that didn't make it to Qatar was Nigeria. The Super Eagles, as they're known, are a powerhouse of African football. They've won the Africa Cup of Nations three times and have a history of producing world-class players. So, their failure to qualify for the World Cup was a major blow to their fans and to African football in general.

Nigeria were drawn against Ghana in the final round of CAF (Confederation of African Football) qualifying. This was a massive clash between two of Africa's biggest footballing nations. The first leg in Ghana ended in a goalless draw, which meant the second leg in Nigeria was a winner-takes-all affair. The atmosphere in the stadium in Abuja was electric. However, Ghana managed to score an early goal, and despite Nigeria equalizing, Ghana progressed to the World Cup on away goals. It was a heartbreaking defeat for Nigeria.

What went wrong for Nigeria? Well, some people point to the fact that they had recently changed their coach. Augustine Eguavoen had taken over from Gernot Rohr just before the Africa Cup of Nations, and while he initially had some success, he couldn't quite guide them to World Cup qualification. The team also struggled to find consistency in their performances. They had moments of brilliance, but they also had games where they looked disjointed and lacked creativity. Furthermore, the pressure of playing in such a high-stakes game against their arch-rivals may have gotten to them. The Super Eagles will surely be looking to rebuild and come back stronger in future qualifying campaigns.

Colombia: Coffee Aroma Without World Cup Flavor

Moving over to South America, Colombia was another notable absentee from the 2022 World Cup. Los Cafeteros, as they're known, have a passionate fanbase and have produced some fantastic players over the years, including the legendary Carlos Valderrama and, more recently, James Rodriguez. They reached the quarter-finals of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, so their failure to qualify for Qatar was a major setback.

Colombia's qualifying campaign was a struggle from start to finish. They went through a long winless run, which ultimately cost their coach, Reinaldo Rueda, his job. They had some talented players, but they struggled to find the right balance in their team. They also lacked a consistent goalscorer. James Rodriguez, who was once their star player, was no longer at his peak, and they didn't have anyone else who could consistently find the back of the net.

In the end, they finished sixth in the South American qualifying group, which wasn't enough to secure a place at the World Cup. Their absence was a disappointment for their fans, who are known for their colorful and passionate support. Colombia will need to regroup and find a new generation of players if they want to compete at the highest level again.

Sweden: The Vikings Miss the Voyage

Sweden, a team with a strong footballing tradition, also failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup. Remember their surprising run to the quarter-finals in the 2018 World Cup in Russia? They even beat Italy in the playoffs to get there! This time around, however, things didn't go their way.

Sweden finished second in their qualifying group behind Spain, which meant they had to go through the playoffs. In the playoffs, they beat the Czech Republic in a hard-fought match, but then lost to Poland in the final. The defeat against Poland was particularly painful for Swedish fans, as it meant they would miss out on the World Cup despite having some talented players in their squad, including the veteran striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, although he was hampered by injuries.

Sweden's main problem was their inconsistency. They had moments of brilliance, but they also had games where they struggled to create chances. They relied heavily on their defensive organization, but their attack often lacked creativity and firepower. Although Zlatan's presence was a boost, his age and fitness meant he couldn't always make the difference. Sweden will need to find a way to add more attacking threat to their game if they want to qualify for future tournaments.

Other Notable Absences

Besides the teams mentioned above, there were a few other notable absentees from the 2022 World Cup. Chile, another South American team with a recent history of success, also failed to qualify. They won the Copa America twice in a row in 2015 and 2016, but their aging squad struggled to compete in the qualifying stages. Egypt, led by their star player Mohamed Salah, also missed out after losing to Senegal in a dramatic penalty shootout. And let's not forget Algeria, the reigning African champions, who were surprisingly eliminated by Cameroon in the final round of qualifying.

Conclusion

The absence of these big teams from the 2022 World Cup was a reminder that anything can happen in football. No team is guaranteed a place at the top table, and even the biggest nations can stumble. It also highlighted the increasing competitiveness of international football, with more and more countries challenging the established powers. While we missed seeing these teams in Qatar, their absence created opportunities for other nations to shine and added an extra layer of unpredictability to the tournament. And hey, it just makes us even more excited to see who will be competing in the next World Cup! Isn't it, guys?