OneFootball
OneFootball·29 March 2022
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OneFootball·29 March 2022
Itâs a big night on Tuesday as four nations attempt to book their place at the 2022 World Cup.
Hereâs everything you need to know about the two play-off finals.
It was almost inconceivable to consider that Euro 2020 winners Italy might not make it to Qatar, but Aleksandar Trajkovskiâs 92nd-minute winner stunned the Azzurri and booked North Macedoniaâs place in the final.
The reward for that sensational night in Palermo? Just the small task of having to overcome Portugal.
Fernando Santosâs side overcame Turkey to move one step closer to the World Cup and will go into the clash as overwhelming favourites as Italy did before them.
It will take an almighty effort for North Macedonia to pull off a second shock in six days but stranger things have happened.
The minnows can take some hope from their opponents having struggled to overcome Ireland and Serbia during the qualifiers. Their dismantling of Italy wasnât the only shock Igor Angelovskiâs men have pulled off, after they also stunned Germany in Duisburg in qualifying.
Portugal will have to bring their A game if they are to avoid becoming a victim to another giant-killing.
đ Fun fact: North Macedonia have never qualified for the World Cup as an independent nation.
At 33, the Qatar World Cup could be the last one that Robert Lewandowski appears in.
For that to happen Poland will have to find a way past Sweden, having received a bye to the final after their initial semi-final opponents Russia were suspended from international competition.
There will be no doubt about who will be the fresher of the two sides, with the Swedes being taken all the way to extra-time before Robin Quaisonâs goal eventually saw off the Czech Republic on Thursday.
Revenge will be on the mind for the Poles when they step out in ChorzĂłw with Sweden sending them home from Euro 2020 with a 3-2 win back in June.
Zlatan IbrahimoviÄ missed the win over the Czechs through suspension but is back in contention for the decisive tie. Whether it will be a clash of Lewandowski v IbrahimoviÄ remains to be seen but only one will be on the plane to Qatar.
đ Fun fact: Sweden have won the last six meetings between the two sides.