Catch up with the highlights and reactions as Italy suffered a shocking 1-0 loss at home to Nort Macedonia ending their hopes of qualifying for the 2022 Qatar World Cup, while Portugal progressed with a 3-1 win over Turkey.
Italy 0-1 Nort Macedonia
Italy will miss their second World Cup in a row after slumping to a shock 1-0 play-off semi-final defeat to North Macedonia on Thursday.
Aleksandar Trajkovski’s low drive in the second minute of stoppage time stunned the European champions in Palermo and set-up a qualifying final with Portugal in Porto on Tuesday for a chance to be in Qatar in November.
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Portugal 3-1 Turkey
Portugal are through to a decisive World Cup qualifying play-off final next week after beating Turkey 3-1 in Porto on Thursday, but only after Burak Yilmaz missed a crucial late penalty for the visitors.
The home side were cruising at the Estadio do Dragao thanks to first-half goals by Brazilian-born midfielder Otavio and Liverpool forward Diogo Jota.
But Turkey’s veteran skipper Yilmaz pulled a goal back in the 65th minute, setting up a tense finish.
Turkey were then awarded a late penalty when a foul on Enes Unal was detected by the German referee following a VAR review, but Yilmaz put the spot-kick over the bar and Matheus Nunes secured Portugal’s victory in stoppage time.
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Sweden 1-0 Czech Republic
Sweden are through to a World Cup qualifying play-off final against Poland next week after an extra-time strike by Robin Quaison gave them a 1-0 win over the Czech Republic in Solna on Thursday.
Quarter-finalists in 2018, Sweden will now face Poland away on Tuesday to decide who goes through to the finals in Qatar.
Poland received a bye to the play-off final after would-be opponents Russia were suspended from all international competition until further notice.
Wales 2-1 Austria
A brilliant double from Gareth Bale took Wales to the brink of a first World Cup since 1958 thanks to a 2-1 win over Austria in Cardiff on Thursday.
Robert Page’s men will face Scotland or Ukraine for a place in Qatar later this year after Bale rolled back the years to again produce his best form for his country.
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