Italy will have one last chance on Monday to qualify directly for the 2022 World Cup against Northern Ireland, while England will have an easier task against San Marino to take their direct ticket to Qatar.
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Qualifying rankings for the 2022 World Cup
The 2022 World Cup qualifying calendar
The Italians' draw against Switzerland in Rome (1-1) will force them to win in Belfast against the still dangerous Northern Irish, even if they no longer have any chance of qualifying.
The Azzuri are tied for the top of Group C with Switzerland with a two-goal advantage.
But the “
Nati
” have for their part an easier match receiving Bulgaria.
“
We start with an advantage of two goals, it's not nothing.
And then, we will have to score in Northern Ireland the goals that we did not score
"against Switzerland, admitted the Italian coach Roberto Mancini, who also hopes for a"
special match
"of Bulgaria against Switzerland, as she had done it in Italy by taking a point to the European champions (1-1) in September.
England, for its part, will obviously not have too much trouble in securing its direct qualification by moving to Group I at Sant Marino, last in the group with 0 points.
Poland, 2nd three points behind the English, receives Hungary, 4th in the group.
The games are made in Group F with however a top match in Glasgow between Denmark, qualified for several weeks, and Scotland, guaranteed to play the play-offs.
Monday's match schedule:
Group C
(8:45 p.m.) Switzerland - Bulgaria
Northern Ireland - Italy
Group F
Israel - Faroe Islands
Austria - Moldova
Scotland - Denmark
Group I
San Marino - England
Albania - Andorra
Poland - Hungary