FIFA World Cup Qualifiers 2022: Portugal VS Turkey, Will Portugal and Italy be in WC qualifiers' Final

FIFA World Cup Qualifiers 2022: Portugal VS Turkey, Will Portugal and Italy be in the Final

 

Portugal will play Turkey in Porto on Thursday, the winner will face either Italy or North Macedonia in the Path C final on March 29, with one of the last three spots for European teams at the World Cup in Qatar up for grabs.

Portugal had won the 2016 Euro Cup and the Nations League in 2019. But now Portugal dropped into the World Cup playoffs after losing their final group stage qualifier to Serbia in November after conceding in the dying minutes.

The last time when Portugal went to the WC play-offs, Cristiano Ronaldo single-handedly carried Portugal passed Sweden with a hat trick at the age of 28. Now he has to do it at the age of 37.

Portugal had to settle for second place in the group, meaning they have to battle it out via the playoffs

A goalless draw with the Republic of Ireland hurt Portugal more than the loss to Serbia, which put them in a tricky situation. Football fans from around the world will see either Portugal or Italy in the World Cup in Qatar and one will watch the world cup sitting at home. Fans get the dream playoff final between Portugal and Italy. However, before they can think of playing whoever in the final, Portugal has to win the tricky semifinal against Turkey if they think to play the final.

Portugal Probable Starting XI: Patricio; Cedric, Fonte, Inacio, Guerreiro; Moutinho, Pereira, Fernandes; B Silva, Ronaldo, Jota.

Turkey Probable Starting XI: Cakir; Celik, Soyuncu, Demiral, Erkin; Under, Calhanoglu, Antalyali, Akturoglu; Yilmaz, Yazici.