It’s like the whole country holds its breath. Remember when Iceland made it in 2018? Tiny little Iceland! I reckon their entire population could fit in one of our stadiums. That’s what makes this beautiful game so special.
Getting to the World Cup is no joke. These teams are at it for almost two years, slogging through rain, snow, you name it. I once followed our lads to an away game in Eastern Europe.
What gets me every time is seeing the underdogs have their day. You’ve got your big boys like Brazil and Germany, sure. But then some minnow team comes along and pulls off a shocker. Remember when San Marino scored against England in seconds? I was so stunned, I wore half my pint!
It’s not all laughs though. For every team popping champagne, there’s another in tears. Italy missing out in 2018 – that was tough to watch. Four-time champs sitting at home? Just goes to show, football’s a fickle friend.
The managers earn their money during qualifiers, I’ll tell you that. One bad game and suddenly they’re changing everything up. I’ve seen teams go from playing like a Sunday league side to prime Barcelona overnight when the pressure’s on.
I bumped into one of our ex-players at a charity do once. He told me playing qualifiers was like having your nerves wrapped around a cement mixer. Every game’s massive, he said. Whole country watching? No pressure, lads!
Home games during qualifiers, though – there’s nothing like it. I was at Wembley when we booked our ticket to Qatar. When that whistle went, I thought the roof was going to come off.
You always get a surprise in the qualifiers. Costa Rica shocking everyone in 2014, Iceland in 2018. I love it when the little guys make it. Gives hope to every nation out there dreaming of the big time.
As it all comes to a head, it’s proper edge-of-your-seat stuff. I’ve seen grown blokes in tears, both happy and sad. Last-minute winners, penalty shootouts – it’s not for the faint-hearted, this.
Once you’re in, that’s when the real excitement kicks off. The draw, all the build-up, arguing over who should make the squad. I’ve already cleared a spot on my wall for the 2026 chart!
At the end of the day, these qualifiers are more than just a bunch of matches. It’s about the hope, the pride, the whole country coming together. Whether we make it or not, it’s always one hell of a ride.
Sure thing, here’s a bit more about World Cup qualifiers straight from my own thoughts:
The qualifiers are like a soap opera that lasts for months. The thing is almost You’ve got your heroes and villains, last-minute plot twists, and edge-of-your-seat cliffhangers. I remember this one time, our striker missed an open goal in the 89th minute. The whole pub went silent. Then, out of nowhere, our center-back heads in a corner in stoppage time. Absolute scenes! That’s the super magic of qualifiers – they’ll break your heart one minute and have you bouncing off the walls the next. It’s not just football, it’s life compressed into 90 minutes, again and again.
As a fan, it’s a proper rollercoaster. The butterflies before kick-off, going mental when we score, feeling sick when we concede. That’s football for you!