In Zurich, Fifa will draw both the European play-offs, scheduled for the end of March, but also in the wake of the draw for the intercontinental play-offs which will pit, next June, a team from Asia, another from Central America. and from the North, a third from South America and finally a selection from Oceania.

In Europe, three tickets remain to be filled for the twelve late selections who failed to finish at the top of their qualifying group.

To see Qatar (November 21 - December 18, 2022), they will have to win, at the end of March (March 24 and 29), one of three mini-tournaments with four played in dry matches, with semi-finals then final, a perilous format. which prohibits the slightest defeat.

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

The tension has risen a notch, even among the reigning European champions, the Italians, who since their coronation in July have been overcome by the fear of not qualifying for the World Cup, as in 2018. .

"Unconsciously, something has stuck," admitted defender Leonardo Bonucci.

Italian defender Leonardo Bonucci clears the ball in front of Northern Ireland striker Josh Magennis during the 2022 World Cup qualifiers in Qatar on November 15, 2021 at Windsor Park in Belfast Paul Faith AFP / Archives

Second in her group behind Switzerland, the "Nazionale" recounts today the trauma of four years ago, when Sweden had blocked her way to the World Cup in Russia during the play-offs, then played under another format, in round-trip duels.

"Ibra" and "Lewy" in scarecrows

Like Italy, Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal trembles before the draw, his morale being weighed down by the controversy around coach Fernando Santos.

The Portuguese press designated him as N.1 responsible for the defeat against Serbia (2-1), on the last day, which condemned the winners of Euro-2016 to go through the dams.

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 Portugal has the experience of these meetings on a thread, having qualified in 2010 and 2014 by this way.

The two cadors have the assurance of playing their semi-final at home, thanks to their team status in the first hat.

But they can meet in the final ... or fall on another selection broken at this level, like Sweden, quarter-finalist of the World Cup in 2018.

If the "Blagul" (Blue and Yellow) disappointed during the Euro, with an elimination from the eighth against Ukraine, it is a transformed team which should play in March, with the return of its talisman Zlatan Ibrahimovic (40 years old), injured last summer.

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

"Ibra" is one of the big scarecrows in this draw, as is Poland striker Robert Lewandowski, who scored eight goals in the qualifiers.

North Macedonia in Petit Poucet

The star of Bayern Munich is all the more afraid that his selection appears in the second hat, being therefore a potential opponent from the half for Italy or Portugal.

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

Even away, "we have enough good players to beat a great team in one game," said Poland coach Paulo Sousa of Portugal.

This one would perhaps prefer to fall on a more modest seed, like Wales, which has not played in the World Cup since 1958, Russia, or Scotland, which did not shine at the Euro.

Ukraine, Turkey and the Czech Republic, all in the second hat, also look with envy on these potential opponents, with the ambition to play the spoilsport of these "four-way finals".

"It's for the World Cup, we have to meet the (big) teams. It's a challenge for which we will fight," said Czech defender Jakub Brabec, who recalled that his selection beat Scotland in Glasgow during of the Euro (2-0).

Finally, North Macedonia, which discovered the Euro last summer but has never played in the World Cup, is also knocking on the door, with the status of Petit Poucet.

At this stage, all dreams are still allowed.

© 2021 AFP