With two wins (and 6 goals scored) the Swiss join us in first place in Group C. Pending the direct match on November 12, the goal difference is now +2 for the Azzurri
Switzerland’s 4-0 win over Lithuania in Vilnius thins Italy’s lead in Group C in qualifying for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Not only because the Swiss reach Mancini’s national team in first place with 14 points, but also because they are close in terms of goal difference. However, the situation of the Azzurri remains positive, but a victory in the direct match on 12 November at the Olimpico in Rome (8.45 pm) would make us feel much more relaxed.
Italy qualifies if …
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In the last two games, in fact, Switzerland has scored 6 goals and brought the goal difference from +3 to +9, while that of the Azzurri is +11. A gap (+2 goals) that would remain consistent even in the event of a draw with the Swiss, aware however that everything could happen in the last round of the world qualifiers, when Italy will face Northern Ireland and Switzerland against Bulgaria. In the event of an equal number of points in the group, in fact, the goal difference is the first criterion to establish the ranking.
The other criteria
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What if the two teams were tied for both points in Group C and goal difference? In that case the criteria for determining the ranking would be: b) number of goals scored in the group, c) points in head to head, d) goal difference in head to head, e) higher number of goals in head to head, f) goals scored away home (if the tie is between two teams), g) fairplay ranking with -1 for yellow cards; -3 for expulsion for a double yellow card; -4 direct expulsion; -5 yellow card plus direct red card, g) toss.
Then the playoffs
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The final placement is decisive because only the first classified of the groups qualify directly for the World Cup in Qatar, while the runners-up will have to go through the playoff play-offs. Participating will be 12 teams: the ten runners-up from the qualifying rounds and the two best from the Nations League rounds that did not return to the top 2 places in their group. The 12 will be divided into 3 groups of 4 and will play the semi-finals and the final in direct elimination: the 3 winners will go to the World Cup. But this would really be the worst case scenario: to avert it 100% it will be necessary to beat Switzerland.
October 12, 2021 (change October 12, 2021 | 23:20)
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