Stars far from Qatar: Cristiano Ronaldo and the Portuguese, beaten by Serbia at the last minute (2-1), European champions Roberto Mancini, unrecognizable against Northern Ireland (0-0) and doubled by Switzerland, or Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Sweden, dominated by Spain (1-0), still have a way to go.

Italian coach Roberto Mancini, during the draw (0-0) against Northern Ireland, counting for the qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, on November 15, 2021 in Belfast PAUL FAITH AFP / Archives

Robert Lewandowski and Poland, ahead of Harry Kane's England, will also have to immerse their feet in the sludge of formidable dams, with three places in Qatar only for the twelve drafted.

"Lewy" and his family, not seeded, will also be the scarecrows of the draw on November 26, with, to a lesser extent, the Czech Republic of Patrik Schick, who reached the quarter-finals of the last Euro.

Polish striker Robert Lewandowski opens the scoring against Andorra, during the qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, November 12, 2021 in Andorra la Vella Valentine CHAPUIS AFP / Archives

Indeed, in the number of points scored (after subtracting those against the last of the groups of six, to equalize with the groups of five), Portugal, Scotland, Italy, Russia, Sweden and the country of Wales will be seeded and will each play their home semi-finals on March 24.

Besides the Poles and the Czechs, their potential opponents, in the second hat, will be the Turkey of Burak Yilmaz, North Macedonia, who have just taken part in their first major competition at the Euro, Ukraine and Austria.

Ronaldo aims for fifth World Cup

But then for the three finals there will be no more seeds and the host will be drawn.

A Portugal-Italy is therefore possible on March 29, in Lisbon or Rome!

The play-offs in the European zone qualifiers for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, play-offs Vincent LEFAI AFP

And to make matters worse, these last three tickets for Qatar will be played between the knockout stages and the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

Many internationals will be subjected to the tension of very high competition.

Italy, traumatized by its failure in the 2018 World Cup dams against Sweden (which it could find!) Four years ago (1-0 / 0-0), can not imagine missing a second World Cup in a row.

Only two European champions in history have missed the world meeting two years later: Denmark, in 1994, and Greece, in 2006. Unthinkable for the Nazionale.

On the Portuguese side, "CR7" will have to give all the measure of his talent to pin a new record in his collection, which he would share with the German Lothar Matthäus, the Italian Gianluigi Buffon and the Mexicans Antonio Carbajal and Rafael Marquez, the the only ones to have played five World Cups.

The joy of Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo, after scoring on a penalty against Spain, during their group match of the 2018 World Cup, June 15, 2018 in Sochi (Russia) Nelson Almeida AFP / Archives

Already 13 tickets allocated

Qualified teams will be able to quietly watch these peaks of intensity with popcorn.

Switzerland in particular is savoring it.

Already victorious over France in the round of 16 of the Euro (3-3 ap, 5-4 tab), the "Nati" this time ousted Italy to qualify directly.

The joy of the Belgians after the 3rd goal scored by midfielder Thorgan Hazard against Estonia, during the 2022 World Cup qualifiers in Qatar, November 13, 2021 in Brussels JOHN THYS AFP

If Belgium, still in search of its first international trophy, with his wonderful generation Kevin De Bruyne - Eden Hazard - Romelu Lukaku, and Denmark, semi-finalist of the Euro, have walked, Spain, Serbia and Croatia had to wait one last day in their group to qualify.

Germany quickly overcame a failed start, the defeat in Düsseldorf against the Macedonians (2-1), and the Netherlands also waited for the last match.

But the "Oranje" of Memphis Depay, co-top scorer in qualifying with Kane (12 goals), will see Qatar, after missing the 2018 edition.

Dutch striker Memphis Depay scores the second goal against Norwegian goalkeeper Orjan Nyland, during the 2022 World Cup qualifiers in Qatar, November 16, 2021 in Rotterdam JOHN THYS AFP / Archives

In total, 13 of the 32 tickets for the next World Cup (21 November-18 December 2022) have already found a taker: in addition to the host country, automatically qualified, 10 tickets have been allocated in the Europe zone and two in the South American zone with the qualifications of Neymar's Brazil last Thursday, then of Lionel Messi's Argentina on the night of Tuesday to Wednesday, despite a 0-0 draw against the Seleçao.

Argentine strikers Lionel Messi and Brazilian striker Neymar during the Copa America final on July 10, 2021 at Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro MAURO PIMENTEL AFP / Archives

On the other hand, it is ruined for Erling Haaland.

Injured, the Norwegian prodigy could not even defend his chances against the Netherlands (2-0).

But other stars are likely to join him in front of the TV at the end of the year 2022 ...

© 2021 AFP