Photo by Hufton Crow

World Cup Qualifiers 2021 October: England to secure their ticket, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland aiming for second spots

When England faces Andorra and Hungary during the World Cup Qualifiers 2021 in October, the Three Lions will be attempting to secure their ticket to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Wales have the top match for second place in Group E – against the Czech Republic. The same goes for Northern Ireland, who would have to beat Switzerland away from home to put themselves in a realistic position for a World Cup ticket before the final games.

The Scottish team could score two important victories in the battle for the relegation places with a win at home against Israel as well as at the Faroe Islands.

England can already qualify

With five wins and one draw from six matches, the English team can be attested a successful qualification phase so far. Gareth Southgate’s team has a commanding four-point lead at the top of the table. If they win their next two games and Albania and Poland do not both win their games, England would qualify early for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

The first hurdle on the way to this goal is Andorra on Saturday. The dwarf state has collected three points in the current cycle and is in penultimate place. Anything other than a clear victory for the Three Lions would be a big surprise.

⏰ Andorra vs England | Saturday, 9 October, 7:45pm | Andorra
📺 ITV

Three days later, the runners-up in the European Championship welcome Hungary to Wembley. The Hungarians themselves still have a chance of qualifying, but would have to take all three points from Wembley for a good starting position. Both Albania and Poland are still ahead of them in the table.

⏰ England vs Hungary | Tuesday, 12 October, 7:45pm | Wembley
📺 ITV

World Cup Qualifiers 2021 October: England squad

Goalkeepers: Sam Johnstone, Jordan Pickford, Aaron Ramsdale

Defenders: Conor Coady, Tyrone Mings, Luke Shaw, John Stones, Fikayo Tomori, Kieran Trippier, Kyle Walker, Ben Chilwell

Midfielders: Phil Foden, Jordan Henderson, Jesse Lingard, Mason Mount, James Ward-Prowse, Declan Rice

Forwards: Jack Grealish, Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, Raheem Sterling, Jadon Sancho, Ollie Watkins, Tammy Abraham

Wales in a good position

Wales, too, enters the decisive phase of the qualifiers. Belgium seem to have cemented first place with 16 points. Behind them, it’s all to play for between Wales and the Czech Republic on Friday. Second place is very likely to be decided between the two. Rob Page could certainly live with a point in Prague, as they won the first leg at home.

⏰ Czech Republic vs Wales | Friday, 8 October, 7:45pm | Prague
📺 Sky Sports, Now and S4C

On the following Monday, they could overtake the Czech Republic with a win. After the 0-0 draw in the first leg against the team from the Baltic States, they still have a score to settle.

⏰ Estonia vs Wales | Monday, 11 October, 7:45pm | Tallinn
📺 Sky Sports, Now and S4C

World Cup Qualifiers 2021 October: Wales squad

Goalkeepers: Wayne Hennessey, Danny Ward, Adam Davies

Defenders: Chris Gunter, Ben Davies, Connor Roberts, Chris Mepham, Joe Rodon, Neco Williams, James Lawrence, Will Vaulks, Ben Cabango

Midfielders: Aaron Ramsey, Joe Allen, Jonathan Williams, Ethan Ampadu, Harry Wilson, David Brooks, Joe Morrell, Matthew Smith, Dylan Levitt

Forwards: Kieffer Moore, Tyler Roberts, Mark Harris, Daniel James, Brennan Johnson, Sorba Thomas, Rubin Colwill

Scotland: Two wins for the relegation spot

The Scottish team is in a similar position to Wales. In the World Cup qualifying group F, Denmark is the undisputed leader with a maximum of 18 points from six matches.

For Steve Clarke’s team, the priority is to qualify for the relegation places and look for a chance to take part in the World Cup there. They have already gained an advantage over their nominal main rivals for second place, Austria, thanks to their important 1-0 away win in September. The team from the Alpine state is a hefty four points behind.

⏰ Scotland vs Israel | Saturday, 9 October, 5pm | Hampden Park
📺 Sky Sports & Now

The big chance for Scotland to eliminate their second rival and maintain their lead over Austria in their home match against Israel on Saturday.

Subsequently, there is an imperative behind three points at the Faroe Islands during the week, while Austria have to play in Denmark.

⏰ Faroe Islands vs Scotland | Tuesday, 12 October, 7:45pm | Faroe Islands
📺 Sky Sports & Now

Scotland squad

Goalkeepers: Craig Gordon, Jon McLaughlin, Liam Kelly

Defenders: Stephen O’Donnell, Nathan Patterson, Jack Hendry, Grant Hanley, Scott McKenna, Liam Cooper, Kieran Tierney, Andy Robertson.

Midfielders: Billy Gilmour, Kenny McLean, Callum McGregor, Stuart Armstrong, David Turnbull, John McGinn, Lewis Ferguson, Scott McTominay.

Strikers: Lyndon Dykes, Che Adams, Ryan Christie, Ryan Fraser, Kevin Nisbet.

Can Northern Ireland surprise Switzerland?

In Group C, there will also be a match for the second spot in the standings. European champions Italy have already pulled clear and are top of the table with four wins and two draws.

⏰ Switzerland vs Northern Ireland | Saturday, 9 October, 7:45pm | Geneva
📺 Sky Sports & Now

Switzerland follows behind with eight points, but two games less played. Northern Ireland follows with the same number of games played and 5 points. In September, Northern Ireland held Switzerland at bay, taking a point in a 0-0 draw. However, if Ian Baraclough’s team still wants to have a serious say in the World Cup qualifiers, they will have to beat the favourites from Switzerland away from home.

The next decisive match will be on Tuesday. Their opponents Bulgaria are also still in the race for second place with five points (with one game more played).

⏰ Bulgaria vs Northern Ireland | Tuesday, 12 October, 7:45pm | Sofia
📺 Sky Sports & Now

World Cup Qualifiers 2021 October: Northern Ireland squad

Goalkeepers: Bailey Peacock-Farrell, Conor Hazard, Liam Hughes

Defenders: Jonny Evans, Craig Cathcart, Stuart Dallas, Shane Ferguson, Jamal Lewis, Ryan McLaughlin, Daniel Ballard, Tom Flanagan, Ciaron Brown

Midfielders: Steven Davis, Niall McGinn, Corry Evans, Patrick McNair, George Saville, Gavin Whyte, Jordan Thompson, Jordan Jones, Carl Winchester, Conor Bradley

Forwards: Josh Magennis, Conor Washington, Paul Smyth, Dion Charles

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Heik Kolsch