The Qualifiers in Numbers

• A sum of 871 matches were played in a Russia 2018 qualifiers
• Four nations done their entrance in a competition
• Italy were a usually prior universe champions to destroy to make it through

It has been a prolonged highway to a 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™, a longest in a story of universe finals subordinate competitions in fact. For some it has been a small wander in a park; for others an strenuous tour full of obstacles. Some 209 teams started out, though usually 31 done it to a end, fasten hosts Russia in subsequent year’s universe finals.

With a dirt carrying now settled, FIFA.com takes a demeanour during some of a subordinate competition’s quirkier statistics.

Matches and records
871 The sum series of matches played in a Russia 2018 qualifiers, a record. The initial took place in Timor-Leste on 12 Mar 2015 and a final in Peru on 15 Nov 2017.

63 The series of World Cup subordinate matches Spain have now left but defeat, a record La Roja can supplement to when a Qatar 2022 qualifiers get underneath way. Next on a list is Nigeria with 36.

22 The series of matches played by Australia on a highway to Russia 2018, equalling a record set by Honduras and Trinidad and Tobago in a qualifiers for Korea/Japan 2002.

Teams
4 The series of teams who done their World Cup subordinate debuts: Bhutan, Gibraltar, Kosovo and South Sudan.

7 The series of prior World Cup winners who done it by a qualifiers: Brazil, Germany, France, Spain, Uruguay, England and Argentina. The usually one to skip out were four-time universe champions Italy, who will be absent for a initial time given Sweden 1958, following their better to a Swedes in a European play-offs.

21  The series of World Cup finals Brazil will have contested when they step out during Russia 2018. The initial group to book their place, on 28 Mar 2017, a Brazilians are also a usually republic never to have missed a singular universe finals. Holders Germany are subsequent on a list with 17 uninterrupted appearances.

20 The series of teams who lined adult during Brazil 2014 and will do so again during Russia 2018. Curiously, Nigeria are a usually African side among them.

36 The series of years given Peru were final during a World Cup, during Spain 1982. The other teams to lapse after prolonged absences are Egypt, whose final coming came during Italy 1990, and Morocco, who were final on a large theatre during France 1998.

Goals and goalscorers
2457 goals were scored in a subordinate foe as a whole. Quito scored a first, for Timor-Leste, in their 4-1 better of Mongolia in Dili on 12 Mar 2015. Christian Ramos scored a last, for Peru, in their 2-0 win over New Zealand in Lima on 15 Nov 2017.

* The biggest win was Qatar’s 15-0 better of Bhutan in a second turn of a Asian qualifiers.

* Joint heading goalscorers of a qualifiers, with 16 goals apiece:

• Mohamed Al Sahlawi (Saudi Arabia)
• Ahmed Khalil (United Arab Emirates)
• Robert Lewandowski (Poland), who also scored 3 hat-tricks

* Highest goalscorers in a singular match, with 5 goals:

• Mohamed Al Sahlawi (Saudi Arabia), opposite Timor-Leste
• Carlos Ruiz (Guatemala), opposite St. Vincent and a Grenadines

* Goalscorers

• Youngest: Ahmed Al Sarori (Yemen), 17 years and 95 days
• Oldest: Pablo Escobar (Bolivia), 38 years and 91 days

* Players

• Youngest: Anthony Likiliki (Tonga), 15 years and 257 days
• Oldest: Dady Aristide (Turks and Caicos Islands), 44 years and 293 days

Article source: http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2017/m=11/news=the-qualifiers-in-numbers-2920457.html