Mitrovic sends Serbia to World Cup

[Michael Morris]

90th minute winner for Serbia in Lisbon.

FT: Portugal 1 - 2 Serbia

Portugal have to go via the play offs

[Citizen's Nephew]

90th minute winner for Serbia in Lisbon.

FT: Portugal 1 - 2 Serbia

Portugal have to go via the play offs

Wow! He's on fire. That's incredible.

[MacAdder]

90th minute winner for Serbia in Lisbon.

FT: Portugal 1 - 2 Serbia

Portugal have to go via the play offs

Anyone thinking what I'm thinking?

[Citizen's Nephew]

Anyone thinking what I'm thinking?

I am now!

[BlueArmy 86]

We’re going to draw Portugal, and get revenge for 2016. We’ll have Rambo this time 😉

[blue matt]

We’re going to draw Portugal, and get revenge for 2016. We’ll have Rambo this time ��

[kendoddsdadsdogsdead]

...not if he gets booked on tuesday we won't

[delmbox]

...not if he gets booked on tuesday we won't

Are yellows carried into the playoffs? Harsh

[Wash DC Blue]

Are yellows carried into the playoffs? Harsh

For some odd reason they are.
Shocking.

[ninian opinian]

Or Italy

[Swiss Peter]

Or Italy

Indeed. My predictions tonight: NI 0 Italy 1, Switzerland 4 Bulgaria 0.

[Don Corleone]

Let’s be honest, it’s going to be one hell of an ask to qualify for the WC through the play offs. 12 teams and only 3 places. Those teams include Portugal Sweden, Poland , either Italy or Switzerland and Russia . We could get lucky and get 2 games against say North Macedonia Romania, Scotland or Ukraine ( not that any of those would be easy) but more likely is we’ll have at least one away tie against one of the bigger countries - and no doubt FIFA will ensure the draw is all above board and fair and still gives the best chance to Portugal and Italy/ Switzerland to qualify

[City123]

Let’s be honest, it’s going to be one hell of an ask to qualify for the WC through the play offs. 12 teams and only 3 places. Those teams include Portugal Sweden, Poland , either Italy or Switzerland and Russia . We could get lucky and get 2 games against say North Macedonia Romania, Scotland or Ukraine ( not that any of those would be easy) but more likely is we’ll have at least one away tie against one of the bigger countries - and no doubt FIFA will ensure the draw is all above board and fair and still gives the best chance to Portugal and Italy/ Switzerland to qualify

I'd fancy Wales' chances against any of Sweden, Poland and Russia

[Rjk]

only 13 teams qualify, it isn't like the Euros where we get 24?
it's always going to be very hard to get there, and even getting to a playoff means there is a lot of work to do.

[Canton Kev]

only 13 teams qualify, it isn't like the Euros where we get 24?
it's always going to be very hard to get there, and even getting to a playoff means there is a lot of work to do.

Wouldn’t be much of a “World” cup if 24 of the 32 teams were from Europe.

[Rjk]

Wouldn’t be much of a “World” cup if 24 of the 32 teams were from Europe.

I'm not complaining, just pointing out that it is a much much harder qualification than for the Euros

[Canton Kev]

I'm not complaining, just pointing out that it is a much much harder qualification than for the Euros

My mistake. I thought you were questioning why only 13 teams got through and not 24.
Definitely a lot harder to qualify for the WC than Euros.

I’d prefer the best 36 teams in UEFA went into 6 groups of 6 and the top 2 qualify. Either give our 13th spot to a different continent or have the 19 weakest teams (Gibraltar, Malta, Faroes, etc) play their own qualifying system for the final spot.
Similar to how the Nations League allowed a Group D team into the Euros this would give the minnows a chance (albeit small) of reaching a World Cup. In the current format they’re just the whipping boys every qualifying campaign.

[dembethewarrior]

Wouldn’t be much of a “World” cup if 24 of the 32 teams were from Europe.

Could be a 48 team bonanza if FIFA took a page our of UEFAs book.

[Rjk]

Could be a 48 team bonanza if FIFA took a page our of UEFAs book.

give it time

[The Bloop]

Let’s be honest, it’s going to be one hell of an ask to qualify for the WC through the play offs. 12 teams and only 3 places. Those teams include Portugal Sweden, Poland , either Italy or Switzerland and Russia . We could get lucky and get 2 games against say North Macedonia Romania, Scotland or Ukraine ( not that any of those would be easy) but more likely is we’ll have at least one away tie against one of the bigger countries - and no doubt FIFA will ensure the draw is all above board and fair and still gives the best chance to Portugal and Italy/ Switzerland to qualify

I'd fancy Wales' chances against any of Sweden, Poland and Russia

I did notice that Zlatan got booked yesterday againt Spain so is suspended for the first play off game.

[dembethewarrior]

I did notice that Zlatan got booked yesterday againt Spain so is suspended for the first play off game.

Just flicking through Instagram now and it popped up. Silly foul that, quite pathetic if I'm being honest.

[dembethewarrior]

give it time

Yeah it won't be long

[Citizen's Nephew]

Yeah it won't be long

Wenger's already proposed a WC every 2 years.

[dembethewarrior]

Wenger's already proposed a WC every 2 years.

Yeah seen that, can't see it tbh.