FIFA World Cup Playoffs: Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal Or European Kings Italy To Miss Qatar Tournament

By Izuchukwu Okosi

Emotions ran high on Friday evening after it was confirmed that at least one of Italy or Portugal will miss the 2020 FIFA World Cup in Qatar following the draw that pits the European superpowers at the Playoffs to hold in March 2022 reports Prime Business Africa.

Current European champions Italy and Portugal whom they usurped at the European tournament will be involved in Path C of the playoffs with Italy first hosting North Macedonia on March 24 while Portugal entertain Turkey.

Should the draw go according to script and both Italy and Portugal ease past their initial opponents, they will face each other for the sole ticket from Path C five days later.

Only three teams from Paths A to C will qualify from the playoffs to the World Cup.

In Path A, there is a possibility of an all British final as Wales host Austria and Scotland face Ukraine in the semifinals playoffs.

The final will be played in Cardiff or Vienna.

In Group B it is Russia against Poland and Sweden taking on Czech Republic meaning that there is likelihood of Robert Lewandowski and Zlatan Ibrahimovic clashing for the sole ticket from Group B.

Izuchukwu Okosi

Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc. In October 2004, Okosi joined Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Complete Sports newspaper and Complete Football magazine as a reporter and later script writer for the Complete Sports studio. He worked there for 13 years until October 2017. Okosi also worked various times as Correspondent, Content creator and Editor at Sports Market International Magazine, Opera News, All Nigeria Soccer Media and Iconic Media Watch. He also undertook freelance writing gigs for some local and international organizations. Okosi is a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Association of Voiceover Artistes of Nigeria (AVOA), Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ). He has been part of cast in some Nollywood movies and radio dramas including Blood Money 2, Scores To Settle, Dead End 2, Another Campus Tale and Battle Line. Aside mainstream media and the entertainment industry, he has interests in scouting/unearthing of talents in the sports and creative sectors, exports business and property development.