Portugal has secured the World Cup ticket for the sixth time in a row with superstar Cristiano Ronaldo. The 2016 European champions defeated Italy-Schreck North Macedonia in the playoff final deservedly 2-0 (1-0).
Match winner in front of 50,000 spectators in Porto was Bruno Fernandes with a brace (32nd/65th). The Portuguese continued an impressive series: since 1998 the team has not missed a World Cup or European Championship.
Ronaldo and Co. went into the game warned: outsiders North Macedonia, who recently qualified for a major tournament (EURO 2020) for the first time, had eliminated Italy 1-0 five days earlier.
With Visar Musliu from second division bottom FC Ingolstadt in the starting XI, the number 67 in the world rankings relied on a compact defense from the start.
Although Portugal struggled, they also got a lot more out of the game. After half an hour it was time. Bruno Fernandes took an untenable shot after a one-two with his club-mate Ronaldo.
After the break, the Manchester United professional followed up with his eighth international goal with a direct acceptance.