ZURICH: European champion Italy and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal were drawn in the same World Cup qualifying playoffs bracket Friday, meaning at least one of them will miss next year’s tournament in Qatar.
Italy will face North Macedonia at home in a playoff semifinal next March, and the winner will play away at either Portugal or Turkey for a spot in the World Cup.
Italy failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup — losing in the playoffs to Sweden — and now will likely have to beat Ronaldo and Portugal to avoid missing the tournament for a second straight time. Portugal has always qualified during Ronaldo’s career. He first played at the 2006 World Cup.
Also in the 12-team draw, Scotland will face Ukraine at home, and the winner will play at Wales or Austria in the final of their bracket.
Russia will host Poland for the right to face Sweden or the Czech Republic in their bracket final. Russia or Poland will host the final.
The six playoff semifinals will be played as single-leg elimination games March 24. The three finals are played five days later.
The three winners will complete Europe’s entry of 13 nations in the 32-team lineup in Qatar.
FIFA will make the tournament draw on April 1 in Doha.
The playoffs feature the 10 teams who finished second in their qualifying groups along with two teams — Austria and the Czechs — who won Nations League groups last year.
Italy and Portugal drawn in same World Cup playoffs bracket
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Italy and Portugal drawn in same World Cup playoffs bracket
- Italy will face North Macedonia at home in a playoff semifinal next March
- The winner will play away at either Portugal or Turkey for a spot in the World Cup
Samuel Eto’o suspended for 4 games by CAF, federation reaffirms its ‘unwavering support’
- FECAFOOT said it had taken note of the decision from the disciplinary committee of CAF
- CAF did not refer to any specific incidents at the Morocco-Cameroon match
YAOUNDÉ: Cameroonian Football Federation president Samuel Eto’o has been suspended for four games for alleged misbehavior during his team’s loss to Morocco at the Africa Cup of Nations.
The federation, known as FECAFOOT, said Wednesday that it had taken note of the decision from the disciplinary committee of the Confederation of African Football to suspend its president along with a $20,000 fine, but that it “lacks any explicit justification.”
“FECAFOOT further notes that the expedited procedure leading to this decision raises serious concerns regarding the fundamental requirements of a fair trial,” the federation said.
CAF said Monday it was investigating match incidents during the quarterfinals between Cameroon and Morocco, and Algeria and Nigeria.
CAF did not refer to any specific incidents at the Morocco-Cameroon match, but the only widely known outlier was the behavior of Eto’o, who was seen gesturing angrily during the game toward Moroccan counterpart Fouzi Lekjaa with CAF president Patrice Motsepe also sitting nearby.
“FECAFOOT reaffirms its unwavering support for its president and its commitment to upholding the principles governing credible disciplinary justice,” the federation said.
