Netherlands gets last direct ticket to Qatar

Netherlands acquired the last Direct flight ticket to the Qatar World Cup (from November 21 to December 18, 2922). With Frenkie de Jong y Memphis Depay As starters, and Louis van Gaal sitting in a wheelchair in the box, a product of a hip injury when he was cycling, the oranges confirmed their reserve by beating Norway in Rotterdam (2-0). The triumph was late. Frame Steven Bergwijn (m. 84) and Memphis clinched it (m. 91), although the tie was enough. The goal was a safety net because Turkey won in Montenegro (1-2).

The Netherlands thus joined Germany, Denmark, France, Belgium, Croatia, England, Serbia, Switzerland and Spain with a guaranteed place. Twelve countries will fight for the three European seats still vacant.

Playoffs in 2022

Italy, Portugal, Poland, Russia, Scotland, Sweden, North Macedonia, Turkey (moved to Norway, that is, Erling Haaland, who did not play due to injury, is left without World Cup), Ukraine, Czech Republic, Wales and Austria, who will play a tie (March 24 and 25, 2022). The six winners will play a final (March 24 and 25, 2022) for the three remaining tickets.

Three groups ended on Tuesday, but only one was the direct pass to Qatar. The one who played the Netherlands, with two points of advantage over Norway and Turkey, their pursuers. France had already fulfilled theirs and calmly visited Finland (0-2). As calmly as Belgium traveled to Wales (1-1), which also passed, either by finishing second or by the League of Nations ranking, just like the Czech Republic, in the same group. It is the route by which Austria has accessed the playoff.

The Netherlands was the twelfth team (the tenth European after the host and Brazil) to seal their presence in the final pass in chronological order. Denmark, without being one of the big names, it was the first country to qualify alongside Germany thanks to an impeccable participation with eight consecutive victories until the defeat against Scotland came in an inconsequential duel for both.

The nuisance of Italy

It was about avoiding a drama similar to the one experienced in Italy, and also in Portugal, with the terrible punctures of the last day. Italy, the June European champions, were unable to break 0-0 in Belfast against Northern Ireland. The draw only served him if Switzerland ran into Bulgaria, but they thrashed (4-0). The playoffs rescued the bitterness of the entire country when the team failed ignominiously by failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.

In the midst of the general desolation, Roberto Mancini he wanted to keep optimism alive by hinting that it was a setback. “I am completely confident, we will qualify for the World Cup in March and maybe we will win it,” he ventured. Mancini regretted the two penalties missed by Jorginho in the two direct duels against Switzerland.

Portugal’s “world shame”

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The Portuguese media reacted worse, because the fall was worse: 1-2 against Serbia and at home, in Lisbon, when the tie served. The goal came in the last minute. “World shame” headlined the newspaper Record with a photo of Cristiano Ronaldo. “Punishment more than deserved,” he admitted The ball, that on the cover reproduced the word “Miserable”.

The criticisms were harsh, with special mention of coach Fernando Santos, for having been unable to seal the classification and dispense with some players to preserve a result that escaped in the end. Bruno Fernandes and Joao Felix, for example, were substitutes in favor of Danilo and Moutinho.