If Gattuso’s national team gets through to the semi-final, to get a pass it’s better not to find the British, Czechs and Slovaks
Zubkov’s goal in the 83rd minute on a neutral pitch in Warsaw reversed the situation in group D: Ukraine ahead of the playoffs as second, Iceland eliminated. This is what could also happen between today and tomorrow in other groups that have reached the last round. So, not everything is defined yet. Much is still at stake. In the meantime, we can have a rough idea of the brackets and Italy’s possible rivals in the March playoffs. By now the opponents in the fourth tier (recovered as winners of the 2024-25 Nations League groups) are clear: Sweden, Northern Ireland, Romania and one between North Macedonia and Wales.
The big ones never
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Italy will be in the first group, the seeded group, and therefore we will not be able to face the Turkey of Montella, Yildiz and Calhanoglu, the Ukraine of Dovbyk (absent yesterday due to injury) and Malinovskyi, and the Poland of Lewandowski, Zielinski and Zalewski. Not bad, meanwhile, to begin with. Necessary clarification, however: if Germany lost against Slovakia tonight, or Denmark in Scotland tomorrow, or Austria at home against Dzeko’s Bosnia again tomorrow in Vienna, the Germans, Danes or Austrians (in this order) would end up in the first pot, thus pushing Poland or even Ukraine into the second pot. But in any case the “great defeats” would never face Italy.
Future rivals
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At the moment in the second tier there are Wales, Scotland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. These four will face the third tier in the semi-finals of the playoffs, so to date: Ireland who has overtaken Albania in the ranking, the Albanians themselves, Bosnia of Dzeko and Kolasinac, and Kosovo of Rrahmani and Zhegrova. The ranking doesn’t lie: Scotland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic are the most dangerous national teams in view of Italy’s (possible and hopefully) playoff final. Scotland coach Steve Clarke can still qualify directly tomorrow at Hampden Park in Glasgow if they beat Denmark. If he doesn’t make it, he would be the number 1 threat with the grenade Che Adams, the Bolognese Ferguson and the Neapolitans McTominay and Gilmour in midfield. On Saturday the British surprisingly lost their first qualifying match in Greece (3-2), after conceding only 2 goals in the first four matches. Also worth mentioning are Liverpool’s captain Robertson, Aston Villa’s McGinn in midfield and Bournemouth’s tall wingers Christie and Doak, both of whom scored for Greece.
Other
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Slovakia knows us well because they are coached by former Napoli player Ciccio Calzona recommended by Hamsik. On the pitch Skriniar and Lobotka, the striker is Strelec from Middlesbrough. The Czechs of interim coach Jaroslav Köstl count on Vitik from Bologna, Captain Soucek of West Ham and former Roma player Schick in attack. But since yesterday, also keep an eye on Troy Parrott’s Ireland, who scored a hat-trick against Rossi’s Hungary, after the brace against Ronaldo’s Portugal. For the 23-year-old from Dublin of AZ in this part of the season there are 18 goals in 18 games. Not bad, right?
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