30 seats in the top 48 of the World Cup have been determined: the third team in the European zone is announced! Germany + Netherlands will qualify if they tie in the last round

In the early morning of November 15th, the World Cup qualifying matches continued. In the European area that has attracted much attention, Croatia, the third place in the last World Cup, qualified one round ahead of schedule, becoming the 30th team and the third qualifying team in the European area.

In this round of competition, Croatia reversed the Faroe Islands 3-1 at home and accumulated 19 points in 7 rounds, leading the second-placed Czech Republic by 6 points and qualifying early. This is the seventh time Croatia has qualified for the World Cup finals. They were in 1998, 2002, 2006, 2014, 2018, 2022 and 2026. In the past eight sessions, they only missed the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

In the previous 7 World Cup finals, they have reached the knockout rounds 3 times, in 1998, 2018 and 2022. Their best result was the runner-up in 2018. They lost 2-4 to France in the final. At the last World Cup in Qatar, Croatia finished third. Croatia's legendary captain Modric will also usher in his fifth World Cup trip.

Except for Croatia, Germany and the Netherlands both have advantages although they have not yet qualified. Germany has 12 points in Group A, which is the same as Slovakia, but has an advantage on goal difference. In the final round, Germany can advance as long as they remain undefeated in direct dialogue.

The Netherlands has 17 points, 14 points ahead of Poland with a 3-point advantage. The goal difference is 19-6. As long as they tie with underdog Lithuania in the final round, they can lock in the qualification.

Even if the Netherlands loses in an upset, it will be extremely difficult for the Polish team to regain its 13 goal difference disadvantage. As the second place in this group, the Polish team has also guaranteed a European play-off seat.

Attachment: 30 seats have been reserved for the top 48 of the World Cup

Africa: Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria, Ghana, Cape Verde, South Africa, Senegal, Cote d'Ivoire

Asia: Japan, Iran, Uzbekistan, South Korea, Jordan , Australia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia

South America: Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Uruguay, Paraguay, Colombia

Host: United States, Mexico, Canada

Oceania: New Zealand

Europe: England, France, Croatia