Enlarge image
Italy's Emerson Palmieri: A win must be here
Photo:
ETTORE FERRARI / EPA
A long-distance duel for direct participation in the World Cup is heating up footballing spirits in Italy and Switzerland.
Because of a penalty missed in the final minute by Europe's »Footballer of the Year« Jorginho in a 1-1 draw against Switzerland, the Azzurri are faced with a delicate situation on the final matchday of the World Cup qualifying.
Equally on points (15 points each) and only two goals ahead, the European champion in Group C goes into a long-distance duel with the Swiss, who receive Bulgaria on Monday at the same time (8.45 p.m.).
If Italy and Switzerland win, then the goal difference decides - so there may be a shooting competition between the two teams.
All results and the table status in Group C can be found here SPIEGEL-Livecenter.
How is the Netherlands doing?
2-2 at the football dwarf in Montenegro?
After a 2-0 lead?
No one at Oranje had expected that.
Although the Netherlands leads Group G with 20 points ahead of Turkey and Norway (18 each), there is a risk of the next World Cup lurking before the game against the Scandinavians on Tuesday (8.45 p.m., stream: DAZN) after the low point in 2018 miss.
In any case, the local press is alarmed. The television station NOS classified the situation before the »final« in the Kuip as »hopeless«. The fact that the decisive duel also takes place in front of empty ranks because of the tense corona situation in Rotterdam is absurd, complained coach Louis van Gaal, the government of Mark Rutte had "not thought about it logically". As if that wasn't enough, van Gaal fell on his bike on Sunday, fell on his hip and is therefore unable to walk at the moment - now the 70-year-old has to watch the game on the sidelines from a wheelchair
A laughing third in Group G could be the Turks and their German trainer Stefan Kuntz.
With a victory in Montenegro and a simultaneous defeat for the Dutch, you can even win first place.
In any case, three points would mean a ticket to the play-offs.
"We're ready when the door opens," said Kuntz with confidence.
After seven points from three games under his leadership, they are already talking about the "Kuntz effect" in Turkey.
The Turks now want to use this momentum to participate in the World Cup.
All results and the table status in Group G can be found here at the SPIEGEL Live Center.
9 out of 32 participants have been chosen
After Germany, Denmark and defending champions France and Belgium, Croatia, Spain and Serbia have also qualified for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar (November 21 to December 18).
Host Qatar is automatically set.
On the last matchday of the qualification phase on Sunday, Croatia, the 2018 World Cup finalist, secured participation in the World Cup as group winners.
Spain and Serbia followed suit in the evening.
In addition to the European teams, only Brazil has been confirmed as a World Cup participant so far.
How are things going to the World Cup?
The ten group winners from Europe qualify directly for the World Cup tournament.
The ten runners-up in the group and the two teams qualified for the »Hope Round« via the Nations League are vying for only three places.
The semi-finals and final from March 24th to 29th will be all or nothing in three ways.
The draw will take place in Zurich on November 26th, Portugal, like Russia, is in pot 1 and has home rights in the semi-finals.
In addition to Sweden, who want to challenge Ibrahimovic's yellow card suspension before the play-off semi-finals, Austria, North Macedonia, the Czech Republic, Wales and Scotland are also already sure.
The draw for the World Cup groups will take place on April 1, 2022 in Doha.
sak / sid / dpa