MOLDOVA: ROAD TO QATAR 2022 EXAMINED

Moldova are one of the least ranked football nations on the European continent and it's not surprising that they were in the sixth and last pot ahead of the draw for the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in the UEFA section.

At the end of the draw, Moldovan football was given a big boost after they avoided the major football superpowers on the continent. Moldovan football was kept away from the big teams like France, Portugal, England, Italy, Germany and Spain.

Moldova were drawn in Group F alongside top seed Denmark, Scotland, Austria, Israel and the Faroe Islands. The Danes are the highest ranked team in the group but they don't rank as a superpower in football on the European stage. Denmark have just one major trophy and that was the 1992 European Championship which they won against all expectations.

Moldovan football had a fair chance of making it through to Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup tournament having been kept apart from the major teams but the country has not been able to take advantage.

At the start of the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in the European section inMarch, Moldova set a new record for their biggest defeat after they were hit for eight in Denmark. Moldovan football was on the end of an 8-0 mauling at the hands of the Danes in what was their second game in Group F. Moldova had earlier come close to starting the qualifiers with victory.

A late goal from away team Faroe Islands denied Moldova in the first of their ten qualifiers in the group as the two teams had to settle for a 1-1 draw. The Faroe Islands game was followed by the thrashing at the hands of hosts Denmark. Their third and final match of the March qualifiers ended in a 4-1 away win for opponents Israel.

Moldova have a solitary point from their first three World Cup qualifiers and they are in danger of not qualifying for the tournament in Qatar even before the qualifiers reach the crucial stage.