The 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification UEFA Group H was one of the nine UEFA groups for

2018 FIFA World Cup qualification The 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification process was a series of tournaments organised by the six FIFA confederations to decide 31 of the 32 teams which would play in the 2018 FIFA World Cup, with Russia qualifying automatically as hosts. All 210 ...

. The group consisted of six teams:

Belgium Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...

Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina ( sh, / , ), abbreviated BiH () or B&H, sometimes called Bosnia–Herzegovina and often known informally as Bosnia, is a country at the crossroads of south and southeast Europe, located in the Balkans. Bosnia and H ...

Greece Greece,, or , romanized: ', officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the southern tip of the Balkans, and is located at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Greece shares land borders ...

Estonia Estonia, formally the Republic of Estonia, is a country by the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland across from Finland, to the west by the sea across from Sweden, to the south by Latvia, a ...

Cyprus Cyprus ; tr, Kıbrıs (), officially the Republic of Cyprus,, , lit: Republic of Cyprus is an island country located south of the Anatolian Peninsula in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Its continental position is disputed; while it is ge ...

, and

Gibraltar ) , anthem = " God Save the King" , song = " Gibraltar Anthem" , image_map = Gibraltar location in Europe.svg , map_alt = Location of Gibraltar in Europe , map_caption = United Kingdom shown in pale green , mapsize = , image_map2 = Gib ...

. The draw for the first round (group stage) was held as part of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Preliminary Draw on 25 July 2015, starting 18:00 MSK (

UTC+3 UTC+03:00 is an identifier for a time offset from UTC of +03:00. In areas using this time offset, the time is three hours later than the Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). Following the ISO 8601 standard, a time with this offset would be wri ...

), at the Konstantinovsky Palace in

Strelna Strelna ( rus, Стре́льна, p=ˈstrʲelʲnə) is a municipal settlement in Petrodvortsovy District of the federal city of Saint Petersburg, Russia, about halfway between Saint Petersburg proper and Petergof, and overlooking the shore o ...

Saint Petersburg Saint Petersburg ( rus, links=no, Санкт-Петербург, a=Ru-Sankt Peterburg Leningrad Petrograd Piter.ogg, r=Sankt-Peterburg, p=ˈsankt pʲɪtʲɪrˈburk), formerly known as Petrograd (1914–1924) and later Leningrad (1924–1991), i ...

, Russia. Gibraltar was added to the group after the draw, after becoming FIFA members together with

Kosovo Kosovo ( sq, Kosova or ; sr-Cyrl, Косово ), officially the Republic of Kosovo ( sq, Republika e Kosovës, links=no; sr, Република Косово, Republika Kosovo, links=no), is a partially recognised state in Southeast Euro ...

in May 2016, and UEFA decided not to put Kosovo in same group as Bosnia and Herzegovina for security reasons. The group winners, Belgium, qualified directly for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The group runners-up, Greece, advanced to the

play-offs The playoffs, play-offs, postseason or finals of a sports league are a competition played after the regular season by the top competitors to determine the league champion or a similar accolade. Depending on the league, the playoffs may be eithe ...

as one of the best eight runners-up.

Russia Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world, with its internationally recognised territory covering , and encompassing one-eig ...

was initially partnered with the five-team Group H, which enabled the 2018 World Cup hosts to play centralised friendlies against these countries on their "spare" match dates. These friendlies would not have counted in the qualifying group standings. However, after the group was later expanded to include

, these friendly matches were cancelled.

Standings

Matches

The fixture list prior to the inclusion of Gibraltar was confirmed by UEFA on 26 July 2015, the day following the draw. Times are CET/CEST, as listed by UEFA (local times are in parentheses). ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----

Goalscorers

There were 109 goals scored in 30 matches, for an average of goals per match. ;11 goals *

Romelu Lukaku Romelu Lukaku Bolingoli (; born 13 May 1993) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a striker for club Inter Milan, on loan from club Chelsea, and the Belgium national team. Lukaku began his senior club career playing for Ander ...

;6 goals *

Eden Hazard Eden Michael Walter Hazard (born 7 January 1991) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a winger or attacking midfielder for La Liga club Real Madrid. Known for his creativity, dribbling, passing and vision, Hazard is considered o ...

* Konstantinos Mitroglou ;5 goals *

Dries Mertens Dries Mertens (; born 6 May 1987), nicknamed "Ciro", is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a striker or winger for Süper Lig club Galatasaray and the Belgium national team.

Thomas Meunier Thomas André A. Meunier (born 12 September 1991) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a right-back for club Borussia Dortmund and the Belgium national team. Club career Virton Born in Sainte-Ode, Belgium, Meunier began playin ...

Edin Džeko Edin Džeko (; born 17 March 1986) is a Bosnian professional footballer who plays as a striker for club Inter Milan and captains the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team. Džeko was named Bosnian Footballer of the Year for three years in a ...

;4 goals *

Pieros Sotiriou Pieros Sotiriou ( el, Πιέρος Σωτηρίου; born on January 13, 1993) is a Greek Cypriot professional footballer who plays as a striker for Sanfrecce Hiroshima in Japan and the Cyprus national team. Sotiriou joined FC Copenhagen in ...

* Mattias Käit ;3 goals *

Christian Benteke Christian Benteke Liolo (born 3 December 1990) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Major League Soccer club D.C. United and the Belgium national team. Benteke began his career at Standard Liège, playing a part in ...

Yannick Carrasco Yannick Ferreira Carrasco (born 4 September 1993) is a Belgian footballer who plays for La Liga club Atlético Madrid and the Belgium national team as a winger or wing-back. He began his career with Monaco, where he scored 20 goals in 105 ...

Vedad Ibišević Vedad Ibišević (; born 6 August 1984) is a Bosnian former professional footballer who played as a forward. He is currently assistant head coach of Hertha BSC. Ibišević started his professional career at Paris Saint-Germain. He had a two-yea ...

* Edin Višća * Joonas Tamm *

Vasilis Torosidis Vasilis Torosidis (Greek language, Greek: Βασίλης Τοροσίδης, born 10 June 1985) is a Greek former professional Association football, footballer who played as a right-back. Club career Skoda Xanthi Torosidis made his senior debut ...

;2 goals *

Jan Vertonghen Jan Bert Lieve Vertonghen (born 24 April 1987) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays for Belgian club Anderlecht and the Belgium national team. Mainly a central defender, he can also play as a left-back. Vertonghen began his senior car ...

Axel Witsel Axel Laurent Angel Lambert Witsel (born 12 January 1989) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays for La Liga club Atlético Madrid and the Belgian national team. Witsel broke into Belgium's first team as a right-winger, and can also pla ...

Izet Hajrović Izet Hajrović (; born 4 August 1991) is a Bosnian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Super League Greece club Aris and the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team. Hajrović started his professional career at Grasshoppers, befor ...

Haris Medunjanin Haris Medunjanin (; born 8 March 1985) is a Bosnian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Dutch club PEC Zwolle. He started his professional career at AZ, who loaned him to Sparta Rotterdam in 2006. In 2008 he joined Valladolid ...

* Emir Spahić ;1 goal *

Toby Alderweireld Toby Albertine Maurits Alderweireld (; born 2 March 1989) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back or right-back for Belgian Pro League club Royal Antwerp. Alderweireld began his professional career at Dutch club Ajax, whe ...

Michy Batshuayi Michy Batshuayi-Atunga (born 2 October 1993) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Süper Lig club Fenerbahçe and the Belgium national team. Batshuayi began his professional career at Standard Liège in 2011, scorin ...

Nacer Chadli Nacer Chadli (born 2 August 1989) is a Belgian professional footballer who currently plays as a winger for Belgian First Division A club K.V.C. Westerlo on loan from Turkish Super Lig club İstanbul Başakşehir and the Belgium national footbal ...

Thorgan Hazard Thorgan Ganael Francis Hazard (born 29 March 1993) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder and winger for Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund and the Belgium national team. He is the younger brother of Eden and ...

Ermin Bičakčić Ermin Bičakčić (; born 24 January 1990) is a Bosnian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Bundesliga club 1899 Hoffenheim and the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team. Bičakčić started his professional career at VfB St ...

* Dario Đumić *

Kenan Kodro Kenan Kodro (; born 19 August 1993) is a Bosnian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Nemzeti Bajnokság I club Fehérvár and the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team. Kodro started his professional career at Real Sociedad B ...

Senad Lulić Senad Lulić (; born 18 January 1986) is a Bosnian former professional footballer who played as a midfielder. Lulić started his professional career at Chur 97, before joining Bellinzona in 2006. Two years later, he switched to Grasshoppers. I ...

Miralem Pjanić Miralem Pjanić (born 2 April 1990) is a Bosnian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for UAE Pro League club Sharjah and the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team. Pjanić started his professional career at Metz being there for one ...

* Toni Šunjić * Avdija Vršajević *

Demetris Christofi Demetris Christofi ( el, Δημήτρης Χριστοφή; born 28 September 1988) is a Cypriot professional footballer who plays as a winger for Cypriot club Anorthosis Famagusta. Career Christofi is a winger who also plays as a centre-f ...

Vincent Laban Vincent Fabien Laban Bounayre (born 9 September 1984) is a French-born naturalized Cypriot professional footballer who plays as a midfielder. Laban began his career with the reserves of Nantes, where he played for three years before moving to Cy ...

* Constantinos Laifis *

Valentinos Sielis Valentinos Sielis ( el, Βαλεντίνος Σιέλης; born 1 March 1990) is a Cypriot professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Busan IPark. In 2014, he signed with AEL. Sielis is a Cypriot international and made his debu ...

Henri Anier Henri Anier (born 17 December 1990) is an Estonian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Thai League 1 club Muangthong United and the Estonia national team. Club career Flora Anier came through the Flora youth system. He moved to ...

* Ilja Antonov * Siim Luts *

Sergei Mošnikov Sergei Mošnikov (born 7 January 1988) is an Estonian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Paide Linnameeskond. Club career Early career Mošnikov came through the youth system at Pärnu. He made his senior league debut while on ...

Konstantin Vassiljev Konstantin Vassiljev (born 16 August 1984) is an Estonian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Meistriliiga club Flora and captains the Estonia national team. Vassiljev has been named Estonian Footballer of the Year ...

Sergei Zenjov Sergei Zenjov (born 20 April 1989) is an Estonian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Meistriliiga club Flora and the Estonia national team. Besides Estonia, Zenjov has played in England, Ukraine, Russia, Poland, Azerbaijan and Ka ...

Lee Casciaro Lee Henry Casciaro (born 29 September 1981) is a Gibraltarian footballer who plays as a forward for Lincoln Red Imps and the Gibraltar national team. With three international goals, he is Gibraltar's all-time leading scorer since joining UEFA, ...

* Anthony Hernandez *

Liam Walker Liam Walker (born 13 April 1988) is a Gibraltarian footballer who plays as a midfielder for Lincoln Red Imps and the Gibraltar national team. He spent most of his career with lower-league Spanish clubs and in the Gibraltar Premier Division. ...

Kostas Fortounis Konstantinos 'Kostas' Fortounis ( gr, Κωνσταντίνος 'Κώστας' Φορτούνης, ; born 16 October 1992) is a Greek professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or a winger for Super League club Olympiacos and ...

Giannis Gianniotas Giannis Gianniotas ( gr, Γιάννης Γιαννιώτας; born 29 April 1993) is a Greek professional footballer who plays as a winger for Super League club Levadiakos. Club career Aris 2011–12 season Born in Neochori, Greece, Gianniota ...

* Petros Mantalos *

Kostas Stafylidis Konstantinos "Kostas" Stafylidis ( el, Κώστας Σταφυλίδης; born 2 December 1993) is a Greek professional footballer who plays as a left-back for Bundesliga club VfL Bochum. He represents the Greece national team. Early career St ...

Georgios Tzavellas Georgios Tzavellas ( el, Γεώργιος Τζαβέλλας; born 26 November 1987) is a Greek professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Super League club AEK Athens and the Greece national team. Club career Kerkyra Tzavellas bega ...

Alexandros Tziolis Alexandros Tziolis ( el, Αλέξανδρος Τζιόλης; born 13 February 1985) is a Greek former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder. He was a Greek international from 2005 until his international retirement in 20 ...

* Zeca ;1 own goal * Emir Spahić (against Belgium) *

Ragnar Klavan Ragnar Klavan (born 30 October 1985) is an Estonian professional footballer who plays as a defender for Estonian club Paide Linnameeskond and the Estonia national team. A left-footed centre back, he has also played as a left back during his car ...

(against Belgium) *

Roy Chipolina Roy Alan Chipolina (born 20 January 1983) is a Gibraltarian footballer who plays as a defender for Gibraltar Premier Division side Lincoln Red Imps and the Gibraltar national team, for which he serves as captain. Club career Chipolina has pla ...

(against Cyprus) * Scott Wiseman (against Greece)

Discipline

A player was automatically suspended for the next match for the following offences: * Receiving a red card (red card suspensions could be extended for serious offences) * Receiving two yellow cards in two different matches (yellow card suspensions were carried forward to the play-offs, but not the finals or any other future international matches) The following suspensions were served during the qualifying matches:

Notes

References

External links

*
Qualifiers – Europe: Round 1
FIFA.com

UEFA.com

UEFA.com {{DEFAULTSORT:2018 FIFA World Cup qualification - UEFA Group H H Belgium at the 2018 FIFA World Cup