1974 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)

Listed below are the dates and results for the 1974 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds for the European zone (UEFA). For an overview of the qualification rounds, see the article 1974 FIFA World Cup qualification.

A total of 32 UEFA teams entered the competition. The European zone was allocated 9.5 places (out of 16) in the final tournament. West Germany, the hosts, qualified automatically, leaving 8.5 spots open for competition between 32 teams.

The 32 teams were divided into 9 groups of 3 or 4 teams each (four groups with 3 teams and five groups with 4 teams). The teams would play against each other on a home-and-away basis. The group winners would qualify, except the winner of Group 9, which would advance to the UEFA / CONMEBOL Intercontinental Play-off.

Group 1

Rank Team Pts Pld W D L GF GA GD
1=  Austria 86321147+7
1=  Sweden 86321158+7
3  Hungary 86240127+5
4  Malta 06006120−19

Austria and Sweden finished level on points and goal difference, and a play-off on neutral ground was played to decide who would qualify.

Sweden qualified.

Group 2

Rank Team Pts Pld W D L GF GA GD
1  Italy 106420120+12
2  Turkey 6622253+2
3   Switzerland 6622224−2
4  Luxembourg 26105214−12

Italy qualified.

Group 3

Rank Team Pts Pld W D L GF GA GD
1  Netherlands 106420242+22
2  Belgium 106420120+12
3  Norway 46204916−7
4  Iceland 06006229−27

Netherlands qualified on goal difference. The campaign ended with a controversial decision in the final match when the referee disallowed a legal Belgian goal for offside in the last minute of the game.[3]

Group 4

Rank Team Pts Pld W D L GF GA GD
1  East Germany 106501183+15
2  Romania 96411174+13
3  Finland 36114321−18
4  Albania 26105313−10

East Germany qualified.

Group 5

Rank Team Pts Pld W D L GF GA GD
1  Poland 5421163+3
2  England 4412134−1
3  Wales 3411235−2

Poland qualified. This was the first time England failed to qualify for the World Cup since first entering in 1950.

Group 6

Rank Team Pts Pld W D L GF GA GD
1  Bulgaria 106420133+10
2  Portugal 76231106+4
3  Northern Ireland 5613256−1
4  Cyprus 26105114−13

Bulgaria qualified.

Group 7

Rank Team Pts Pld W D L GF GA GD
1=  Spain 6422085+3
1=  Yugoslavia 6422074+3
3  Greece 04004511−6

Spain and Yugoslavia finished level on points and goal difference, and a play-off on neutral ground was played to decide who would qualify.

Yugoslavia qualified.

As of 2018 this is the last time Spain have failed to qualify for the World Cup finals.

Group 8

Rank Team Pts Pld W D L GF GA GD
1  Scotland 6430183+5
2  Czechoslovakia 5421193+6
3  Denmark 14013213−11

Scotland qualified.

Group 9

Rank Team Pts Pld W D L GF GA GD
1  Soviet Union 6430152+3
2  Republic of Ireland 3411245−1
3  France 3411235−2

Soviet Union advanced to the UEFA – CONMEBOL Play-off.

Inter-confederation play-offs

Team 1 Agg. Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Soviet Union  w.o.[note 1]  Chile 0–0 0–2[note 1]

Goalscorers

7 goals
5 goals
4 goals
3 goals
2 goals
1 goal
1 own goal

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 The Soviet Union refused to play in Chile for the second leg, so Chile were awarded a 2–0 walkover victory.

References

  1. ↑ This match was played in Belgium rather than Iceland.
  2. ↑ This match was played in Netherlands rather than Iceland.
  3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cWwulNygvs
  4. 1 2 3 All home matches of Northern Ireland were played in England instead.
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