Abram Jones
New Member
UEFA has 14 spots for the 2018 World Cup. Here are the major European countries with their economic determinant (a number that estimates countries potential based on gdp per capita and population amount). See this video for more commentary:
Germany: 32.4 million
France: 26.5 million
Italy: 21.3 million
England: 20.1 million
Russia: 15.2 million
Spain: 14.5 million
Netherlands: 8.4 million
Turkey: 7.3 million
Switzerland: 5.8 million
Sweden: 4.9 million
Belgium: 4.9 million
Poland: 4.8 million
Norway: 4.3 million
Austria: 3.9 million
Denmark: 3.2 million
Greece: 3 million
Finland: 2.5 million
Portugal: 2.3 million
Israel: 2.3 million
Ireland: 2.2 million
Czechia: 2.1 million
Scotland: 2 million
Romania: 1.7 million
Kazakhstan: 1.5 million
Ukraine: 1.4 million
Hungary: 1.3 million
Wales: 1.2 million
Slovakia: 892,000
Northern Ireland: 689,000
Croatia: 597,000
Belarus: 552,000
Azerbaijan: 529,000
Luxembourg: 524,000
Bulgaria: 499,000
Slovenia: 480,000
Serbia: 395,000
Lithuania: 371,000
Cyprus: 336,000
Latvia: 237,000
Estonia: 195,000
Bosnia Herzegovina: 172,000
Iceland: 132,000
Georgia: 132,000
Albania: 117,000
Conclusion: Though competition is extremely heavy in Europe, the largest group of European countries still should have a relatively easy time qualifying even if playing somewhat below par. The next group of countries is in a much more difficult situation as the 3rd group is close to them in economic size, and the 4th group is full of over achievers. Difficulty for the 3rd and 4th groups are extremely high... slightly harder than in Asia even if skill differences between continents are ignored. The only country belolw these groups that may qualify is Montenegro of the former Yugoslavia. How far they have gone is nothing short of amazing.
Germany: 32.4 million
France: 26.5 million
Italy: 21.3 million
England: 20.1 million
Russia: 15.2 million
Spain: 14.5 million
Netherlands: 8.4 million
Turkey: 7.3 million
Switzerland: 5.8 million
Sweden: 4.9 million
Belgium: 4.9 million
Poland: 4.8 million
Norway: 4.3 million
Austria: 3.9 million
Denmark: 3.2 million
Greece: 3 million
Finland: 2.5 million
Portugal: 2.3 million
Israel: 2.3 million
Ireland: 2.2 million
Czechia: 2.1 million
Scotland: 2 million
Romania: 1.7 million
Kazakhstan: 1.5 million
Ukraine: 1.4 million
Hungary: 1.3 million
Wales: 1.2 million
Slovakia: 892,000
Northern Ireland: 689,000
Croatia: 597,000
Belarus: 552,000
Azerbaijan: 529,000
Luxembourg: 524,000
Bulgaria: 499,000
Slovenia: 480,000
Serbia: 395,000
Lithuania: 371,000
Cyprus: 336,000
Latvia: 237,000
Estonia: 195,000
Bosnia Herzegovina: 172,000
Iceland: 132,000
Georgia: 132,000
Albania: 117,000
Conclusion: Though competition is extremely heavy in Europe, the largest group of European countries still should have a relatively easy time qualifying even if playing somewhat below par. The next group of countries is in a much more difficult situation as the 3rd group is close to them in economic size, and the 4th group is full of over achievers. Difficulty for the 3rd and 4th groups are extremely high... slightly harder than in Asia even if skill differences between continents are ignored. The only country belolw these groups that may qualify is Montenegro of the former Yugoslavia. How far they have gone is nothing short of amazing.
