The path to the 2022 World Cup will be a gauntlet for the national team



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Xherdan Shaqiri and the Swiss national team face a tough match on their way to the 2022 World Cup.

Image: Keystone

On Tuesday, Switzerland want to avoid relegation to Group B against Ukraine with a victory in the Nations League: it would be their first in 2020. It is already clear that our national team will be in the second pot in the World Cup draw.

Switzerland is no longer one of the top ten teams in Europe in the FIFA world rankings, and that would not change if they beat Ukraine. In the draw on 7 December to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, he will therefore be in Pot 2. At the same time, this means that Switzerland will face one of the top 10 teams. It means: Switzerland must leave Belgium, France, England, Portugal, Spain, Croatia, Italy, Denmark, Germany or the Netherlands to directly qualify for the World Cup.

When asked at the press conference before the match against Ukraine, Nati coach Vladimir Petkovic said: “Unfortunately we will be in Group 2. But that doesn’t necessarily have to be a disadvantage.” Some Group 2 teams are at the equal with those in Group 1. “And many teams in Pot 1 will want us not to be in the same group”

It may be true that many teams do not want Switzerland to be an opponent. The fact that some 2nd pot teams meet 1st pot teams at eye level is probably not entirely out of the blue. But this doesn’t apply to all teams. For example, if you could choose to play against Wales or France, you would probably prefer Wales as an opponent. In any case, it will certainly not be easier for the Swiss national team to qualify for the World Cup when they are in Pot 2. Because only the ten group winners will directly qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

The ten runners-up will determine together with the top two Nations League teams (if these two are not among the top ten in the World Cup qualifying group stage) the remaining three European teams. In particular, this means: as the second in the group you still have to jump two obstacles to get to the World Cup (semi-final, final).

The match against Ukraine is on the verge

First of all, the focus is on the match against Ukraine, in which it is necessary to avoid relegation from the top division of the Nations League. Pektovic knows how it works: “A 1-0 or a 2-1. Or a win for a two-goal difference. ”The plan works, but the question still arises whether the match can take place, as three Ukrainian players tested positive for the corona virus.

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