Four-time World Cup winners Italy are to face Northern Ireland in the semi-finals of the European playoffs for next year’s tournament, while Ukraine face star-studded Sweden.
Italy are to take on Northern Ireland on March 26 next year at an Italian venue that is yet to be confirmed after the draw made in Zurich, Switzerland, on Thursday.
Five days later the winner is to travel to face the winner of Wales’ semi-final against Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Photo: Reuters
Despite another error-strewn qualification campaign, Italy still have a chance of reaching the World Cup finals for the first time since 2014 in Brazil, having failed to qualify in 2018 and 2022.
Facing the Azzurri will be a daunting challenge for Northern Ireland, who have only beaten Italy once in 11 meetings, and that was in 1958.
“Let’s concentrate on the first match. Northen Ireland are a team that we can beat,” Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso said. “They’re a team that have their own style, they’re very physical ... they’ll give us a good game, but we can do it. We know about Wales and Bosnia, and playing in Cardiff is difficult for anybody, but for now let’s concentrate on the semi-final.”
War-torn Ukraine are to play a Sweden team that could feature Liverpool’s ￡125 million (US$164 million) forward Alexander Isak and Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres.
Sweden were woeful in qualifying, finishing bottom of their group, and only got into the playoffs thanks to their performance in the UEFA Nations League.
Newly appointed English coach Graham Potter, formerly in charge of Brighton & Hove Albion and Chelsea, faces a tough task to steer Sweden to the finals in the US, Mexico and Canada.
Potter said Sweden had a “fantastic opportunity.”
“We need to make sure we’re in a good place in March. We need to use our time until then wisely,” he said.
Whoever triumphs in that match is to face the winner of Poland’s meeting with Albania — Albania are bidding to reach soccer’s showpiece for the first time.
Meanwhile, the Republic of Ireland, who reached the playoffs after a dramatic late goal from Troy Parrott earned a 3-2 win in Hungary on Sunday, face a tough trip to the Czech Republic.
The winner of that match is to host the winner of the semi-final between Denmark and North Macedonia.
Turkey are to play Romania, with the winner faces either Slovakia or Kosovo, who are also trying to reach a World Cup for the first time in their history.
All the European semi-finals are to take place on March 26, with the finals on March 31.
In the inter-continental playoffs, New Caledonia — another nation bidding to make a first appearance at a World Cup finals — are to play against Jamaica for the right to face the seeded Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Bolivia are to play Suriname — yet another country seeking a first-ever appearance — with the victor going on to a winner-takes-all game against Iraq.
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