2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group H
The 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification UEFA Group H was one of the nine UEFA groups for 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification. The group consisted of six teams: Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, Estonia, Cyprus, and Gibraltar. The draw for the first round (group stage) was held as part of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Preliminary Draw on 25 July 2015, starting 18:00 MSK (UTC+3), at the Konstantinovsky Palace in Strelna, Saint Petersburg, Russia.[1][2] Gibraltar was added to the group after the draw, after becoming FIFA members together with Kosovo in May 2016,[3] and UEFA decided not to put Kosovo in same group as Bosnia and Herzegovina for security reasons.[4][5] The group winners, Belgium, qualified directly for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The group runners-up, Greece, advanced to the play-offs as one of the best eight runners-up. Russia was initially partnered with the five-team Group H, which enabled the 2018 World Cup hosts to play centralised friendlies against these countries on their "spare" match dates.[6] These friendlies would not have counted in the qualifying group standings. However, after the group was later expanded to include Gibraltar, these friendly matches were cancelled.
Standings
2018 FIFA World Cup qualification tiebreakers |
---|
In league format, the ranking of teams in each group was based on the following criteria (regulations Articles 20.6 and 20.7):[7]
|
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg | File:Flag of Greece.svg | File:Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg | File:Flag of Estonia.svg | File:Flag of Cyprus.svg | File:Flag of Gibraltar.svg | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium | 10 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 43 | 6 | +37 | 28 | Qualification to 2018 FIFA World Cup | — | 1–1 | 4–0 | 8–1 | 4–0 | 9–0 | |
2 | File:Flag of Greece.svg Greece | 10 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 17 | 6 | +11 | 19 | Advance to second round | 1–2 | — | 1–1 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | |
3 | File:Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg Bosnia and Herzegovina | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 24 | 13 | +11 | 17 | 3–4 | 0–0 | — | 5–0 | 2–0 | 5–0 | ||
4 | File:Flag of Estonia.svg Estonia | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 13 | 19 | −6 | 11 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–2 | — | 1–0 | 4–0 | ||
5 | File:Flag of Cyprus.svg Cyprus | 10 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 9 | 18 | −9 | 10 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 3–2 | 0–0 | — | 3–1 | ||
6 | File:Flag of Gibraltar.svg Gibraltar | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 47 | −44 | 0 | 0–6 | 1–4 | 0–4 | 0–6 | 1–2 | — |
Matches
The fixture list prior to the inclusion of Gibraltar was confirmed by UEFA on 26 July 2015, the day following the draw.[1][8] Times are CET/CEST,[note 1] as listed by UEFA (local times are in parentheses).[9]
Bosnia and Herzegovina File:Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg | 5–0 | File:Flag of Estonia.svg Estonia |
---|---|---|
Report (FIFA) Report (UEFA) |
Cyprus File:Flag of Cyprus.svg | 0–3 | File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium |
---|---|---|
Report (FIFA) Report (UEFA) |
Belgium File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg | 4–0 | File:Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg Bosnia and Herzegovina |
---|---|---|
Report (FIFA) Report (UEFA) |
Bosnia and Herzegovina File:Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg | 2–0 | File:Flag of Cyprus.svg Cyprus |
---|---|---|
|
Report (FIFA) Report (UEFA) |
Gibraltar File:Flag of Gibraltar.svg | 0–6 | File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium |
---|---|---|
Report (FIFA) Report (UEFA) |
Belgium File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg | 8–1 | File:Flag of Estonia.svg Estonia |
---|---|---|
Report (FIFA) Report (UEFA) |
Greece File:Flag of Greece.svg | 1–1 | File:Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg Bosnia and Herzegovina |
---|---|---|
Report (FIFA) Report (UEFA) |
Bosnia and Herzegovina File:Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg | 5–0 | File:Flag of Gibraltar.svg Gibraltar |
---|---|---|
Report (FIFA) Report (UEFA) |
Belgium File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg | 1–1 | File:Flag of Greece.svg Greece |
---|---|---|
Report (FIFA) Report (UEFA) |
Bosnia and Herzegovina File:Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg | 0–0 | File:Flag of Greece.svg Greece |
---|---|---|
Report (FIFA) Report (UEFA) |
Estonia File:Flag of Estonia.svg | 0–2 | File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium |
---|---|---|
Report (FIFA) Report (UEFA) |
Cyprus File:Flag of Cyprus.svg | 3–2 | File:Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg Bosnia and Herzegovina |
---|---|---|
Report (FIFA) Report (UEFA) |
Greece File:Flag of Greece.svg | 1–2 | File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium |
---|---|---|
Report (FIFA) Report (UEFA) |
Gibraltar File:Flag of Gibraltar.svg | 0–4 | File:Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg Bosnia and Herzegovina |
---|---|---|
Report (FIFA) Report (UEFA) |
Bosnia and Herzegovina File:Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg | 3–4 | File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium |
---|---|---|
Report (FIFA) Report (UEFA) |
Belgium File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg | 4–0 | File:Flag of Cyprus.svg Cyprus |
---|---|---|
Report (FIFA) Report (UEFA) |
Estonia File:Flag of Estonia.svg | 1–2 | File:Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg Bosnia and Herzegovina |
---|---|---|
Report (FIFA) Report (UEFA) |
|
Goalscorers
There were 109 goals scored in 30 matches, for an average of 3.63 goals per match.
11 goals
6 goals
5 goals
4 goals
3 goals
2 goals
1 goal
- Belgium Toby Alderweireld
- Belgium Michy Batshuayi
- Belgium Nacer Chadli
- Belgium Thorgan Hazard
- Bosnia and Herzegovina Ermin Bičakčić
- Bosnia and Herzegovina Dario Đumić
- Bosnia and Herzegovina Kenan Kodro
- Bosnia and Herzegovina Senad Lulić
- Bosnia and Herzegovina Miralem Pjanić
- Bosnia and Herzegovina Toni Šunjić
- Bosnia and Herzegovina Avdija Vršajević
- Cyprus Demetris Christofi
- Cyprus Vincent Laban
- Cyprus Constantinos Laifis
- Cyprus Valentinos Sielis
- Estonia Henri Anier
- Estonia Ilja Antonov
- Estonia Siim Luts
- Estonia Sergei Mošnikov
- Estonia Konstantin Vassiljev
- Estonia Sergei Zenjov
- Gibraltar Lee Casciaro
- Gibraltar Anthony Hernandez
- Gibraltar Liam Walker
- Greece Kostas Fortounis
- Greece Giannis Gianniotas
- Greece Petros Mantalos
- Greece Kostas Stafylidis
- Greece Georgios Tzavellas
- Greece Alexandros Tziolis
- Greece Zeca
1 own goal
- Bosnia and Herzegovina Emir Spahić (against Belgium)
- Estonia Ragnar Klavan (against Belgium)
- Gibraltar Roy Chipolina (against Cyprus)
- Gibraltar Scott Wiseman (against Greece)
Discipline
A player was automatically suspended for the next match for the following offences:[11]
- Receiving a red card (red card suspensions could be extended for serious offences)
- Receiving two yellow cards in two different matches (yellow card suspensions were carried forward to the play-offs, but not the finals or any other future international matches)
The following suspensions were served during the qualifying matches:
Player | Team | Offence(s) | Suspended for match(es) |
---|---|---|---|
Marouane Fellaini | File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium | Yellow card vs Cyprus (6 September 2016) Yellow card vs Bosnia and Herzegovina (7 October 2016) |
vs Gibraltar (10 October 2016) |
Edin Džeko | File:Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg Bosnia and Herzegovina | Yellow card Yellow-red card vs Greece (13 November 2016) | vs Gibraltar (25 March 2017) |
Mato Jajalo | Yellow card vs Belgium (7 October 2016) Yellow card vs Greece (13 November 2016) | ||
Senad Lulić | |||
Ognjen Vranješ | Yellow card vs Estonia (6 September 2016) Yellow card vs Greece (13 November 2016) | ||
Jason Demetriou | File:Flag of Cyprus.svg Cyprus | Yellow card vs Greece (7 October 2016) Yellow card vs Gibraltar (13 November 2016) |
vs Estonia (25 March 2017) |
Pieros Sotiriou | Yellow card vs Bosnia and Herzegovina (10 October 2016) Yellow card vs Gibraltar (13 November 2016) | ||
Jayce Olivero | File:Flag of Gibraltar.svg Gibraltar | Yellow card Yellow-red card vs Cyprus (13 November 2016) | vs Bosnia and Herzegovina (25 March 2017) |
Kyriakos Papadopoulos | File:Flag of Greece.svg Greece | Red card vs Bosnia and Herzegovina (13 November 2016) | vs Belgium (25 March 2017) vs Bosnia and Herzegovina (9 June 2017) |
Sead Kolašinac | File:Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg Bosnia and Herzegovina | Yellow card vs Belgium (7 October 2016) Yellow card vs Gibraltar (25 March 2017) |
vs Greece (9 June 2017) |
Vincent Laban | File:Flag of Cyprus.svg Cyprus | Yellow card vs Belgium (6 September 2016) Yellow card vs Estonia (25 March 2017) |
vs Gibraltar (9 June 2017) |
Andreas Samaris | File:Flag of Greece.svg Greece | Yellow card vs Bosnia and Herzegovina (13 November 2016) Yellow card vs Belgium (25 March 2017) |
vs Bosnia and Herzegovina (9 June 2017) |
Panagiotis Tachtsidis | Yellow card Yellow-red card vs Belgium (25 March 2017) | ||
Georgios Tzavellas | |||
Konstantinos Laifis | File:Flag of Cyprus.svg Cyprus | Yellow card vs Belgium (6 September 2016) Yellow card vs Gibraltar (9 June 2017) |
vs Bosnia and Herzegovina (31 August 2017) |
Artjom Dmitrijev | File:Flag of Estonia.svg Estonia | Red card vs Belgium (9 June 2017) | vs Greece (31 August 2017) |
Karol Mets | Yellow card vs Bosnia and Herzegovina (6 September 2016) Yellow card vs Belgium (9 June 2017) | ||
Sokratis Papastathopoulos | File:Flag of Greece.svg Greece | Yellow card vs Bosnia and Herzegovina (13 November 2016) Yellow card vs Bosnia and Herzegovina (9 June 2017) |
vs Estonia (31 August 2017) |
Axel Witsel | File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium | Red card vs Gibraltar (31 August 2017) | vs Greece (3 September 2017) |
Miralem Pjanić | File:Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg Bosnia and Herzegovina | Yellow card vs Greece (13 November 2016) Yellow card vs Cyprus (31 August 2017) |
vs Gibraltar (3 September 2017) |
Ragnar Klavan | File:Flag of Estonia.svg Estonia | Yellow card vs Bosnia and Herzegovina (6 September 2016) Yellow card vs Greece (31 August 2017) |
vs Cyprus (3 September 2017) |
Erin Barnett | File:Flag of Gibraltar.svg Gibraltar | Red card vs Belgium (31 August 2017) | vs Bosnia and Herzegovina (3 September 2017) |
Ervin Zukanović | File:Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg Bosnia and Herzegovina | Yellow card vs Greece (9 June 2017) Yellow card vs Gibraltar (3 September 2017) |
vs Belgium (7 October 2017) |
Yannick Carrasco | File:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium | Yellow card vs Greece (3 September 2017) Yellow card vs Bosnia and Herzegovina (7 October 2017) |
vs Cyprus (10 October 2017) |
Anastasios Donis | File:Flag of Greece.svg Greece | Yellow card vs Bosnia and Herzegovina (9 June 2017) Yellow card vs Cyprus (7 October 2017) |
vs Gibraltar (10 October 2017) |
Kostas Manolas | |||
Andreas Samaris | Yellow card vs Belgium (3 September 2017) Yellow card vs Cyprus (7 October 2017) |
Notes
- ↑ CET (UTC+1) for matches on 13 November 2016 and 25 March 2017, and CEST (UTC+2) for all other matches.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Gibraltar play their home matches at Estádio Algarve, Faro/Loulé in Portugal instead of their regular stadium, Victoria Stadium, in Gibraltar.
- ↑ Bosnia and Herzegovina were sanctioned by FIFA to play one home match (against Belgium on 7 October 2017) away from Bilino Polje Stadium, Zenica due to a series of incidents during their home match against Greece.[10]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "FIFA World Cup qualifying draw format". UEFA.com. 16 June 2015. Archived from the original on 26 June 2016.
- ↑ "European teams learn World Cup qualifying fate". UEFA.com. 25 July 2015. Archived from the original on 5 September 2015.
- ↑ "FIFA Congress drives football forward, first female secretary general appointed". FIFA.com. 13 May 2016. Archived from the original on 16 May 2016.
- ↑ "Kosovo to play in Group I in European Qualifiers". uefa.org. Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). 9 June 2016. Archived from the original on 11 June 2016.
- ↑ "Kosovo and Gibraltar assigned to 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying groups". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). 9 June 2016. Archived from the original on 9 June 2016.
- ↑ "Fixture List – Centralised friendlies" (PDF). UEFA. 2015. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 October 2015. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
- ↑ "Regulations – 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia" (PDF). FIFA.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 October 2016.
- ↑ "World Cup European Qualifiers fixtures confirmed". UEFA.com. 26 July 2015. Archived from the original on 8 April 2016.
- ↑ "Fixture List – 2018 FIFA World Cup Preliminary Competition" (PDF). UEFA.com. Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 August 2015.
- ↑ "Disciplinary Overview - 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Qualifiers (July 2017)" (PDF). FIFA.com. 27 July 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 July 2017.
- ↑ "Regulations of the UEFA European Football Championship 2014-16" (PDF). UEFA.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 December 2013.
External links
- Official FIFA World Cup website
- Qualifiers – Europe: Round 1, FIFA.com
- FIFA World Cup, UEFA.com
- Standings – Qualifying round: Group H, UEFA.com