This is more than just qualifying for the World CupOnly in this way can the DFB team take advantage of Italy’s failure
After a poor qualifying start, the German national team will take part in next year’s mega World Cup. But it can make a big difference whether qualification is achieved with a win or a draw.
Erling Haaland provided great assistance to Julian Nagelsmann. With his goal in Norway’s 4-1 win in Italy, the superstar not only took his team to the World Cup, he also improved the German national football team’s starting position for months to earn a place in the top draw of the World Cup group draw on December 5 in Washington.
The reason: Italy dropped drastically in the next world rankings on Wednesday because of the defeat. And Germany can do it if they win against Slovakia on Monday (20.45/’ZDF and on live ticker on ntv.de) Not only will you get direct tickets to the World Cup, but you will also definitely return to the top 9 in the world.
This means that, regardless of the seeding variants that FIFA still allows, Germany will be guaranteed a place in the top draw pot – along with World Cup favorites such as Argentina, Spain, France, Brazil and England. The DFB team avoided World Cup group duels with these teams next summer in America.
There has recently been speculation that FIFA may change its most recently used seeding system and not automatically place teams from the six playoff lanes in the worst 4 pots, but in the pots that would go to the best placed teams in those lanes. In Italy’s case, they would be in pot 1 until the defeat against Norway, much to the disappointment of the DFB team, who would then have to move to pot 2.
Now this new betting variant could even be an advantage for Germany. If the DFB team misses out on a direct World Cup ticket due to the defeat against Slovakia and falls behind their pursuers from Croatia or Morocco in the world rankings, they will not be placed in Pot 4 as playoff participants, but at least in Pot 2.
However, Nagelsmann certainly doesn’t want to have to take advantage of this advantage. Pot 1 returns by itself. FIFA plans to announce ticket rules and seed pots after the end of the qualifying phase this week.
