World Cup playoff draw – Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal drawn with Italy

Possibly European champions Italy or Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal will miss out on out on the 2022 Entire world Cup right after currently being drawn in the exact same playoff route on Friday.

The draw suggests possibly Ronaldo and the 2016 European champions or four-time Environment Cup winners Italy will fall short to make the event subsequent year.

Italy finished as runners-up to Switzerland in the group phase of qualifying, while Portugal had been pipped to the major location in their team soon after a property defeat to Serbia, which means both groups have to go through the new playoff process if they are to be at the finals in Qatar in a 12 months.

Portugal will be at home to Turkey in the semifinals, when Italy will host North Macedonia. The winners of all those two semifinals will fulfill for 1 place at the World Cup. Portugal or Turkey will be at household in the ultimate.

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Speaking after the draw, Portugal coach Fernando Santos reported: “I have full self confidence that we will be at the Planet Cup in Qatar. It’s not truly worth speaking about Italy. We have to target, first of all, on beating Turkey.

“This is the most vital recreation for us in purchase to be in the [playoff] last and acquire that, which is our primary aim. About the draw, it is what it is, you will find no point in discussing it even more.

“There were being positive points, we will be enjoying at home and will have the chance to engage in in entrance of our enthusiasts if we arrive at the final.”

Italy manager Roberto Mancini informed RAI2: “It has not been a wonderful attract, it could have absent improved. We will have to conquer North Macedonia and Portugal will have to defeat Turkey.

“These are one particular-off online games and there are normally adversities. Just as we would have liked to have averted Portugal, I assume [Portugal] would have gladly avoided Italy. Will we get to the World Cup? We are generally assured and good the most critical issue will be to have all the players accessible.”

Wales and Scotland were also drawn together, indicating only 1 of all those two U.K. nations will be in Qatar. Wales confront Austria and Scotland acquire on Ukraine in the semifinals. The remaining route sees Russia using on Poland and Sweden participating in Czech Republic.

“We have specified ourselves a fantastic prospect,” Wales manager Robert Webpage claimed in response to the attract. “We’ve worked at any time so difficult to end second and get that residence attract. We have got anything to participate in for.”

Subsequent the attract, Scotland boss Steve Clarke explained to the BBC: “Ukraine is up there with the hardest [draw] and then from that we know Wales have completed definitely effectively lately. We know the Austrians perfectly.

“We have shown about the system of the playoffs for Euro 2020 that we can tackle the tension for semifinal and final game titles, and ideally we can show that once more in March.”

Twelve groups will choose portion in the playoffs, drawn into 3 paths of 4 teams with two semifinals and a final in each and every. The winners of the a few finals will acquire the last European destinations at the Globe Cup.

The playoffs are one-legged matches, with seeded groups at house in the semis and the hosts of the finals identified by a attract.

Earth Cup 2022 can take position in Qatar from Nov. 21 to Dec. 18.

Path A

Semifinals
Scotland vs. Ukraine
Wales vs. Austria

Final
The winners of Wales vs. Austria will be at home in the last

Path B

Semifinals
Russia vs. Poland
Sweden vs. Czech Republic

Ultimate
The winners of Russia vs. Poland will be at house in the final

Route C

Semifinals
Italy vs. North Macedonia
Portugal vs. Turkey

Ultimate
The winners of Portugal vs. Turkey will be at home in the closing

The semifinals will be played on Thursday, March 24, with the finals on Tuesday, March 29.