We now know the program that awaits the twelve contenders for the last three European tickets for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar (November 21-December 18, 2022).
And it promises to be enticing.
Divided into “pools” of four, the teams must, as a reminder, emerge victorious from their semi-final (March 24) and then their final (March 29) to qualify.
In this new little game of "mini-tournaments" - no more round-trip matches - the catastrophic scenario has occurred for the Italians and the Portuguese.
Both selections have been placed in the same section.
This means that in the event of a victory in the half, they will compete for a place at the World Cup.
Since their coronation in July, the Transalpines have been overcome by the fear of a second disaster in a row after the debacle of 2018.
As for Portugal, crunched by Serbia at the last minute on November 15 (1-2), it has the experience of these meetings on a thread, having qualified in 2010 and 2014 by this route. .
A reason for hope for CR7 who hopes to play a fifth World Cup at 37 years old.
However, before challenging Squadra Azzurra, Turkey must already be eliminated.
The Swedes, who should be able to count on the Ibrahimovic quadra, and the Poles of Robert Lewandowski, beaten by England in Group I, could also meet in the final in section B.
The complete dam program
Section A
.
Semi-finals: Scotland - Ukraine;
Wales - Austria.
Final in Wales or Austria.
Section B.
Semi-finals: Russia - Poland;
Sweden - Czech Republic.
Final in Russia or Poland.
Section C.
Semi-finals: Italy - North Macedonia;
Portugal - Turkey.
Final in Portugal or Turkey.
The ten selections already qualified: Germany, England, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Spain, France, Netherlands, Serbia, Switzerland.
