The innocent hand of former Portuguese international Tiago wrote the screenplay most feared by "Seleçao" and "Nazionale".

The last two winners of the European Championship have been put in competition for a single qualifying ticket for the 2022 World Cup (21 November - 18 December).

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

In their mini-tournament, scheduled between March 24 and 29, they will face each other in the final if they win their semi-final, on a dry leg: against North Macedonia for Italy, and Turkey for the Portugal.

Marco Verratti's teammates will start with a handicap, since it is Bernardo Silva's who will host the final if they face each other, as decided by the draw.

"It's very difficult because North Macedonia is a good team and if we pass this round we will play the final either in Portugal or in Turkey, it's very hard," responded Italy coach Roberto Mancini.

Italy coach Roberto Mancini, during the match against Northern Ireland, counting for the 2022 World Cup qualifiers in Qatar, November 15, 2021 in Belfast PAUL FAITH AFP / Archives

Decidedly, the "Nazionale" shares a tumultuous history with the dams, after the trauma of 2018 which saw Sweden deprive Italy of its first World Cup since 1958.

The euphoria born of the Euro won this summer seems a long way off for a team which has won only two of the seven matches it has played since its coronation at Wembley against England.

The Portugal of his counterpart Fernando Santos has a better record in the play-offs, having qualified in this way in 2010 and 2014.

Portuguese coach Fernando Santos and striker Cristiano Ronaldo, after the 2-1 home loss to Serbia in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers in Qatar, November 14, 2021 in Lisbon PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA AFP / Archives

But before considering the shock against Italy, the "Seleçao" will have to beat Turkey of Burak Yilmaz, unbeaten since the assumption of office of its German coach Stefan Kuntz (3 wins, 1 draw).

Possible Lewandowski-Ibrahimovic duel

Between superstars Robert Lewandowski and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, there will also be a disappointment, as Poland and Sweden have been transferred to the same four-way mini-tournament.

Polish striker Robert Lewandowski scores his second goal against San Marino, during the 2022 World Cup qualifiers in Qatar, September 5, 2021 in San Marino Vincenzo PINTO AFP / Archives

The Poles will play in the semi-finals in Russia, when the Swedes face the Czech Republic.

The final will be played on the winner's field between Russia and Poland.

The joy of Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic and his teammates after a goal against Georgia in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers in Qatar on March 25, 2021 in Solna, near Stockholm Janerik HENRIKSSON TT NEWS AGENCY / AFP / Archives

"We will face demanding opponents who are not beyond our reach," reacted the President of the Polish Federation, Cezary Kulesza.

On the other hand, everything is open in lane A. Scotland and Ukraine, which will face each other, as well as Wales and Austria, the other poster of the semi-finals, have similar profiles.

Gareth Bale and the Welsh, who will host the semi-final and potentially the final if they are there, will leave with favorite status.

Welsh captain and midfielder Gareth Bale overwhelms Irish defender Dara O'Shea during their Nations League match on November 15, 2020 in Cardiff GEOFF CADDICK AFP / Archives

For Ukraine, it is also a great opportunity to finally pass the dams, after four consecutive eliminations at this stage (1998, 2002, 2010, 2014).

Finally, FIFA has also determined the intercontinental dams by drawing lots: the representative of Asia will face that of South America.

The other poster pits the team from the Oceania qualifiers against a team from the North, Central America and the Caribbean.

© 2021 AFP