🎥 All the European play-off final ties confirmed | OneFootball

Out of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups after failures in both playoffs and without reaching the knockout stage of a World Cup since the title in 2006, Italy took the field this Thursday (26) with the mission of avoiding another embarrassment.

The four-time champion faced Northern Ireland in the European playoff semifinals, endured plenty of tension, but came out on top 2-0.

The mission now is to get past Wales or Bosnia next Tuesday to end its drought.

The day also brought surprises, with Kosovo eliminating Slovakia — which had even beaten Germany in the qualifiers.

And Ireland also pulled off an away upset.

See below for a summary of the matches and, after that, what the four decisive games for the final spots will be.

Two matches went to extra time. 

🇹🇷 Turkey 1 x 0 Romania 🇷🇴

A standalone clash that kicked off at 2 p.m. (Brasília time). 

Playing at Tüpraş Stadium, Besiktas’ home ground, the hosts came out on top thanks to Kadioglu’s goal after a precise pass from Arda Güler (53'). 

Turkey dominated from the start. But it only managed one other shot on target.

Romania, meanwhile, did little when it had possession and did not even hit the target guarded by Cakir.

🇩🇰 Denmark 4 x 0 North Macedonia 🇲🇰

The hosts were completely in control at Parken Stadium.

But they lacked accuracy in the first half.

Then came the second half and, with it, Denmark’s deserved goal. 

Damsgaard scored from a loose ball four minutes in.

Then Denmark wrapped things up thanks to two goals from Isaksen.

The first came from finishing a cross in the 13th minute. Then he scored again from a loose ball in the very next minute. 

Norgaard (31') headed in the fourth. 

🇸🇰 Slovakia 3 x 4 Kosovo 🇽🇰

The Kosovars had more possession in the first half. But they lacked efficiency at Tehelné pole.

Valjent opened the scoring for the hosts just six minutes in.

Kosovo pulled one back through Hodza (21'). And Haraslin put the Slovaks back in front before halftime. 

Kosovo came back lethal in the second half.

Asllani equalized with a header two minutes in. Muslija turned it around with a free kick (15'). 

Slovakia only managed to score through Strelec (49'). 

Kosovo makes history and remains in the hunt for a historic qualification.  

🇮🇹 Italy 2 x 0 Northern Ireland 🇬🇬

Gewiss Stadium, Atalanta’s home ground, was chosen because of the atmosphere Gattuso wanted for his debut in charge of Italy. 

And the support from the start would be crucial.

Italy’s superior possession (70%) had no effect in the first half.

It was a “flood” of crosses (22), but only eight were accurate.

The Azzurra lacked inspiration to secure the lead before the break against a rival that was well organized without the ball.

The tension in Bergamo only eased when Tonali pounced on a loose ball to open the scoring 11 minutes into the second half. 

And things became much more comfortable after Kean scored a scrappy goal in the 35th minute.

Now it waits for the winner between Wales and Bosnia. 

🇵🇱 Poland 2 x 1 Albania 🇦🇱

Sylvinho’s side went ahead right at the National Stadium in Warsaw after a mistake by Bednarek.

Hoxha got the ball, got past Grabara and scored (42').

Poland’s response came from him, Lewa. Corner kick and a header after Strakosha made a terrible mistake. 

The comeback came thanks to a shot from outside the box by Zielinski (28'). 

Albania’s elimination means Brazil will have no representatives among the coaches at the World Cup. Something unprecedented. 

🇺🇦 Ukraine 1 x 3 Sweden 🇸🇪

Ukraine’s greater possession, as it hosted the match at Ciutat de València, did not produce a single shot in the second half.

All the better for the Swedes, who scored just six minutes in through a well-positioned Gyökeres.

It was again Gyökeres who doubled the lead six minutes into the second half. 

And the Arsenal striker added a third, this time from the penalty spot (27'). 

Ukraine only managed to score in the 46th minute through Ponomarenko.

Extra time and... penalties!

🇨🇿 Czechia 2 (4) x (3) 2 Ireland 🇮🇪

Ireland shocked everyone by scoring through Parrott, from the penalty spot (19'), and with goalkeeper Kovar, who was unlucky to score an own goal (23') after a corner.

Set pieces made the difference again when Schick pulled one back from another penalty (27').

The hosts also equalized after a corner, with Krejci heading home in the 41st minute of the second half to force extra time.

Nothing changed in extra time. And it was up to Kovar to decide it by saving the spot kicks from Azaz and Browne.

At the other end, Kelleher only managed to stop Chytil from scoring.

🏴 Wales 1 (2) x (4) 1 Bosnia 🇧🇦

Daniel James made Cardiff City Stadium erupt six minutes into the second half.

He received the ball between two defenders and struck powerfully, scoring a beautiful goal. 

Then the ageless (and forty-year-old) Edin Dzeko scored with a header in the 41st minute.

No goals in extra time, and another penalty shootout followed.

It ended in Bosnian celebrations after Brennan Johnson and Neco Williams, players for Tottenham and Forest, missed their kicks.

So, what now? 📅

The four decisive clashes for the final European spots at the World Cup will be played next Tuesday (31), starting at 3:45 p.m. (Brasília time). 

Bosnia 🆚 Italy

Sweden 🆚 Poland 

Kosovo 🆚 Turkey 

Czechia 🆚 Denmark 

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

📸 JOE KLAMAR - AFP or licensors