At the last World Cup with 32 participants, ex-Yu football schools will have something to show. All the sooner, because of the first nine checked visas for the World Cup in Qatar next year, two went to Croatia and Serbia. Side by side with Germany, France, Brazil... In addition, North Macedonia provided a barrage. This information did not escape anyone, least of all the world football public.
Serbia's epic victory in a direct confrontation at the packed "La Luz" in Lisbon was greeted with surprise, of course, and how could it not be. Just looking at Portugal's squad inspires awe even in modern football for the quality and class of footballers. Only France would not move to a team made up of the biggest stars of Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United...
Not only did she not accept the role of an outsider, but Pixi Stojković's team behaved like an absolute favorite, with attitude, actions, confidence. The "Orlovi" imposed such a rhythm on the host, who proved to be unwilling to follow, but also to suffer for the entire 90 minutes. Portugal surrendered, despite the early lead, so even the goal of the most beloved Serbian footballer, Aleksandar Mitrović, was just the result of a great football match.
"Our duty was to play incomparably better in front of 65.000 fans. I believe that we were not a better rival than Serbia for even 10 minutes, and that is terrible. There is no reasonable explanation for me, because we can do incomparably better. That's why now we have to do our best in the playoffs and win a place in Qatar", said City's game director, Portuguese Bernardo Silva.
Portugal was kept in the game by an incredible, perhaps the best defensive line in Europe, from Manchester City - Ruben Dias, Cancelo..., with their maneuverability and ease of repelling attacks, they would kill any other team's belief in a goal. Serbia, however, had a leader, captain Dušan Tadić, who never looks at who is his rival, and who, as a rule, manages to create chances where no one else can expect them.
In addition, Mitrović did not come out every time bloodied and bruised from the matches of the national team to allow anyone, even his captain, to think for a moment that he could dim his glory as the absolute favorite of "eagles" fans. Mitrogol justified that love with a fantastic assist from Tadić. To the delirium of the Serbian fans, the tears of the goal-scoring icon of the hosts, Cristiano Ronaldo, who for the first time in his career in a qualifying match failed to shoot on goal!
And did the Serbs "win the match in Lisbon even before the start"?
"Our goal was not the match in Lisbon, it was just the beginning of the goal. We have the potential for incomparably greater goals than just placing in Qatar," said Pixi, who revived the Eagles.
And Croatia did as expected. She needed a victory at Poljud, and the "fire" couldn't be stopped even by the rain, so after halftime the pitch resembled a water polo pool. Russia defended the draw, but...
"We weren't able to connect five passes! It wasn't because of a lack of class, it was because my players were scared. I don't know what? Well, we lost and everyone is alive. Someone, I guess, from the names of rivals, and in Croatia there really are some, someone is afraid of journalists in case of failure. Part of it is my fault, because after the first match with the Croats, I thought it would never happen again", said the selector of "Zbornaj" Valerij Karpin.
Croatia was rightly the favorite. A look at the squad and clubs represented by the players of the world runner-up compared to their rivals is an unequivocal indicator. However, despite everything, Russia lost with a naive own goal by Fyodor Kudryasov in the finish. The Russian media are right to emphasize the inexperience of Kudryašov, who should have laid down on the turf after the injury and stopped the match, rather than allowing the action to continue.
The Montenegrin and Arsenal coach from Tula, Miodrag Grof Božović, explained to them that Russia reached the maximum with the barrage against Croatia.
"Russia played for a draw, but failed. Croatia is significantly ahead in class and it was necessary to jump significantly above the head in order to succeed at Poljud. It is important that there is no lack of faith and support for the team and Karpin. Here, Serbia won in Portugal, why not Russia in a play-off match. You just have to believe. A lost battle does not mean defeat in the war," Božović explained.
Macedonians have a more difficult path in the playoffs
The rise of regional football was also contributed by the great results of North Macedonia, which secured the play-offs for the World Cup, for the first time in history.
Admittedly, he will be welcomed from another hat, therefore he will be visiting in the semi-final match, because he has 12 points that are counted, and the holders - therefore the hosts of the semi-final matches - are chosen according to this indicator and Portugal (17) or Russia are certain (16 points).
The Macedonians, however, raised their level of play at the end of the qualifiers and revived their hope for a second consecutive participation in major competitions.
The draw for the playoffs is on November 26, when three groups will be determined - each will have four teams, two semi-final games, and one final.
Only three winners of the final duels go to the WC. The play-off is "dangerous" even for the strongest, like Portugal, because the hosts of the final will be chosen by lot.
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