The spring international break is upon us and that means that the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers are here with all eyes on the UEFA teams.
In the event of level scores after 90 minutes, there will be 30 minutes of extra time which will enable sixth substitutions. The 12 teams were then split into three groups of four on paths A, B and C which will each crown a qualifier after a semifinal and a final. Despite their status as reigning European champions, there is no bye for the Italians into the World Cup, and not only did they fait to automatically qualify they lost on a stunning extra time goal to North Macedonia and won't even make the finals.
Bernardo Silva was at his effervescent best as Portugal moved into a play-off final with North Macedonia.
There was one nervous moment when he went up for a header and as he landed, a Turkish player fell directly on his back at full force before he got a passing boot in the head. He helped out his defence, doubling up on wingers and he was the first to press from the front, often sprinting 30 metres to chase the ball and put pressure on the Turkey back-line. But Yilmaz blazed his spot-kick over and the chance to force extra time was gone, with the hosts grabbing a decisive third from Matheus Nunes in added time.
Portugal face Turkey in their respective 2022 World Cup play-off semi-final in Porto on Thursday evening.
If you don't have a Sky Sports subscription, you can watch the game by purchasing a NOW TV pass. Considering Manchester United star Ronaldo is now 37, this could represent his last chance to play in a World Cup and lift the trophy for the first time. It meant that Serbia won the group by three points, leaving Cristiano Ronaldo and his team-mates to face the lottery of the play-offs.
For years, opponents knew: If you stop Cristiano Ronaldo, you stop Portugal. With a team filled with talented attackers, that's no longer the case.
A flick to Fernandes instigated the move for Portugal's second goal, which culminated with Otavio crossing for Jota to head in at the far post on 42 minutes. Ronaldo, who has struggled at times in a central role at United this season, highlighted another part of his game by dropping deeper than usual and acting as a link between the lines. Joao Moutinho performed exceptionally in the absence of Wolverhampton Wanderers teammate Neves, anchoring what was largely a one-man midfield as Bernardo Silva and Bruno Fernandes made up a five-man swarm of attacking players with Ronaldo, Jota and Otavio. But they held on, calmed their nerves with the third goal and are now potentially just 90 minutes away from a World Cup that Ronaldo has previously said would mark the end of his international career. Not because they have Ronaldo, but because Portugal now have such a depth of talent that they were able to overcome Turkey despite being without several key players. Portugal made it through to their date with World Cup destiny without Ronaldo adding to his world-record tally of 115 international goals.
A euphoric atmosphere descended on the Estádio do Dragão shortly after the referee had blown the final whistle last night. First a giddy pitch invader ...
Matheus Nunes made sure of the win with a third goal First a giddy pitch invader scaled the advertising boards behind one goal, then another Portugal fan prompted loud cheers by evading stewards at the other end. A euphoric atmosphere descended on the Estádio do Dragão shortly after the referee had blown the final whistle last night.
Wow. What a night of international action we have had in Europe! Portugal, Sweden and Wales all secured passage through to the play-off finals, but European ...
As is Scotland's friendly with Poland, with GOAL on hand to bring you the biggest news from all five matches. And we are back with the second half of all five international games from Europe. Will Italy pick up their game? I’m sorry for the players”. 🔵— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) #Italy March 24, 2022 📋👥— Portugal (@selecaoportugal) #VamosComTudo pic.twitter.com/NZZCIEqZIW March 24, 2022 Turkey have been awarded a penalty! Yilmaz misses the chance to be Turkey's hero! #WALAUT pic.twitter.com/keCzHeePal March 24, 2022 but that’s it, that’s the reality. We deserved to win the Euros, now we’ve been really unlucky… We won the first one and now we have to win the second. If they managed to beat Italy that means it's going to be very difficult." "That's what we're going to focus on.