16 November 2021
It will go down to the play-offs in March to determine whether Italy and Poland proceed to the 2022 Qatar World Cup. Having had the chance to finish top of their group and avoid the play-offs, Roberto Mancini's Azzurri drew 0-0 away in Belfast, which consigned their fates to the World Cup play-offs, after Switzerland romped to a 4-0 home win over Bulgaria that had them leapfrog Italy into top spot. Amongst the Bianconeri players involved yesterday, both Leonardo Bonucci and Federico Chiesa played the full 90 minutes, whilst both Federico Bernardeschi and Manuel Locatelli entered the field as 68th minute substitutes.
Accompanying Italy in the Playoffs, there will also be Wojciech Szczesny's Poland, who finished second in the group behind England. Poland, with Szczesny on the pitch, were beaten 2-1 at home yesterday by Hungary, after strikes from Andras Schafer and Daniel Gazdag either side of Karol Swiderski's goal for the hosts sealed the win.
Both Italy and Poland will go into the World Cup play-off stage draw which will take place on Friday 26 November at 17:00 CET in Zurich.
Today, the "Bianconeri" national teams involved in World Cup qualifying are: France, Netherlands, Wales, Uruguay, United States, Colombia, Brazil and Argentina.
