There are no new official qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup on Friday, 12 November, following the official confirmation of Brazil’s presence on Thursday. Despite everything, the final day of the Europe region presented its share of twists and turns. Italy and England will have to wait until Monday and the final day to qualify, while Scotland have formalized their qualification in the play-offs. On the other hand, it is over for Israel and Albania, who will not be on the trip to Qatar.

Italy spoiled and complicated the task

Italy have yet to qualify for the World Cup, stopped by the brave Swiss (1-1) at the Stadio Olimpico in Italy. Shocked by Sylvan Widmer’s early opening score, the Nazionale was scrambled shortly before the break, before equalizing by Giovanni Di Lorenzo on a free kick. Dominating in the second act, the Italians thought they would win from the penalty spot in the 90th minute. But like in the first leg, Jorginho missed his shot.

Nothing prohibitive for the Transalpines, who place first in the group due to the greater target difference (+11, against +9 for the Helvetians). A significant advantage ahead of the final duel from away, which will host Switzerland, Bulgaria and Italy move to Northern Ireland on Monday. Four years after losing in their painful shoot-off against Sweden, Squadra Azurra will try to avoid another cleaver meeting.

cool as england

England had a lot of fun against Albania (5-0) at their Wembley Gardens. Among other things, a victory was achieved thanks to Harry Kane of a wonderful evening. The Spurs striker offered up a decent hat-trick, including a brilliant scissor over a corner. Harry Maguire and Jordan Henderson also scored to seal the score in the first round.

Harry Kane is the first England player since David Platt in 1993 to score a perfect hat-trick (header, left-foot, right-foot). #wcq pic.twitter.com/qFTjxzJW1I

– European Qualifiers (@Euro2024) November 12, 2021

It would take a combination of the most incredible conditions for England to not qualify for the World Cup on Monday. Thanks to this success, the Three Lions maintained a three-point lead over Poland, also victorious in Andorra (1–4). With a very high goal difference (+26 against +19 for the Poles) and one last match to play against San Marino, nothing seems to stop the English from counting their ticket to their seventh consecutive World Cup.

Scotland in dams after twenty four years

After a long journey in the desert, Scottish football is finally emerging from the shadows. At Euros for the first time since 1996, Scotland qualified for the play-offs on Friday after defeating Moldova (0–2). Behind Denmark, teammates of Andrew Robertson, already qualified and winner of the Faroe Islands (3-1), can no longer be caught by Israel or Austria.

It takes a march to reach Qatar, dangerous if any. But this qualification into the play-offs is already a minor event for the Scots, who have not reached this level since 1998, the date of their last appearance at the World Cup. While waiting to be fixed on their next opponent, Steve Clarke’s players will celebrate the performance against Denmark in Glasgow on Monday.