This week, the European World Cup qualifying groups will be decided. Sweden leads its group at the same time as major nations such as Portugal, Italy and Spain are in a bad way and risk missing a direct place in the World Cup in Qatar 2022. Here are the conditions for Sweden - as well as the most dense groups.

+ Group B

1) Sweden, plus 9 in goal difference, 15 points

2) Spain, plus 8 in goal difference, 13 points

3) Greece, plus 1 in goal difference, 9 points

If Sweden wins its match against Georgia and then avoids a loss against Spain, a blue-yellow victory in the group is secured.

The Swedish national team can also be ready for the World Cup with a victory against Georgia at the same time as Spain loses points against Greece in Thessaloniki.

Should Spain, on the other hand, win both their matches, against Greece and Sweden, then "La Roja" will secure its place in the World Cup finals next year.

Greece is lurking behind the top duo - but it takes a lot for them to be able to disrupt.

First of all, they have to beat Spain at home and then win against Kosovo in the final match.

In addition, Spain must also lose points against Sweden in the final round.

Then Greece will play the playoffs at the expense of Spain.

In theory, Sweden can also come third in the group.

This happens if the national team loses both their matches at the same time as Greece wins two straight and also catches the gap in the goal difference.

+ Group A

1) Serbia, plus 8 in goal difference, 17 points

2) Portugal, plus 12 in goal difference, 16 points

Portugal has one game less played than the group leader Serbia at the moment.

If Cristiano Ronaldo & co manage to take a planned victory against Ireland on Thursday, they have a dream situation before the last group game - at home against Serbia.

Then one point in that match is enough to secure the ticket to Qatar.

But in the event of a loss, the Serbs snag first place and instead send Portugal to playoff games.

Provided that Portugal do not lose to Ireland, Serbia will have to pick up three points in the final match to win the group.

+ Group C

1) Italy, plus 11 in goal difference, 14 points.

2) Switzerland, plus 9 in goal difference, 14 points.

The two top teams will face each other, at the Olympic Stadium in Rome, in the penultimate match.

Then both Italy and Switzerland have the chance to link an iron grip on the direct place to the World Cup in case of victory.

But should it end in a draw, it could be a goal difference deal in the final round.

Italy finishes against Northern Ireland away while Switzerland plays at home against Bulgaria.

Italy would have dual advantages in such a scenario.

In addition to having a better goal difference in advance, the reigning European champion has also scored more goals than Switzerland in the qualifiers so far.

+ Group G

1) Netherlands, plus 23 in goal difference, 19 points

2) Norway, plus 9 in goal difference, 17 points

3) Turkey, plus 4 in goal difference, 15 points

All three teams have two matches left and go in as clear favorites in the first.

Turkey and Norway play at home against Gibraltar and Latvia respectively, while the Netherlands face Montenegro away.

In the final round, the Netherlands will receive group runner-up Norway at home.

Turkey will face Montenegro.

Turkey should be away from the group victory provided there is no minor miracle.

On the other hand, they certainly keep their fingers crossed for a Norwegian loss against either the Netherlands or Latvia, while they themselves take six points in the two remaining matches.

That would give the Turks a playoff spot.

Norway, for its part, has not given up the fight for direct promotion to the World Cup.

If Ståle Solbakken's men win against Latvia and then strike with a bang in Rotterdam in the final round, they are ready for the country's first World Cup final since 1998.

For the Netherlands, a victory against Montenegro and at least one point against Norway is enough to guarantee the group a win.

+ Group H

1) Russia, plus 8 in goal difference, 19 points

2) Croatia, plus 10 in goal difference, 17 points

The World Cup finalist from 2018, Croatia, is in a pretty bad position in advance - but the hope of the group victory is alive and well.

In fact, they still have the matter in their own hands.

Of course, Russia has that too.

Both teams have two matches left.

Croatia will first play Malta away, while Russia will face Cyprus at home in St. Petersburg.

If the results go according to the preliminary tips, everything will be decided in the final round when Croatia and Russia meet in Split.

Croatia has the advantage at home, but will most likely step into the match with the compulsion to take three points.

Russia, on the other hand, can settle for a draw unless they have lost points against Cyprus in the previous match.

CLIP: Zlatan "He shall have all honor and love" (November 8)

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This is how Sweden goes to the World Cup

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