Squad, TV times
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It’s the big finale: Six World Cup tickets are still up for grabs – four in Europe, two at the intercontinental tournament in Mexico. The UEFA games will take place today at 8:45 p.m. The duels between Jamaica and the Democratic Republic of Congo (11 p.m.) and Iraq and Bolivia (5 a.m.) last until Wednesday morning – then all 48 participants in the World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico have been determined. All games will be broadcast on “DAZN”. Transfermarkt summarizes what else you need to know below.
The Bundesliga in the playoffs
Without the Bundesliga, little would happen in the European playoff finals. Almost 30 professionals from the first two German leagues are at least in the squad for the four games – only Italy does not have a German legionnaire in its ranks. With six professionals, Bosnia-Herzegovina has the largest German contingent – and strikers Edin Dzeko, Ermedin Demirovic and penalty killer Nikola Vasilj could play a key role against Italy.
Kosovo could qualify for a major tournament for the first time. With Hoffenheim’s Fisnik Asllani and Albian Hajdari as well as Elvis Rexhbecaj from FC Augsburg and Düsseldorf’s Florent Muslija, all four professionals playing in Germany are likely to be in the starting line-up against Turkey. The Czech Republic will be relying on its top scorer Patrik Schick (Bayer Leverkusen) against Denmark, while from the Bundesliga’s perspective only Poland’s goalkeeper Kamil Grabara (VfL Wolfsburg) will probably be the focus of attention in the game between Sweden and Poland.
40 years of waiting for Iraq
Iraq had a very strenuous journey to its game against Bolivia. Because Iraqi airspace has been closed for weeks due to the Iran war, the team traveled by land to neighboring Jordan under strict security measures. From Amman, part of the team took a private plane to Mexico. The rest arrived later or from Europe.
“It took three days to get here from Baghdad,” coach Graham Arnold said. After two days of regeneration, focused preparation began seven days before the game in Monterrey. “I have to look at the positive and the positive is that we are here. We have a job to do,” said Arnold: “We want to make 46 million people in Iraq proud.” Iraq last qualified for a World Cup in 1986. “We know it will be a historic game. It has been 40 years since we last qualified for a World Cup. This game will bring a lot of joy to the Iraqi fans,” said midfielder Zaid Ismail.
Sweden and the safety net
Despite a terrible qualification, Sweden still dreams of the World Cup. They came last in the qualifying group and didn’t even win despite stars like the currently injured Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyökeres. And yet today we are playing against Poland for participation in the World Cup – thanks to a back door.
UEFA awarded wild cards to the four best group winners of the last Nations League who did not make it into the top two teams in regular World Cup qualifying. The other wildcard teams Romania, Northern Ireland and North Macedonia all failed in the semi-finals – Sweden is still there.
