World Cup playoffs today in the live ticker: Portugal, Poland, Sweden - who can still make it to Qatar?

Created: 03/29/2022, 17:40

By: Jonas Raab

For Bayern star Robert Lewandowski and his Poles, today's World Cup playoff final against Sweden is all or nothing.

© Newspix/imago

Who will make it to the World Cup?

Who stays at home?

In the World Cup playoffs, Portugal have to face Italy-Schreck North Macedonia, Poland hosts Sweden.

The live ticker.

• The finals of the World Cup playoffs are tonight.

  From 8.45 p.m. it gets serious

• Portugal - North Macedonia -:-

• Poland - Sweden: -:-

• We are here in the live ticker

>>> UPDATE <<<

Munich - international break is boring?

Are you kidding me? Are you serious when you say that!

This football Tuesday has it all.

While the DFB-Elf with the Netherlands (here in the live ticker) gets the first real indicator of the flick era, three absolute top stars fight in the World Cup qualifying playoffs for the last European places at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar *: Cristiano Ronaldo, Robert Lewandowski, Zlatan Ibrahimovic - at least one of them has to bury his World Cup dream today.

At 8.45 p.m. there are two of actually three playoff games.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal meet the underdogs North Macedonia, who sensationally knocked out European champions Italy 1-0 in the semifinals last Thursday (March 24).

In the second knockout game, Robert Lewandowski and Poland meet Sweden.

Because of the Russian attack, Ukraine will not meet Scotland in the semi-finals until June, with the winners meeting Wales.

Finals of the World Cup playoffs in the live ticker: Portugal has to fight against Italy scare North Macedonia

Cristiano Ronaldo is out, the President of North Macedonia is sure of that.

"Get ready, you're next," tweeted top politician Stevo Pendarovski in the direction of the superstar from Portugal before the game against the Italy shock.

The whole of North Macedonia is dreaming of the next big coup after beating the European champions - and desperately wants to go to Qatar for the World Cup.

“Football is different at the moment.

Anyone can beat anyone.

Names, numbers and statistics don't matter," said Portugal's Joao Moutinho before the game against the country with two million inhabitants, which is only 67th in the world rankings.

Although Portugal should have been warned by the debacle of the Italians, the role of favorites is of course clearly distributed.

World Cup qualification: The playoff finals in the live ticker - Ronaldo is confident of victory against North Macedonia

"We know very well that we have to be there in Qatar," said Portugal's Bernardo Silva from Manchester City.

Anything else would be a disgrace, after all, Portugal* has not missed a World Cup since 1998, while North Macedonia recently qualified for a major tournament (EURO 2020) for the first time.

Ronaldo himself is certain: "There is no World Cup without Portugal.

There is a final tomorrow and we are ready.”

North Macedonia's plan should be clear: give everything, throw everything in and somehow eliminate Ronaldo.

"We have 90 minutes to fulfill our childhood dream, not just ours but that of the whole country," said midfielder Elif Elmas.

And further: “We must not miss this opportunity.

We have to burn on the field to get to Qatar." Ezgjan Alioski said: "We don't want to mess up Ronaldo's career but we think we can win against Portugal."

Finals of the World Cup playoffs in the live ticker: Poland against Sweden - Lewy against Zlatan

Before the all-important duel with Sweden*, the Poles* were able to breathe a sigh of relief: Lewandowski got over his knee problems in time.

After the attacker from Bayern Munich* missed the international match against Scotland, he returned to team training on Sunday (March 27).

Ibrahimovic is also ready, the old champion was suspended in the playoff semifinals against the Czech Republic.

"A World Cup without Zlatan is not a World Cup," the eccentric said four years ago when he wasn't part of Sweden's World Cup squad.

Now, at 40, Ibrahimovic wants to know again.

"I'll play until someone better than me comes along.

That's why I'm still playing," said the man with the oversized ego.

By the way: The draw for the group phase of the Winter World Cup in Qatar* is already scheduled for Friday (April 1).