World Cup Qualifying Playoff Rounds

[gamer25]

What an exciting time to be a soccer fan. With the World cup approaching in Nov 2022, there is still a lot of positioning still to be established. The second place teams in all the groups now are in a playoff series that will determine the last three teams to be eligible for the world cup 2022

The teams that are in the play-offs?
Seeded teams:
· Italy
· Portugal
· Russia
· Scotland
· Sweden
· Wales

Unseeded teams:
· Austria
· Czech Republic
· North Macedonia
· Poland
· Turkey
· Ukraine

The 12 teams will be split into three groups of four teams, with six semi-finals taking place in total. The winners of the two semi-finals per group will then play in a final to determine who qualifies for the World Cup. A separate draw will be held to determine which finalist will play at home.

The draw for the play-offs will begin at 4pm [BST] on Friday 26 November in Zurich, Switzerland.

The semi-finals will take place on Tuesday 24 March with the finals happening on Tuesday 29 March.

Your predictions as to the three teams to advance.

 

[gamer25]

Let me be the first to give my predictions. This could all change depending on the draw and what teams are in each group. Regardless, here it goes.
Italy
Portugal
Sweden

 

[K Douglas]

Norway and Albania each had 18 points in qualifying, Austria had 16 and Czech Republic 14 (albeit in 2 less games played). But because Austria and Czech Republic were ranked higher by UEFA they get the final two spots. Seems a bit shady if you ask me - Austria should definitely be disqualified. But I digress.

My predictions
Italy
Portugal
Russia

 

[KTDoy]

Portugal, Turkey, and Czech Republic will make it. That missed penalty by Jorghinno will haunt Italy for years.

 

[K Douglas]

Portugal, Turkey, and Czech Republic will make it. That missed penalty by Jorghinno will haunt Italy for years.

The Turks have a fine squad but they'll find a way to choke.

 

[Indiana]

Can’t beat France.

 

[Unitking]

Italy and Portugal should be faves but considering no seed protection in the following rd could draw each other and only 1 makes it.

Feel like Europe need more than 13 spots

 

[bver_hunter]

Portugal, Turkey, and Czech Republic will make it. That missed penalty by Jorghinno will haunt Italy for years.

Czech Republic are one team that can raise their standards when it matters. I agree that they will make it. Portugal are very dependant on Ronaldo. They in fact won the Euro 2016 Cup without Ronaldo in the finals and against a highly rated France team. They should be able to get a spot and the other one I think will be Italy. Really all depends on the draw that takes place tomorrow.
.

 

[gamer25]

Let’s review our predictions once the draw is done. It could have a dramatic impact on who advances.

 

[blueray]

Feel like Europe need more than 13 spots

Geez, it’s already 40% of the tourney.

I’ll say….

Italy
Sweeden
Scotland.

Will adjust if teams are grouped together

 

[Unitking]

Geez, it’s already 40% of the tourney.

I’ll say….

Italy
Sweeden
Scotland.

Will adjust if teams are grouped together

Its just where the bulk of the quality teams are in the world and no disrespect to AFC CAF and Concacaf those teams typically are jobbed out.

 

[danmand]

What an exciting time to be a soccer fan. With the World cup approaching in Nov 2022, there is still a lot of positioning still to be established. The second place teams in all the groups now are in a playoff series that will determine the last three teams to be eligible for the world cup 2022

The teams that are in the play-offs?
Seeded teams:
· Italy
· Portugal
· Russia
· Scotland
· Sweden
· Wales

Unseeded teams:
· Austria
· Czech Republic
· North Macedonia
· Poland
· Turkey
· Ukraine

The 12 teams will be split into three groups of four teams, with six semi-finals taking place in total. The winners of the two semi-finals per group will then play in a final to determine who qualifies for the World Cup. A separate draw will be held to determine which finalist will play at home.

The draw for the play-offs will begin at 4pm [BST] on Friday 26 November in Zurich, Switzerland.

The semi-finals will take place on Tuesday 24 March with the finals happening on Tuesday 29 March.

Your predictions as to the three teams to advance.

I will wait with predictions until after the draw.

 

[Insidious Von]

Italy will miss their second WC, no one has stepped up to replace Chiellini and Bonucci. Like Cannavaro before him, Chiellini is gassed.

What's happening now is the reverse of 1998. Back then they had almost no midfield with Antonio Conte being top of the list. However their defense was made up of Maldini, Costacurta, Panucci and Torricelli with Nesta and Cannavaro as alternates. Good luck scoring against them.

 

[danmand]

Italy will miss their second WC, no one has stepped up to replace Chiellini and Bonucci. Like Cannavaro before him, Chiellini is gassed.

What's happening now is the reverse of 1998. Back then they had almost no midfield with Antonio Conte being top of the list. However their defense was made up of Maldini, Costacurta, Panucci and Torricelli with Nesta and Cannavaro as alternates. Good luck scoring against them.

You are using my fathers no-lose approach: Predict Denmark lose. If Denmark win everybody is happy and forget his prediction. If Denmark lose, "I told you they would lose"

 

[gamer25]

Draw takes place today at 4:00 PM GMT in Zurich.
New predictions once posted…maybe!

 

[glamphotographer]

I will wait for the groups to be drawn before making my predictions.

 

[blueray]

Its just where the bulk of the quality teams are in the world and no disrespect to AFC CAF and Concacaf those teams typically are jobbed out.

I hear you. 32 teams in next year's World Cup...and UEFA has 18 teams in the the FIFA rankings top 32. This is why I enjoy the Euro Cup so much more.

 

[danmand]

Path A
Scotland vs Ukraine
Wales vs Austria
Path B
Russia vs Poland
Sweden vs Czech Republic
Path C
Italy vs North Macedonia
Portugal vs Turkey

 

[danmand]

I would bet on:

Scotland
Russia
Italy

But it will be tough going for Italy

 

[The Fox]

I hear you. 32 teams in next year's World Cup...and UEFA has 18 teams in the the FIFA rankings top 32. This is why I enjoy the Euro Cup so much more.

I enjoy the World Cup for the celebration but it’s the worst football to watch in terms of quality.