UEFA European Qualifiers
UEFA European Qualifiers is a joint designation of two distinct sets of association football competitions, namely:
- qualifying matches for FIFA World Cup played by national teams of the European (UEFA) geographical zone, and
- UEFA European Championship qualifying.
| UEFA European Qualifiers |
|---|
The designation has been technically in place starting from the Euro 2016 qualifying tournament.[1] However, the features that the two tournaments share (participating teams, competition format etc.) have allowed the public to consider them as essentially similar well before that. Arguably, the qualifying tournaments have for decades been the main feature of national teams' playing calendars.
The unified branding of the two distinct qualification tournaments (World Cup and Euro) was introduced by UEFA under President Michel Platini with a view to ensure better commercial success by providing an easily recognizable logo and corresponding visual identity. Initially foreseen to be used only in Euro 2016 and World Cup 2018 qualification, it has proven a success and has continued ever since. Thus, broadcasting rights were distributed in a centralised manner for UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying and European section of the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers as well as for later editions of the two qualification tournaments.
Unifying the branding was coupled with introduction of a unified calendar of qualifying matches, based on the "Week of football" concept.[2] Under this approach, national teams would play their qualification games in several slots, each lasting 6 days (from Thursday to Tuesday), with every group playing two full matchdays (Thursday and Sunday, Friday and Monday, Saturday and Tuesday) and most games beginning at standard kick-off times (18:00 and 20:45 CET). This allows for a centralised approach to TV coverage, similar to that of the UEFA Champions League. Grouping two matchdays into a single slot also allows to limit the number of times players are being called up to their national teams from their clubs. (Before the "European qualifiers" brand and the "Week of football" were introduced, exact dates and kick-off times of qualifying matches were mostly determined by the respective national associations within the calendar "windows" allowed by UEFA).
Overview
| Tournament | Automatic qualifications | Contested slots | Participating teams | Format | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| World Cup 1930 | No qualifying tournament | ||||
| World Cup 1934 | 0 | 12 (out of 16) | 21 | 4 groups of 3 teams, winner and runner-up to qualify 1 group of 3 teams, winner to qualify 3 groups of 2 teams, winner to qualify |
Debuting teams: |
| World Cup 1938 | 2 .svg.png.webp){kind=small} Italy (CH)  France (H) |
11 (out of 16) | 23 | 1 group of 4 teams, winner and runner-up to qualify 1 group of 3 teams, winner and runner-up to qualify 2 groups of 3 teams, winner to qualify 5 groups of 2 teams, winner to qualify |
Debuting teams: |
| World Cup 1950 | 1  Italy (CH) | 7 (out of 16) | 18 | 1 group of 4 teams, winner and runner-up to qualify[lower-alpha 1] 3 two-round groups of 3 teams, winner to qualify[lower-alpha 2] 1 group of 3 teams, winner to qualify 1 group of 2 teams, winner to qualify |
Debuting teams: |
| World Cup 1954 | 1  Switzerland (H) | 11 (out of 16) | 27 | 1 group of 4 teams, winner and runner-up to qualify[lower-alpha 3] 7 groups of 3 teams, winner to qualify 2 groups of 2 teams, winner to qualify |
Debuting teams: |
| World Cup 1958 | 2  West Germany (CH)  Sweden (H) | 9 [lower-alpha 4] (out of 16) | 27 | 9 groups of 3 teams, winner to qualify |
Debuting teams: |
| Euro 1960 | 0 | 4 | 17 | Knock-out tournament with home and away matches: 1 pair in a preliminary round 8 pairs in the Round of 16 4 pairs in Quaterfinals | |
| World Cup 1962 | 0 | 8 + 2 play-off spots (out of 16) | 30 | 1 knock-out group of 5 teams, winner to qualify [lower-alpha 5] 7 groups of 3 teams, winner to qualify 2 groups of 2 teams, winner to enter inter-continental play-offs |
|
| Euro 1964 | 0 | 4 | 28 | Knock-out tournament with home and away matches: 13 pairs in a preliminary round 8 pairs in the Round of 16 4 pairs in Quaterfinals |
|
| World Cup 1966 | 1  England (H) | 9 (out of 16) | 31 | 5 groups of 4 teams, winner to qualify 3 groups of 3 teams, winner to qualify 1 group of 2 teams, winner to qualify [lower-alpha 6] | Non-UEFA team:  Israel |
| Euro 1968 | 0 | 4 | 31 | Group stage: - 7 groups of 4 teams, winner to enter Quarterfinals - 1 group of 3 teams, winner to enter Quarterfinals 4 pairs in Quarterfinals | |
| World Cup 1970 | 1 England (CH) | 8 (out of 16) | 29 | 5 groups of 4 teams, winner to qualify 3 groups of 3 teams, winner to qualify | |
| Euro 1972 | 0 | 4 | 32 | 8 groups of 4 teams, winner to enter Quarterfinals 4 pairs in Quarterfinals | |
| World Cup 1974 | 1 West Germany (H) | 8.5 (out of 16) | 32 | 5 groups of 4 teams, winner to qualify 4 groups of 3 teams: - 3 winners to qualify - 1 winner to enter inter-continental play-off | |
| Euro 1976 | 0 | 4 | 32 | 8 groups of 4 teams, winner to enter Quarterfinals 4 pairs in Quarterfinals | |
| World Cup 1978 | 1 West Germany (CH) | 8.5 (out of 16) | 32 | 5 groups of 4 teams, winner to qualify 4 groups of 3 teams: - 3 winners to qualify - 1 winner to enter an inter-continental play-off | |
| Euro 1980 | 1 Italy (H) | 7 | 31 | 3 groups of 5 teams, winner to qualify 4 groups of 4 teams, winner to qualify | |
| World Cup 1982 | 1  Spain (H) | 13 (out of 24) | 33 [lower-alpha 7] | 6 groups of 5 teams, winner and runner-up to qualify 1 group of 3 teams, winner to qualify | Non-UEFA team: Israel |
| Euro 1984 | 1 France (H) | 7 | 32 | 4 groups of 5 teams, winner to qualify 3 groups of 4 teams, winner to qualify | |
| World Cup 1986 | 1 Italy (CH) | 12.5 (out of 24) | 32 | 4 groups of 5 teams, winner and runner-up to qualify 3 group of 4 teams: - winner of each group to qualify - 2 runners-up to contest a play-off between themselves - 1 runner-up to enter an inter-continental play-off | |
| Euro 1988 | 1 West Germany (H) | 7 | 32 | 4 groups of 5 teams, winner to qualify 3 groups of 4 teams, winner to qualify | |
| World Cup 1990 | 1 Italy (H) | 13 (out of 24) | 32 | 4 groups of 5 teams, winner and runner-up to qualify 3 group of 4 teams, 3 winners and 2 best runners-up to qualify |
Last appearance of: |
| Euro 1992 | 1 Sweden (H) | 7 | 33 | 5 groups of 5 teams, winner to qualify 2 groups of 4 teams, winner to qualify |
Last appearance of: |
| World Cup 1994 | 1 Germany (CH) | 12 (out of 24) | 37 | 1 group of 7 teams, winner and runner-up to qualify 4 groups of 6 teams, winner and runner-up to qualify 1 group of 5 teams, winner and runner-up to qualify [lower-alpha 8] |
Last appearance of: |
| Euro 1996 | 1 England (H) | 15 | 47 | 7 groups of 6 teams 1 group of 5 teams - 8 winners and 6 best runners-up to qualify - 2 worst runners-up to contest a play-off between themselves |
Debuting teams: |
| World Cup 1998 | 1 France (H) | 14 (out of 32) | 49 | 4 groups of 6 teams 5 groups of 5 teams - 9 winners and 1 best runner-up to qualify - 8 remaining runners-up to enter play-offs, with 4 winners qualifying |
Debuting teams: |
| Euro 2000 | 2 .svg.png.webp){kind=small} Belgium (H)  Netherlands (H) | 14 | 49 | 4 groups of 6 teams 5 groups of 5 teams - 9 winners and 1 best runner-up to qualify - 8 remaining runners-up to enter play-offs, with 4 winners qualifying | Debuting team:  Andorra |
| World Cup 2002 | 1 France (CH) | 13.5 (out of 32) | 50 | 5 groups of 6 teams 4 groups of 5 teams - 9 winners to qualify - 8 runners-up to enter UEFA play-offs, with 4 winners qualifying - 1 runner-up to enter inter-continental playoffs | |
| Euro 2004 | 1  Portugal (H) | 15 | 50 | 10 groups of 5 teams - 10 winners to qualify - 10 runners-up to enter play-offs, with 5 winners qualifying | |
| World Cup 2006 | 1 Germany (H) | 13 (out of 32) | 51 | 3 groups of 7 teams 5 groups of 6 teams - 8 winners and 2 best runners-up to qualify - 6 remaining runners-up to enter play-offs, with 3 winners qualifying |
Last appearance of: |
| Euro 2008 | 2  Austria (H) Switzerland (H) | 14 | 50 | 1 group of 8 teams, winner and runner-up to qualify 6 groups of 7 teams, winner and runner-up to qualify | Debuting team: .svg.png.webp){kind=small} Serbia |
| World Cup 2010 | 0 | 13 (out of 32) | 53 | 8 groups of 6 teams 1 group of 5 teams - 9 winners to qualify - 8 best runners-up to enter play-offs, with 4 winners qualifying | Debuting team:  Montenegro |
| Euro 2012 | 2  Poland (H)  Ukraine (H) | 14 | 51 | 6 groups of 6 teams 3 groups of 5 teams - 9 winners and 1 best runner-up to qualify - 8 runners-up to enter play-offs, with 4 winners qualifying | |
| World Cup 2014 | 0 | 13 (out of 32) | 53 | 8 groups of 6 teams 1 group of 5 teams - 9 winners to qualify - 8 best runners-up to enter play-offs, with 4 winners qualifying | |
| Euro 2016 | 1 France (H) | 23 | 53 | 8 groups of 6 teams 1 group of 5 teams - 9 winners, 9 runners-up and 1 best 3rd-placed team to qualify - 8 remaining 3rd-placed teams to enter play-offs, with 4 winners qualifying | Debuting team:  Gibraltar |
| World Cup 2018 | 1  Russia (H) | 13 (out of 32) | 54 | 9 groups of 6 teams - 9 winners and 1 best runner-up to qualify - 8 remaining runners-up to enter play-offs, with 4 winners qualifying | Debuting team:  Kosovo |
| Euro 2020 | 0 | 20 (out of 24) | 55 | 5 groups of 6 teams, winner and runner-up to qualify 5 groups of 5 teams, winner and runner-up to qualify | The remaining 4 slots were filled through the UEFA Nations League |
| World Cup 2022 | 0 | 13 (out of 32) | 55 | 5 groups of 6 teams 5 groups of 5 teams - 10 winners to qualify - 10 runners-up and 2 best UEFA Nations League teams not yet qualified to enter two-round play-offs, with 3 winners qualifying | |
| Euro 2024 | 1 Germany (H) | 20 (out of 24) | 54 [lower-alpha 9] | TBC: 5 groups of 6 teams, winner and runner-up to qualify 5 groups of 5 teams, winner and runner-up to qualify | TBC: The remaining 3 slots will be filled through the UEFA Nations League |
| World Cup 2026 | 0 | 16 (out of 48) | TBA | ||
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- 1949–50 British Home Championship.
- In a two-round group, team A would play team B home and away, and the best of these two teams would afterwards play team C home and away, with the winner qualifying for the World Cup.
- 1953–54 British Home Championship.
- After Israel won the Asian-African qualification zone without playing a single match (due to opponents' withdrawals), FIFA required them to enter a play-off against a European team (Wales). Wales won and became the 10th European team to qualify for the World Cup through the qualification tournament.
- In the knock-out group of 1962 World Cup qualification, 2 teams would play in the 1st round, with the winner and the remaining 3 teams playing semifinals and a final, each time on a home-and-away basis
- The two-team group in the 1966 World Cup qualification was formed after Syria, initially drawn into that group, withdrew.
- including Israel.
- The 5-team group in the 1994 World Cup qualifying tournament was a result of Yugoslavia, initially drawn to that group, being banned from participating.
- 53 if Russia are not allowed to compete.
Records
Group stage
Information below refers only to qualifying groups in which every team was to play at least 4 matches
All matches won
| 10 |
|
| 8 |
|
| 4 |
|
All matches lost
Most goals scored
| overall: | |
| 43 | |
| 42 | Spain 2000 (in 8 matches) |
| in 6 matches: | |
| 24 | Netherlands 1974 |
| in 4 matches: | |
| 20 | France 1954 |
Most goals scored per game
| 5.25 | Spain 2000 (42 in 8 matches) |
| 5.00 | France 1954 (20 in 4 matches) |
| 4.75 | France 1958 (19 in 4 matches) |
| 4.63 | England 2020 (37 in 8 matches) |
| 4.30 |
|
Least goals scored
| in 10 matches or less: | |
| 0 |
|
| in 12 matches or more: | |
| 2 |
|
Most goals conceded
| overall: | |
| 57 |  San Marino 2008 (in 12 matches) |
| 56 | Gibraltar 2016 (10) |
| 54 | San Marino 2014 (10) |
| in 8 matches: | |
| 44 | San Marino 2000 |
| in 6 matches: | |
| 35 |  Cyprus 1970 |
| in 4 matches: | |
| 26 |  Iceland 1958 |
Most goals conceded per game
| 6.50 | Iceland 1958 (26 in 4 matches) |
| 5.83 | Cyprus 1970 (35 in 6 matches) |
| 5.60 | Gibraltar 2016 (56 in 10 matches) |
| 5.50 | San Marino 2000 (44 in 8 matches) |
| 5.40 | San Marino 2014 (54 in 10 matches) |
| 5.30 | San Marino 2012 (53 in 10 matches) |
Least goals conceded
| overall: | |
| 0 |
|
| 1 |
|
| in 12 matches or more: | |
| 2 |  Denmark 1994 (12) |
- The only case where a group runner-up did not concede a single goal
Best goal difference
| overall: | |
| +39 | Germany 2018 (in 10 matches) |
| +37 | |
| in 6 matches: | |
| +22 | Netherlands 1974 |
| in 4 matches: | |
| +16 | France 1954 |
Best average goal difference per game
| +4.63 | Spain 2000 (+37 in 8 matches) |
| +4.00 | France 1954 (+16 in 4 matches) |
| +3.90 | Germany 2018 (+39 in 10 matches) |
| +3.88 | England 2020 (+31 in 8 matches) |
| +3.75 |
|
Worst goal difference
| overall: | |
| −55 | San Marino 2008 (in 12 matches) |
| −54 | Gibraltar 2016 (10) |
| −53 |
|
| in 8 matches: | |
| −43 | San Marino 2000 |
| in 6 matches: | |
| −33 | Cyprus 1970 |
| in 4 matches: | |
| −20 | Iceland 1958 |
Worst average goal difference per game
| −5.50 | Cyprus 1970 (−33 in 6 matches) |
| −5.40 | Gibraltar 2016 (−54 in 10 matches) |
| −5.38 | San Marino 2000 (−43 in 8 matches) |
| −5.30 |
|
| −5.25 | San Marino 1998 −42 in 8 matches) |
Fewest points achieved, group winner
| Pts 2 | Pts 3 | Tournament | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| in 4 matches | |||||||||||
| 5 | 7 | 1978 |  Hungary | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 4 | +2 | Q |
| 1958 | .svg.png.webp){kind=small} Northern Ireland | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 | +3 | Q | ||
| 1974 | Poland | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 | +3 | Q | ||
| 1978 | France | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 4 | +3 | Q | ||
| in 6 matches | |||||||||||
| 7 | 10 | 1980 |  Greece | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 7 | +6 | Q |
| 8 | 11 | 1970 |  Romania | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 6 | +1 | Q |
| 1984 | .svg.png.webp){kind=small} Yugoslavia | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 11 | +1 | Q | ||
| 1988 | Denmark | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 2 | +2 | Q | ||
| 1976 | Belgium | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 3 | +3 | Q for QF | ||
| 1968 | Spain | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 2 | +4 | Q for QF | ||
| 1986 | Poland | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 6 | +4 | Q for QF | ||
| 1974 | Austria | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 14 | 7 | +7 | Austria and Sweden shared 1st place, Sweden won playoff and qualified | ||
| 1974 | Sweden | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 8 | +7 | |||
| 12 | 1986 | Spain | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 8 | +1 | Q | |
| 1976 |  Soviet Union | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 6 | +4 | Q for QF | ||
| 1976 | Netherlands | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 14 | 8 | +6 | Q for QF | ||
| in 8 matches | |||||||||||
| 10 | 14 | 1982 | Hungary | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 8 | +5 | Q |
| 11 | 15 | 1982 |  Scotland | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 4 | +5 | Q |
| 1988 |  Republic of Ireland | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 5 | +5 | Q | ||
| 1990 | Soviet Union | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 11 | 4 | +7 | Q | ||
| 1992 | Scotland | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 14 | 7 | +7 | Q | ||
| 11 | 15 | 2004 | Switzerland | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 15 | 11 | +4 | Q |
| 2004 | Denmark | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 15 | 9 | +6 | Q | ||
| 2000 | Italy | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 13 | 5 | +8 | Q | ||
| 11 | 16 | 1982 | Belgium | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 9 | +3 | Q |
| 1984 | West Germany | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 15 | 5 | +10 | Q | ||
| 1986 | France | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 15 | 4 | +11 | Q | ||
| 1986 | Denmark | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 17 | 6 | +11 | Q | ||
| in 10 matches | |||||||||||
| 15 | 20 | 2006 | France | 10 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 14 | 2 | +12 | Q |
| 15 | 21 | 1994 | Sweden | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 19 | 8 | +11 | Q |
| 15 | 21 | 1996 | Romania | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 18 | 9 | +9 | Q |
| 1996 |  Czech Republic | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 21 | 6 | +15 | Q | ||
| 2000 | France | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 17 | 10 | +7 | Q | ||
| 2002 | Poland | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 21 | 11 | +10 | Q | ||
| 2010 | Denmark | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 18 | 9 | +9 | Q | ||
| 2010 | Switzerland | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 18 | 8 | +10 | Q | ||
| 2012 | France | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 15 | 4 | +11 | Q | ||
| 2016 | Northern Ireland | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 16 | 8 | +8 | Q | ||
| 2018 |  Serbia | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 20 | 10 | +10 | Q | ||
| 15 | 22 | 1994 | Romania | 10 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 29 | 12 | +17 | Q |
| 15 | 22 | 2010 |  Slovakia | 10 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 22 | 10 | +12 | Q |
| 2010 | Serbia | 10 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 22 | 10 | +12 | Q | ||
| 2014 | Russia | 10 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 20 | 5 | +15 | Q | ||
| 2016 | Czech Republic | 10 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 19 | 14 | +5 | Q | ||
| 2016 | Germany | 10 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 24 | 9 | +15 | Q | ||
| 2018 | Iceland | 10 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 16 | 7 | +22 | Q | ||
| in 12 matches | |||||||||||
| 18 | 25 | 2006 | Ukraine | 12 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 18 | 7 | +11 | Q |
| 19 | 27 | 1994 | Spain | 12 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 27 | 4 | +23 | Q |
| 19 | 28 | 2008 | Spain | 12 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 23 | 8 | +15 | Q |
Fewest points achieved, group runner-up
| Pts 2 | Pts 3 | Tournament | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| in 4 matches | |||||||||||
| 2 | 3 | 1962 | Northern Ireland | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 8 | -1 | EL |
| 3 | 4 | 1954 | .svg.png.webp){kind=small} Saar | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 8 | -4 | EL |
| 1954 | Sweden | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 8 | +1 | EL | ||
| 1962 | Portugal | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 7 | +2 | EL | ||
| 1974 | Republic of Ireland | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | -1 | EL | ||
| in 6 matches | |||||||||||
| 6 | 8 | 1968 | Portugal | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 0 | EL |
| 1972 | Poland | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 10 | 6 | +4 | EL | ||
| 1974 |  Turkey | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 3 | +2 | EL | ||
| 1980 | Hungary | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 9 | 0 | EL | ||
| 1984 | Switzerland | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 9 | -2 | EL | ||
| 6 | 9 | 1966 |  Wales | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 9 | +1 | EL |
| 1968 | Romania | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 18 | 14 | +4 | EL | ||
| 1976 | Northern Ireland | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 5 | +3 | EL | ||
| 1978 | Belgium | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 6 | +1 | EL | ||
| 7 | 8 | 1976 | Romania | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 11 | 6 | +5 | EL |
| in 8 matches | |||||||||||
| 8 | 10 | 1976 |  Norway | 8 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 9 | 7 | +2 | Eliminated as worst runner-up |
| 9 | 12 | 1982 | Northern Ireland | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 3 | +3 | Q |
| 1990 | Austria | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 9 | 0 | Q | ||
| 9 | 12 | 1998 | Hungary | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 8 | +2 | Q for PO, EL |
| 2012 | Montenegro | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 0 | Q for PO, EL | ||
| 9 | 13 | 1980 | Northern Ireland | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 14 | -6 | EL |
| 1982 | England | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 8 | +5 | Q | ||
| 1988 | Greece | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 13 | -1 | EL | ||
| 9 | 13 | 2000 | Israel | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 25 | 9 | +16 | Q for PO, EL |
| 2004 | Wales | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 10 | +3 | Q for PO, EL | ||
| 2012 | Czech Republic | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 8 | +4 | Q for PO, Q | ||
| 10 | 12 | 2022 | Ukraine | 8 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 11 | 8 | +3 | Q for PO |
| in 10 matches | |||||||||||
| 11 | 16 | 2012 |  Estonia | 10 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 15 | 14 | +1 | Q for PO, EL |
| 12 | 16 | 2014 | Denmark | 10 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 17 | 12 | +5 | Eliminated as worst runner-up |
| 12 | 17 | 1996 | Republic of Ireland | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 17 | 11 | +6 | Advanced to play-offs as 1 of 2 worst runners-up, subsequently eliminated |
| 2000 |  Slovenia | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 14 | -2 | Q for PO, Q | ||
| 2012 | Turkey | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 13 | 11 | +2 | Q for PO, EL | ||
| 2014 |  Croatia | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 9 | +3 | Q for PO, Q | ||
| 2014 | Iceland | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 17 | 15 | +2 | Q for PO, EL | ||
| 13 | 17 | 2002 | Ukraine | 10 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 13 | 8 | +5 | Q for PO, EL |
| in 12 matches | |||||||||||
| 17 | 23 | 2006 | Turkey | 12 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 23 | 9 | +14 | Q for PO, EL |
| 2006 | Slovakia | 12 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 24 | 8 | +16 | Q for PO, EL | ||
| 17 | 24 | 2008 | Turkey | 12 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 25 | 11 | +14 | Q |
| 2008 | Russia | 12 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 18 | 7 | +11 | Q | ||