World Cup 2022 play-offs draw: Wales and Scotland on collision course for spot in Qatar, plus fixture dates
Scotland and Wales could collide for a place in next year’s World Cup, while the outcome of Friday’s play-off draw also means one of Italy or Portugal will fail to reach the finals in Qatar.
Scotland will host Ukraine in their play-off semi-final in March, with Wales at home against Austria.
Should both home nations win then they will meet in Wales, with a place at the World Cup on the line.
Italy and Portugal were the two daunting names in Friday’s draw, but Scotland and Wales were also seeded and subsequently avoided a semi-final meeting with the past two European Championship winners.
However, with three different routes to next year’s World Cup in Qatar laid out, Italy and Portugal were ultimately drawn in the same pathway, making a showdown in Portugal likely if they overcome North Macedonia and Turkey respectively.
“It’s a very difficult draw for us, and if we win [the semi-final] we go to play a final in Turkey or Portugal,” Italy boss Roberto Mancini said.
The draw featured all 10 group runners-up from the Uefa qualifiers, plus Austria and Czech Republic based on their Nations League exploits.
World Cup play-off draw
Path A
Semi-final 1: Scotland vs Ukraine
Semi-final 2: Wales vs Austria
Final: Wales or Austria vs Scotland or Ukraine
Path B
Semi-final 1: Russia vs Poland
Semi-final 2: Sweden vs Czech Republic
Final: Russia or Poland vs Sweden or Czech Republic
Path C
Semi-final 1: Italy vs North Macedonia
Semi-final 2: Portugal vs Turkey
Final: Portugal or Turkey vs Italy or North Macedonia
Analysis: A World Cup without Ronaldo?
Twelve teams will be whittled down to three next March, and we now know Italy and Portugal can fill just one of those spaces after a dramatic draw.
Italy will be expected to see off North Macedonia, the lowest-ranked side in the play-offs, while Portugal face a tougher task when hosting Turkey, but the reality is that even if they both with their semi-finals, only one of these European giants will make it to Qatar.
It is almost unfathomable to think either the Euro 2020 or Euro 2016 winners will not feature, but in 12 months’ time a World Cup will go ahead without one of them.
The World Cup may not feature Cristiano Ronaldo next year (Photo: AFP)
This could have damning consequences for one nation. Italy had gone on a mazy unbeaten run under Mancini and were praised the continent over when winning the European Championship four months ago, but a late stumble in World Cup qualifying saw them finish second behind Switzerland.
Meanwhile, Portugal had also been in pole position to top their group, but a dramatic late loss to Serbia saw them slip to second, and now the prospect of Cristiano Ronaldo missing out on the World Cup is a very real prospect.
What date are the play-off matches?
The play-off semi-finals will take place on Thursday 24 March 2022, with the three finals played five days later on Tuesday 29 March.
When is the 2022 World Cup draw?
No date has been set for the World Cup draw, although April 2022 has been earmarked as the date when it will take place after the final spots have been confirmed during the March international break.
Scotland are out to end a 24-wait having last featured at the 1998 World Cup. On that occasion Craig Brown’s side were unable to win a group game, drawing with Norway and losing to Brazil and Morocco.
That was Scotland’s eighth World Cup, which includes a run of five straight appearances from 1974 to 1990, and they are yet to progress beyond the opening round of the competition.
Meanwhile, Wales’ absence from the tournament is far longer, with their sole appearance at a World Cup coming back in 1958.
After qualifying from their group in second behind Sweden – and finishing above Hungary and Mexico – Wales then succumbed to a Pele winner as Brazil won the quarter-final 1-0 en route to winning the World Cup.
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3DRl57z
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