WC -- Europe 2022

When you’ve got a Mitro, you’ve got a chance! Wow! And in Lisbon, no less!

 

It makes me so happy to see Mitrovic getting the headlines rather than that weepy guy who they showed at the end of the match.

 

European champs Itally have to go the playoff route as well. Jourginho went full Baggio (skied a PK way over the crossbar) late in a draw w/the Swiss a few days ago and were locked up 0-0 at Northern Ireland (not the first heavyweight to suffer at Windsor Park) today. The Swiss are thru.

 

The President of Serbia supposedly offered the players a one million euro bonus if they beat Portugal. Not clear if it was per player or lump sum to share. Either way, this is what they supposedly did with it. Very cool.

https://indianexpress.com/article/s...bonus-for-treatment-of-sick-children-7625689/

 

So, yesterday’s draw for the European World Cup qualifier playoffs yielded an interesting dynamic. As a result of being drawn into the same bracket, either Portugal or Italy will not qualify for Qatar’22. I’m certain most of you will remember that 4 time winner Italy failed to qualify for Russia in 2018. The last time that happened was 1958. Portugal’s best finish was 3rd in 1966. They’ve qualified 7 times, every year since 2002. That streak is now in serious jeopardy. There are those who will lament the likely end of Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup career. I will not. History is replete with great players whose countries could not produce the quality and quantity of teammates necessary to even sniff an appearance in the finals.
But…the Portuguese will be at home to play the Turks, and would host the final in their bracket should they prevail against the Crescent Stars. Italy host North Macedonia, shock qualifiers for the Euros last year. Upsets in either would not be out of the question, but you’ve gotta figure the Italians will have an easier time advancing than Portugal. The two other UEFA playoff tickets to Qatar are intriguing as well. Russia hosts Poland and the Swedes welcome the Czechs in one bracket. Perhaps just as interesting, Scotland is home versus Ukraine and the Welsh play Austria in Cardiff. Another country from the UK would thrill the Brit media no end. Scotland and Wales have looked much improved in recent outings, the latter, most notably, without Gareth Bale. It will be tempting to keep one eye on Europe during the final round of CONCACAF qualifying in March. One other hopefully mundane tidbit. The 4th place finisher will play the Oceana playoff winner, whose format will be announced this Monday, November 29th.