The Slippery Road to Russia

Winter is Coming, Russia prepare yourself for them. Its gonna be a cold winter

All roads leads to the playoffs of the World Cup qualifiers. But some teams have been dumped out of the race totally and we won't get to see them in next year maiden event. All we have left is the playoff the stages which would decide which teams would post through. But we have some disappointments along the way and the opposite also. So which teams have failed to qualify and which teams have been awesome throughout the qualifiers. Let's read through them below.

Disappointments of the Qualifiers

Continental Champions

Credits

• African Champions Cameroon

They had been knocked out as early as the Fourth round of the qualifiers. They were abysmal right from the beginning. In a supposed group of death containing Nigeria Algeria and Zambia, Cameroon were tipped to top the group of finish second but they didn't do any. Nigeria blitzed pass the group winning all but one which of course was against Cameroon even that was a draw in which Cameroon should have lost.

• Copa America Champions Chile

A team that beat star-studded Argentina team containing one of the best players in the world "L.Messi" in the finals of Copa America and also beat European Champions Portugal containing a certain "C.Ronaldo" in the Semi-Final Stage of Confederations Cup. They are the biggest disappointments along the Continental Champions not to qualify. They should have qualified if they had held their own against Brazil but they lost embarrassingly 3-0 when all they needed was just a draw or a 1-0 loss.

• Concaf Gold Cup Champions USA

Well we won't be seeing Pulisic in World Cup. The USA needed a draw but lost surprisingly to Trinidad and Tobago. Allowing Panama to go through to the playoffs. Much was expected of the team but they fluffed their lines. They would definitely be watching the World Cup at home.

Countries we expected to make it through

1. Netherlands

Masters of "Total Football", third placed team in World Cup 2014, and Finalist in the World Cup 2010. The Netherlands team has been awful since the resignation of Louis Van Gaal. They didn't qualify for the Euros last year also and their star players are already old and some retired. It's been a disappointing qualifiers for them.

1. Ghana

Their hopes for qualifying for Russia was dented due to some dubious decisions by the referees, they could have had a chance to qualify if the goals they scored had stood in their last match but it didn't go their way. Egypt Qualified in their place and are in Russia.

1. Cote d'voire

Last two years AFCON champions are not going to the World Cup . they were dismissal in their performance throughout the campaign.

1. Wales

Much was expected of was Wales due to their exploits in the last Euros made them favorites in their group to qualify for Russia . But with injuries hampering their talisman Gareth Bale. They have been below average in games he missed. He even missed their last game and they lost. It's a shame we won't get to see Bale in Russia.

Other Players world class players we might not get to see next year are Aubameyang, Mhkitaryan, Valencia, Alaba and so on.

The Good of the Qualifiers

• Iceland became the first smallest Nation to qualify for World Cup. "Heroes"

• Messi's hat trick literally dragged Argentina to World Cup. "G.O.A.T"

• The only game Portugal lost C.Ronaldo didn't play due to Injury. "G.O.A.T"

• Germany outscored every team in the qualifiers setting a new record of 43goals and maintaining a 100% perfect record."German Machine"

• Lewadonski 16goals beats the previous record of most goals in a qualified and lifts Poland to the World Cup."Finisher"

Credits (The Germany team)

We could have some more disappointments after the qualifiers and more surprises. The next round of games comes knocking November before we go to Russia.