World Cup Drama As Eight Players Handed Bans for Play-Offs
Several European nations have suffered an early setback ahead of the World Cup play-offs, with eight players now suspended for the semi-finals.
Following Tuesday night's qualifiers, it has been confirmed which countries will have to navigate the play-offs for their chance to reach the United States, Canada and Mexico next summer.
Scotland condemned Denmark to that round after a thrilling 4-2 victory at Hampden Park.
Meanwhile, Wales humiliated North Macedonia, with Harry Wilson scoring a hat-trick in a 7-1 rout that secured home advantage for the play-offs.
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Ireland's dramatic late turnaround in Budapest on Sunday booked their place in the round.
While Northern Ireland had already secured their play-off spot thanks to being one of the four best Nations League group winners that did not finish in the top two.
In total, 16 teams will compete in the European play-offs, which consist of four separate paths for four World Cup spots.
But several countries have already suffered a blow for the semi-final, with key players ruled out through suspension for the one-legged ties.
Although Wales and Northern Ireland will be at full-strength, Ireland will be without both Festy Ebosele and Liam Scales.
Denmark will miss Rasmus Kristensen and Joachim Andersen, while Ukraine will be without Yukhym Konoplya and Ruslan Malinovskyi.
Nicola Zalewski is suspended for Poland and Tihomir Kostadinov will miss the match for North Macedonia.
What is the format for the play-offs?
The 16 countries are made up of the 12 runners-up from the qualifying groups and the four best-ranked Nations League group winners who did not finish in the top two.
They will be divided into four paths.
The semi-finals will see pot one teams play pot four, while pot two will face pot three.
Italy are the strongest country in pot one, alongside Denmark, Turkey and Ukraine.
They will face one of Sweden, Romania, Northern Ireland and North Macedonia in the semi-final.
After their emphatic victory over North Macedonia, Wales secured a home semi-final by making it into pot two.
Also in that pot are Slovakia, Poland and the Czech Republic.
The third pot contains the Republic of Ireland, Kosovo, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Albania.
The countries will find out their opponents soon, with the European play-off draw scheduled for November 20.
The matches will take place during the March international break, with the semi-finals on Thursday, March 26, and the finals of Tuesday, March 31.
There is also a separate intercontinental play-off tournament, which does not include any European nations.
Bolivia, DR Congo, New Caledonia, Iraq, Jamaica and Suriname are the six sides competing for the final two World Cup places.
Topics:ย Football, FIFA World Cup
James Taylor