World Cup playoff draw: Italy and Portugal drawn in same bracket so one to miss World Cup

Italy will face North Macedonia at home in the playoff semifinal next March and the winner will take on either Portugal or Turkey for one of the three remaining European spots at the World Cup.

Italy and Portugal drawn in the same World Cup qualifying bracket; Credit: Twitter/@AppointPoch
By Sreejith C R | Nov 28, 2021 | 3 Min Read follow icon Follow Us

The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar is sure to be without Italy or Portugal. Italy and Portugal the current and previous European Champions, were drawn in the same qualifying path on Friday, which means either one will fail to qualify for next year’s tournament. Italy will face North Macedonia at home in the playoff semifinal next March and the winner will take on either Portugal or Turkey for one of the three remaining European spots at the World Cup. Italy finished runner-up to Switzerland in the World Cup qualifying group while Portugal were pipped to top spot in their group after a home defeat to Serbia.

Four-time World Champions Italy failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia after losing to Sweden in the playoffs. It was the first time the Azzurri had missed the World Cup since 1958. Now, after winning the Euro 2020 in July it may have to defeat Portugal to avoid a second straight failure.

Italy manager Roberto Mancini told RAI2: “It hasn’t been a great draw, it could have gone better. We will have to beat North Macedonia and Portugal will have to beat Turkey.

“These are one-off games and there are always adversities. Just as we would have liked to have avoided Portugal, I think [Portugal] would have gladly avoided Italy. Will we get to the World Cup? We are always confident and positive; the most important thing will be to have all the players available.”

Meanwhile Ronaldo who will be 37-year-old before next year’s tournament  has led Portugal to every World cup since 2006 and this could be his last attempt at winning the most coveted trophy in world football.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner helped Portugal get through the playoffs for the 2014 World Cup, scoring a hat-trick in a 3-2 win against Sweden.

Speaking after the draw, Portugal coach Fernando Santos said: “I have complete confidence that we will be at the World Cup in Qatar. It’s not worth talking about Italy. We have to focus, first of all, on beating Turkey.

“This is the most important game for us in order to be in the [playoff] final and win that, which is our main objective. Regarding the draw, it is what it is, there’s no point in discussing it further.

“There were positive things, we will be playing at home and will have the opportunity to play in front of our fans if we reach the final.”

Sweden will be without Ibrahimovic for the playoff semifinal

Also in the other World Cup qualification fixtures, Scotland will face Ukraine at home, and the winner will take on Wales or Austria in the final of their bracket. Meanwhile Russia will host Poland for the right to face either Sweden or Czech Republic in their bracket final.

Sweden will be without their 40-year-old talisman for the semifinal against Czechs as the AC Milan forward has a one-game ban for getting yellow cards in the qualifying group.

The six playoff semifinals will be played as single-leg games on March 24 and the three finals will be played five days later. The three winners will complete Europe’s entry of 13 nations in the 32-team lineup in Qatar.





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