withIn fact, a full year before the opening of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar on November 18, the seats for the finalists are full. Thirteen of the 32 teams have been selected. In addition to the automatically set host team, record-breaking world champion Brazil and rival Argentina have successfully advanced to South America. In Europe, ten group champions Serbia, Spain, Switzerland, France, Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, Croatia, the United Kingdom and Germany have already won tickets.
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Before the final group draw in Doha on April 1, 2022, there are still various qualifying matches around the world. In Africa, in addition to Brazil and Argentina, five places will be awarded, four in Asia, two in South America, and three in North and Central America. There are also two participants from the intercontinental decision-making game. Every football federation except Europe and Africa provides a team. Draw who will play against. It sounds a bit complicated, but it’s nothing compared to the procedure for awarding the last three European World Cup seats.
The road away from the group championship has never been so tricky-and strange. Twelve teams now have a chance to get one of Qatar’s three tickets. The first is that there are 10 runner-ups in the qualifying group: Portugal, Sweden, Italy, Ukraine, Wales, Scotland, Turkey, Russia, Poland and North Macedonia. In addition-now the situation is getting more and more complicated-the two best group champions of the last national league, they did not rank among the best two teams in the group in the World Cup qualifiers. do you understand?
In the national league, France, Belgium, Italy and Spain ranked first among the four groups in the first division. However, these have steadily advanced or entered the World Cup play-offs. In League B, Wales (16 points), Austria (13 points), Czech Republic (12 points) and Hungary (11 points) rank first. Wales finished second in Group E of the World Cup qualifiers to ensure their participation in the playoffs. The Czech Republic and Austria rank third (Group E) and fourth (F). With their outstanding performance in the national league, they now have the opportunity to participate in the World Cup.
The rankings of all national league teams at a glance (PDF)
The situation in Austria is particularly curious. Germany’s head coach Franco Fuda ranked fourth in the World Cup qualifier group, behind Denmark, Scotland and Israel. Although Israel no longer has the opportunity to participate in Qatar, the Austrians can have hope. That’s because Austria won the group stage victory in the National League, while Israel only finished third in their group. This is how the new, complex world of the European Football League (UEFA) works. These incomprehensible rules are designed to strengthen the controversial alliance of nations.
The path for playoff participants has also become more difficult. At this point, the European teams won the first round and the second round, and then were allowed to enter the finals. This is no longer the case, because the remaining twelve teams have only three tickets left. The lucky draw will be held in Zurich on November 26 at 5 pm. Then divide the twelve teams into three groups, each with four teams. The two semi-finals will be played here; the winner enters the final and competes for a seat in the Qatar World Cup final.
The draw of the play-off group is not without clear rules. For political reasons, Russia and Ukraine cannot be classified as rivals. Otherwise, the top six of the group will enter the first game and have the home court rights in the semifinals. The other teams are in the second game. Since the previous qualification group has 5 teams and 6 teams, the results of the bottom of the group are deleted in order. These are the current jars:
First pot
Portugal 17 points (17: 6 goals)
Scotland 17 (14: 7)
Italy 16 (13:2)
Russia 16 (14:5)
Sweden 15 (12: 6)
Wales 15 (14:9)
Pot 2
Turkey 15 (18:16)
Poland 14 (18:10)
North Macedonia 12 (14:11)
Ukraine 12 (11:8)
Czech Republic (League of Nations)
Austria (League of Nations)
First of all, the team in the first tier will be drawn as the home team in the semifinals. Then it was the second pot’s turn to be drawn one by one as opponents. The first two games belonged to the playoff path A. The two winners entered the finals and played Qatar tickets in one game. The same applies to semifinals 3 and 4 (path B) and 5 and 6 (path C). The semi-final will be held on Thursday, March 24, 2022, and the final will be held on Tuesday, March 29. The finals will draw home rights. All playoff kick-off times will be determined after the draw. All games can be broadcast live and watched exclusively on DAZN.
6.30 am on weekdays
Some famous names face death threats in the difficult playoffs. In addition to the European championship, the focus is also on Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, Sweden’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Poland’s Robert Lewandowski. From a German point of view, even without the team of national coach Hans Frick, qualifying is fun. In Turkey, former German U-21 coach Stefan Kuntz is in charge. The Austrian played with a large number of Bundesliga players. And even if Cristiano Ronaldo and Ibrahimovic cannot meet in the semifinals because of the split. A final between two old stars is possible, and a duel with Italy is also possible.
