World Cup playoffs 2022 Final: Portugal vs North Macedonia, Poland vs Sweden, Wales vs Scotland/Ukraine – Three places left in the FIFA WORLD Cup 2022 for UEFA teams as six teams go head-to-head with a final chance to get a ticket to Qatar. Euro 2020 Champions Italy were shockingly knocked out by North Macedonia in yesterday’s semi-final playoff encounter. Portugal survived Turkey’s scare in a 3-1 win at home as Cristiano Ronaldo and team look to comfortably secure a place in the World Cup. Follow InsideSport.IN for the latest sports news and updates.
World Cup playoffs 2022 Final: 3 World Cup tickets up for grabs – Portugal vs North Macedonia, Poland vs Sweden, Update on Wales vs Scotland/Ukraine clash
A night to remember 🤯
🇵🇹 3-1 🇹🇷
🇮🇹 0-1 🇲🇰
🇸🇪 1-0 🇨🇿
🏴 2-1 🇦🇹🔜 UEFA Finals 🇵🇹 🆚 🇲🇰, 🇵🇱 🆚 🇸🇪 #WCQ | #WorldCup
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) March 24, 2022
Sweden edged past the Czechs in a 1-0 narrow win in extra-time, while in the other game Gareth Bale lead Wales to victory. Poland received a bye as Russia were banned and Scotland vs Ukraine is postponed until a further date.
World Cup playoffs 2022 Final: Portugal vs North Macedonia
Portugal vs North Macedonia Match Details:
- Date – 30th March, 2022
- Time – 12:15 AM (IST)
- Venue – Estadio do Dragao, Porto
World Cup playoffs 2022 Final: 3 World Cup tickets up for grabs – Portugal vs North Macedonia, Poland vs Sweden, Update on Wales vs Scotland/Ukraine clash
Portugal 3-1 Turkey: Portugal survived a late scare to make it through to the Path C play-off final. Otávio put them ahead from a rebound after a Bernardo Silva shot had struck the post, and the Porto man then hung up a cross for Diogo Jota to head in just before the break. Though Burak Yılmaz pulled one back, the Turkey captain missed from the spot late on to allow Matheus Nunes to steady the anxious nerves deep in added time.
Key stat: Portugal continue to torment Turkey; the Turks have lost all six of their competitive games against Portugal, conceding 14 goals and scoring just twice.
Italy 1-0 North Macedonia: Aleksandar Trajkovski struck in added time as North Macedonia stunned Italy to set up a play-off final against Portugal. Italy dominated much of the game but were unable to find a breakthrough, with the best chance of either half falling to Domenico Berardi. The Azzurri were made to pay in the 92nd minute when Trajkovski fired in a low shot from 25 metres out.
Key stat: Italy are the fourth EURO holders to fail to qualify for the next World Cup, after Czechoslovakia (1978), Denmark (1994) and Greece (2006).
World Cup playoffs 2022 Final: Poland vs Sweden
- Date – 30th March, 2022
- Time – 12:15 AM (IST)
- Venue – Stadion Slaski
Sweden 1-0 Czech Republic: Clear chances were at a premium throughout a tense contest at the Friends Arena in Solna, Dejan Kulusevski twice going close for the home side in the first half while Czech substitute Milan Havel volleyed over a glorious opportunity in the final seconds of normal time. That miss proved costly in the 110th minute, Sweden substitute Robin Quaison playing a one-two with Alexander Isak and calmly slotting in his 12th goal for his country.
The winners will take on Poland who received a bye in the Path B play-off final after Russia were banned from the World Cup.
Key stat: Sweden have now won their last ten home matches.
World Cup playoffs 2022 Final: Wales vs Scotland/Ukraine
Wales captain Gareth Bale scored two superb goals in Cardiff to send his side through to the Path A play-off final. After Christoph Baumgartner’s fifth-minute strike rattled the crossbar for the visitors, Wales dominated much of the first half. Bale curled in a pinpoint free-kick to put the hosts ahead and added a second after the break with a dazzling finish.
Marcel Sabitzer’s 65th-minute reply gave Austria hope, but Wales held on to set up a decider against Scotland or Ukraine. Wales will either host Scotland or Ukraine who are yet to play their fixture as the match was postponed due to the ingoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Key stat: Gareth Bale has been directly involved in more Wales goals than any other player in 2022 World Cup qualifying (five goals, three assists).
World Cup playoffs 2022: Why was Scotland vs Ukraine postponed?
Scotland vs Ukraine was put on hold as Ukraine’s football authorities requested FIFA in late February to postpone the game temporarily. Ukraine is being invaded by Russia, therefore FIFA accepted the request and the fixture is likely to be pushed back until June. Wale will play the winner of the semi-final clash between Scotland and Ukraine.
World Cup playoffs 2022 Final: 3 World Cup tickets up for grabs – Portugal vs North Macedonia, Poland vs Sweden, Update on Wales vs Scotland/Ukraine clash
Editors pick
