2022 FIFA World Cup Qualification – UEFA Group F

Group F comprised Denmark, Scotland, Israel, Austria, the Faroe Islands and Moldova. The group winner qualified directly for the 2022 World Cup, while the runner-up advanced to the European playoff stage.[1] The wider UEFA format sent the winners of its ten groups directly to the tournament; group runners-up joined two eligible teams through the Nations League in a 12-team playoff, with three playoff-path winners qualifying.[5]

Matches were played during 2021. Denmark built a commanding lead, while Scotland and Israel contested second place and the route into the playoff.[6][7]

Israel began with a 2–0 home defeat to Denmark and a 1–1 draw with Scotland at Bloomfield Stadium. Dor Peretz gave Israel the lead shortly before halftime with a long-range goal, before Ryan Fraser equalized in the second half.[8] Israel then beat Moldova 4–1 away in Chisinau after falling behind, moving into third place after the opening week; Denmark led after winning its first three matches.[9]

In early September, Israel defeated the Faroe Islands 4–0 in Torshavn, with Eran Zahavi scoring a hat trick. That result put Israel second after four matches, while Denmark remained unbeaten and beat Scotland 2–0 that evening.[10] Israel followed with a 5–2 home win over Austria in Haifa. After Israel had taken a 3–0 lead, Austria scored twice, but Shon Weissman and Zahavi added goals to secure the victory.[11]

After five matches, Denmark led on 15 points, Israel had 10, Scotland 8, Austria 7, and the Faroe Islands and Moldova one each. Israel’s second-place position was therefore precarious even after the win over Austria.[1] Denmark then beat Israel 5–0 in Copenhagen, with five different Danish players scoring. At that point Denmark had won all six matches, scored 22 goals and conceded none; Scotland’s 1–0 victory over Austria moved it into second place.[6][12]

Denmark clinched qualification with a 1–0 win over Austria, Joakim Maehle scoring in the 53rd minute. The result took Denmark to 24 points after eight matches, all victories, with no goals conceded. Scotland’s simultaneous 1–0 win over the Faroe Islands left it four points ahead of Israel with two rounds still to play.[2]

At the time it secured qualification, Denmark had won its first eight group matches without conceding.[2] After Denmark’s 5–0 win over Israel, Zahavi summed up the disparity by saying, “Denmark was better than us by every parameter.”[12]

Scotland beat Israel 3–2 in Glasgow on October 9. Israel led twice through Zahavi and Munas Dabbur, but Lyndon Dykes equalized in the second half and Scott McTominay scored the winner in stoppage time, reported as the 94th minute. Scotland had 14 points to Israel’s 10 after the match.[13]

Israel later defeated Moldova 2–1 at home, reaching 13 points, while Scotland’s 1–0 win over the Faroe Islands kept it four points ahead with two matches remaining.[14] Zahavi scored his 33rd goal for Israel and assisted Dabbur’s goal; Scotland’s winner came from Dykes late in the match.[2]

Before the final two rounds, Denmark had 24 points, Scotland 17 and Israel 13. Israel needed to win both remaining matches and depend on Scotland dropping points to retain a chance of taking second. Coach Willi Ruttensteiner said, “The standings are important but it doesn’t tell the entire story,” and emphasized the importance of how Israel finished the campaign.[7]

On November 12, Scotland beat Moldova 2–0 away, securing second place and ending Israel’s chance of reaching the playoff. Denmark had already qualified directly.[5] Israel then lost 4–2 to Austria after taking the lead twice, but the defeat came after Scotland’s result had already eliminated Israel from contention.[4]

Israel closed its campaign on November 15 with a 3–2 home win over the Faroe Islands. Munas Dabbur scored a penalty in the 30th minute and Shon Weissman made it 2–0 in the 58th. The visitors equalized with goals in the 62nd and 72nd minutes, before Peretz restored Israel’s lead three minutes later to secure the win.[4]

Denmark finished top of Group F despite losing 2–0 to Scotland in its final qualifier. Denmark qualified directly, Scotland advanced to the playoff, and Israel finished third.[3][15] Austria also entered the playoff through the Nations League rather than by finishing second in the group.[3]

Israel recorded a 4–1 win over Moldova and a 4–0 win over the Faroe Islands.[9][10] It also beat Austria 5–2.[11] Defeats to Denmark and Scotland, however, undermined its bid for second place.[12][13] Israel finished with 23 goals scored and 21 conceded, a record reflecting a productive attack and a vulnerable defense.[4]

Zahavi’s 33rd goal for Israel against Moldova was presented as a record-breaking milestone. He celebrated by raising one arm toward the sky, echoing Mordechai Spiegler’s celebration after scoring for Israel at the 1970 World Cup.[2] Despite the late 3–2 win over the Faroe Islands, Israel did not qualify for the 2022 tournament.[16]