Italy, Northern Ireland, Wales, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Turkey, Romania, Slovakia, Kosovo, Ukraine, Sweden, Poland, Albania, Denmark, Macedonia, Czech Republic, Republic of Ireland, New Caledonia, Jamaica, Democratic Republic of Congo, Bolivia, Suriname and Iraq. Only six can remain. The World Cup play-off semi-finals will kick off on 26 March. Four European and two from other continents will qualify for the best international event. The draw is already available and in this piece we will analyse each of the teams:
Italy
Italy went straight to the play-offs after losing both matches against Norway, who finished top. Gennaro Gattuso arrived with the aim of qualifying the team and not repeating the ‘hecatomb’ of the last two World Cups. They will face Northern Ireland, a team that is, in theory, of a lower level, but they have also suffered in the group stage against teams of this style. Italy has many names, but few guarantees. With four stars on their badge, they are the team that has won the most World Cups in the play-offs. Qualification is “obligatory”.Player to watch: Pio Exposito.
Northern Ireland
The last time Northern Ireland participated in a World Cup was in 1986, two months after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. They were in the group with Spain and Brazil and could only manage a draw against Algeria. Their players are spread across all categories of professional football in England and they have several young players with potential such as Isaac Price, Shea Charles and Kieran MorrisonPlayer to watch: Isaac Price.
Wales
Without Gareth it’s not the same. The British Isles side will face Bosnia-Herzegovina, after reaching the play-offs after thrashing Macedonia 7-1. They started the 2022 World Cup with a draw against the United States, but then surprisingly lost to Iran and on the last matchday against England. In this break they will have a Harry Wilson in a state of grace with Fulham.Player to watch: Harry Wilson.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Only Edin Dzeko remains from Bosnia’s last golden generation. Ibisevic, Spahic, Pjanic, Begovic, Medunjanin… all of them are already history. Sergej Barbarez’s side had a great group stage, losing only one match in one of the easiest groups with Cyprus and San Marino as the bottom two teams.Player to watch: Amar Dedic.
Turkey
The team led by Montella spoiled Spain’s perfect group stage. The Ottomans are now regulars at the European Championships and World Cups and have one of the best duos at international level in terms of level and youth. Arda Guler and Kenan Yildiz are the captains of this ship and will try to take on the competitive Romania, another of the favorites to play in the tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada.Player to watch: Arda Güler.
Romania
Veteran coach Mircea Lucescu is one of the most successful coaches in Romanian football, but at international level it is different. In more than 40 years of coaching he has not managed to qualify for a World Cup (not even with Turkey). Romania will face one of the strongest teams in the play-offs, Turkey.Player to watch: Andrei Ratiu.
Slovakia
The Slovakian national team qualified as runners-up for the play-offs. The last World Cup they played in was in 2010, but they did play in the last European Championship and performed well. They beat Belgium in the first match and made life difficult for England in the last 16. Jude Bellingham had to appear in the 95th minute to send the match into extra time.Player to watch: Lobotka.
Kosovo
The Southeastern European region is one of those that has never qualified for a World Cup. It has several notable names and Franco Foda is getting the most out of them. In the last few breaks they have won three games, drawn two and lost one. The ‘pirate’ Muriqi extends his best version of Mallorca also to the national team.Player to watch: Vedat Muriqi.
Ukraine
The new golden generation of Ukraine, led by Rebrov, has a lot of potential. The most interesting players in the squad are coached by some of the best coaches around. The influence of Luis Enrique (Zabarnyi), Mourinho (Sudakov and Trubin) or Michel (Vanat and Tsygankov) will be present in this playoff. A regular at the European Championships, Ukraine have not played in a World Cup for 20 years. Ahead of them is one of the best attacking teams in Europe: Sweden.Player to watch: Tsygankov.
Sweden
Without Isak, but with Gyokeres. The Nordic side finished first in League C, were promoted and secured a place in the play-offs. The new generation has not yet made the definitive step up to the national team and the players only shine at their clubs, incredible as it may seem. Englishman Graham Potter will make his debut as national coach.Player to watch: Gyokëres.
Poland
Poland is no longer Lewandowski and ten others. Polish football has been evolving and there are fewer and fewer players who remain in the local league and do not make the move to other European leagues. One of the novelties in Jan Urban’s list is the presence of the young Oskar Pietuszewski, who is shining in Porto.Player to watch: Robert Lewandowski.
Albania
Sylvinho’s ‘black eagles’ have never played in a World Cup. They knocked Serbia out of the play-offs and will now face a tough opponent in Poland. Of the 15 times they have met, Albania have only managed to win twice and draw three times.Player to watch: Muçi.
Denmark
Denmark, led by Christian Eriksen, is always a team to be reckoned with. They knocked Greece out of the play-offs after beating them 3-1 at home, but failed to overcome Norway for direct qualification. Danish football is producing more and more talent and players such as Froholdt, Osula and Nartey (all under 21) are proof of this.Player to watch: Eriksen.
Macedonia
The Macedonian national team is another ‘forgotten’ team in the World Cup. Founded in 1993, after the disintegration of Yugoslavia, Goce Sedloski’s side have never won a play-off. In 2022 they reached the final by beating Italy and lost in the final against Portugal. They come into this match on the back of a 7-1 defeat to Wales in their last qualifier.Player to watch: Dimitrievski.
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic has been dreaming of a World Cup since 2006. More than twenty years without one of the most mythical teams in Europe. Without Cech or Rosicky, the man leading the way is Patrik Schick with his goals. Olympique Lyonnais’ Sulc is another who is in fine form.Player to watch: Patrick Schick.
Republic of Ireland
The Green Shamrock achieved an ‘in-extremis’ qualification, after beating Hungary in the last ten minutes. They have two strikers trained in English football such as Troy Parrott and Evan Ferguson who have a great future in Europe. In fact, the former has already scored 28 goals so far this season. One of the main reasons to dream is his goal-scoring instinct.Player to watch: Troy Parrott.
New Caledonia
From 150th place in the FIFA ranking, New Caledonia is two games away from writing the most beautiful story in national football. The new format gave Oceania an extra place for the World Cup, something that this team took advantage of. With few players under professional contract, the man at the helm will be Angelo Fulgini, a Lens player who was recently naturalized and is on loan in Saudi Arabia.Player to watch: Angelo Fulgini.
Jamaica
The Reggae Boyz have one of the most interesting projects in the whole of Central America. Their squad includes players with dual Jamaican and English nationality who excel in the Championship and all of them are led by Leon Bailey, the figure of the team who plays for Aston Villa under Unai EmeryPlayer to watch: Leon Bailey.
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The African team has played in only one World Cup. This was in 1974, the same year they won the Africa Cup of Nations. Much has happened since then and Frenchman Sebastien Desabre has managed to put together a group with a lot of talent line by line. They will face the winner of the match between New Caledonia and Jamaica.Player to watch: Yoane Wissa.
Bolivia
Bolivia entered the playoffs ahead of Chile, Peru and Venezuela. The weight of more than 11 million people rests on the shoulders of Oscar Villegas’ players. Without the presence of Marcelo Moreno, the top scorer in history who came out of retirement to fight for a place in the World Cup, they will face SurinamePlayer to watch: Miguelito.
Suriname
The political conflict that almost left Suriname without a playoff is now history. The team coached by Henk ten Cate has managed to form a squad by naturalizing Dutch players who have not had space in the Netherlands. Haps, Boëtius, Joël Piroe. There is also a former La Liga player such as Sheraldo Becker.Player to watch: Joël Piroe.
Iraq
The Asian team gained access to the playoffs after defeating the United Arab Emirates in a double-header. Iraq participated in the 1986 World Cup and has won an AFC Asian Cup (2007) and a Gulf Cup (2023). Almost all of its players play in the local league or in the Saudi league.Player to watch: Attwan.
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