Wales host Austria and
Scotland host
Ukraine in semi-finalsItaly and Portugal could also face each other in play-off finalThe tantalising prospect of Wales facing Scotland in Cardiff for a place at the
World Cup finals had added gloss to the play-off process before the final tie was confirmed. Either
Italy or Portugal – or potentially both – will miss out on Qatar 2022 after they were drawn in the same play-off path. If Italy beat North Macedonia and Portugal see off
Turkey in late March, the last two European Championship winners will go head-to-head days later in Lisbon for a World Cup berth.
Scotland and Wales have history in World Cup qualifying. A penalty awarded to Scotland during a crucial tie against Wales, staged at Anfield in 1977, remains a source of hot debate 44 years on. The Welsh are adamant, not without justification, that Scotland’s Joe Jordan handled inside their penalty area. Instead Dave Jones was punished, Don Masson scored from the spot and Scotland marched towards
Argentina. Jordan has always denied being the beneficiary of a wrong decision but the matter lingers in Wales.