Euro 2020 champions misses out on World Cup 2022

After a couple of strange years everything seems to go back to normal more and more each day. 2022 is a World Cup year so we can all get excited for an exciting football tournament. Unfortunately, this tournament is the one thing is football that hasn’t go back to normal. The 2022 World Cup will be played in Qatar, where it’s way too hot to play football in the summer. Therefore, this edition will be played in the winter. Instead of June, the tournament starts in November. The qualification tournament is still in full flow. In this article we discuss some of the most important results of the European qualification tournament. Are you planning to visit Qatar this winter? Book your 2022 World Cup tickets securely online via our online booking system.

Italy versus North Macedonia

The draw for the European qualification tournament showed that we are going to miss at least one big name during the World Cup tournament. Italy and Portugal would have meet each other in the final qualification match to decide which of both would qualify. Nevertheless, they first had to go past respectively North Macedonia and Turkey. Italy faced North Macedonia and they struggled to break through this defensive side. In extra time North Macedonia got the only goal of this match. Which means they will go through, and the reigning European champions will stay at home during the winter of 2022.

#WCQ play-offs 🌍

⏱ FT - All over.#ITAMKD 0⃣-1⃣#Azzurri #VivoAzzurro pic.twitter.com/LdgaBxEpjw

— Italy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@Azzurri_En) March 24, 2022

Portugal versus Turkey

The second big match in this European qualification is the one between Portugal and Turkey. Turkey impressed in the group stage for the qualification, but they failed miserably during the Euro 2020 tournament. Now they faced Portugal in an attempt to reach the World Cup 2022 qualification final. Portugal took a 2-0 lead in the first half, cruising towards the next round. However, it was Turkish striker Burak Yilmaz who scored one back and brought the tension back in the game. In the 85th minute, the Turkish captain got the opportunity to equalise from the penalty spot. He failed to score and in the end it was Nunez who got the third Portugal goal. This goal was enough for Portugal to get through to face North Macedonia for a place at the 2022 World Cup.

Tweet criado para dizer bem de Diogo Jota. Estão à vontade. pic.twitter.com/iFsRmRyFhi

— Portugal (@selecaoportugal) March 24, 2022