The identities of the final six qualifiers for this summer’s FIFA World Cup became a little clearer on Thursday with crunch play-off semi-finals taking place in across both Europe and Mexico.
Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and Wales each suffered heartbreak after failing to advance from their respective semi-finals, ending their hopes of becoming one of the 48 qualifiers.
The dream remains very much intact for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Italy, Sweden, Poland, Czech Republic, Denmark, Kosovo and Turkey.
They will compete across four ties next week to determine UEFA’s last representatives in the United States, Canada and Mexico this summer.
Mexico is currently staging the intercontinental play-offs, with DR Congo, Jamaica, Bolivia and Iraq each just one win away from qualifying.
While numerous Premier League stars are putting forward their cases for World Cup selection during this international break, Daily Mail Sport takes a closer look at those who are still battling to ensure their nation features at the tournament.
Viktor Gyokeres scored a hat-trick against Ukraine to put Sweden one match away from the World Cup
Bosnia and Herzegovina vs Italy
The pressure is firmly on Italy as the Azzurri bid to avoid missing out on a third consecutive World Cup.
Gennaro Gattuso’s side finished as runners-up behind Norway in their qualification group, with their World Cup fate once again decided in a play-off.
Man City’s Gianluigi Donnarumma, Arsenal’s Riccardo Calafiori and Newcastle Sandro Tonali were in action on Thursday as Italy beat Northern Ireland 2-0 to advance to a final next week against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Tonali was central to the semi-final victory, scoring Italy’s first and then assisting Moise Kean for the clinching second goal.
Should Italy advance to the World Cup, Tottenham duo Guglielmo Vicario and Destiny Udogie would hope to make the Italy squad along with Liverpool’s Federico Chiesa.
Sandro Tonali scored and assisted in Italy’s 2-0 victory over Northern Ireland in their semi-final
Vicario, who is recovering from a hernia operation, was among Italy players captured on television celebrating as Bosnia overcame Wales on penalties. It remains to be seen whether Bosnia will turn out to be an easier proposition for Italy than Craig Bellamy’s side would have posed.
Bosnia do not have any Premier League representation in their squad, but there remain some notable names.
Former Man City forward Edin Dzeko, now 40, scored Bosnia’s equaliser on the night to level the match at 1-1. Hull City’s Amir Hadziahmetovic was among their scorers in their penalty shoot-out win over Wales.
Winner’s World Cup group: Canada, Qatar, Switzerland
Sweden vs Poland
Sweden are one step away from the World Cup despite finishing bottom of their qualifying group, picking up just two points from their six matches.
Now under Graham Potter’s management, Sweden’s participation in the play-offs came as a result of their Nations League ranking.
Potter’s squad is stacked with well-known Premier League players and they owe their participation in next week’s play-off final to one of them.
Arsenal’s Viktor Gyokeres scored a hat-trick to guide Sweden to a 3-1 victory over Ukraine in the semi-finals.
Aston Villa’s Victor Lindelof, Leeds’ Gabriel Gudmundsson, Tottenham’s Lucas Bergvall, Brighton’s Yasin Ayari and Newcastle’s Anthony Elanga also featured in the semi-final win.
Sweden’s squad is stacked with Premier League talent, despite Alexander Isak and Dejan Kulusevski remaining on the sidelines
Matty Cash will be hoping to help Poland reach a third successive World Cup
Sweden also have some star names on the sidelines, with Alexander Isak and Dejan Kulusevski and Emil Krafth among those left watching on in the hope they can qualify in their absence amid long-term injuries.
In contrast to Sweden, Aston Villa’s Matty Cash is the sole Premier League representative in the Poland squad. Poland are seeking a third straight appearance at the World Cup, which would presumably be Barcelona star Robert Lewandowski’s final major tournament for his country.
Winner’s World Cup group: Netherlands, Japan, Tunisia
Kosovo vs Turkey
There will be limited Premier League representation on show when Kosovo and Turkey meet next week in their play-off final.
However, one did have a major impact on their semi-final tie.
Brighton’s Ferdi Kadioglu scored the only goal in Turkey’s 1-0 victory over Romania, having latched onto a superb cross from Real Madrid’s Arda Guler before neatly finishing. Man United’s Altay Bayindir was on the bench for the match.
Guler is the star attraction for Turkey, with the 21-year-old determined to drag his nation to this summer’s finals. Inter Milan’s Hakan Calhanoglu remains captain and is also key to their chances.
Kosovo, who are bidding to qualify for a maiden World Cup, have no Premier League players in their squad.
Winner’s World Cup group: United States, Paraguay, Australia
Brighton’s Ferdi Kadioglu scored Turkey’s winner in their play-off semi-final against Romania
Czech Republic vs Denmark
The Czech Republic’s two Premier League stars played vital roles in their semi-final against the Republic of Ireland.
Newly appointed captain Ladislav Krejci won a penalty, leading to the Czech Republic reducing the deficit to 2-1 in the first half.
The Wolves man then scored their late equaliser to force the tie into extra-time and found the net with their first penalty in the eventual shoot-out.
West Ham’s Tomas Soucek, who was stripped of the national team captaincy amid the fall-out from their 2-1 loss to the Faroe Islands last year, began the semi-final on the bench.
Soucek was introduced at half-time and was on target to help the Czech Republic win 4-3 in the shoot-out.
Tomas Soucek scored in Czech Republic’s penalty shoot-out win over the Republic of Ireland
Soucek’s West Ham team-mate Mads Hermansen will line-up for Denmark in their play-off final
There will be differing emotions for West Ham players next week, with goalkeeper Mads Hermansen set to line up for Denmark.
Hermansen, remarkably, made his national team debut in their 4-0 play-off semi-final win over North Macedonia – with Kasper Schmeichel absent through injury.
Arsenal’s Christian Norgaard and Brentford’s Mikkel Damsgaard also started in the victory.
Denmark’s potential World Cup squad should, if they advance, could also include Fulham’s Joachim Andersen, Brentford’s Mathias Jensen, Newcastle’s Will Osula, Man United’s Patrick Dorgu, Brighton’s Matt O’Riley and Burnley’s Jacob Bruun Larsen.
Christian Eriksen, who was the youngest player at the 2010 World Cup, and Rasmus Hojlund are among other notable names in the squad.
Winner’s World Cup group: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea
DR Congo vs Jamaica
DR Congo have been forced to take the long route as they bid to become Africa’s 10th and final representative at this summer’s World Cup.
After finishing as runners-up in their qualifying group, Sebastien Desabre’s side beat Cameroon 1-0 in a play-off semi-final back in November. They then earned a dramatic penalty shoot-out win over Nigeria in a continental play-off final.
And that was just to qualify for the inter-continental play-offs, which are currently taking place in Mexico.
Their squad includes West Ham’s Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Burnley’s Axel Tuanzebe, Sunderland’s Noah Sadiki and Newcastle’s Yoane Wissa.
Yoane Wissa will be looking to help DR Congo advance from the intercontinental play-off
Leon Bailey helped Jamaica edge past New Caledonia to move a game away from their second World Cup appearance
DR Congo discovered last night that they take on Jamaica for a place in the World Cup, after the Caribbean nation beat New Caledonia 1-0 in a semi-final.
Jamaica’s squad includes Aston Villa’s Leon Bailey and Brentford’s Ethan Pinnock, who are among 14 English based players bidding to help them reach a second World Cup.
Winner’s World Cup group: Portugal, Uzbekistan, Colombia
Bolivia vs Iraq
The only Premier League player involved in the other intercontinental pathway saw their World Cup hopes dashed last night.
Leeds’ Joel Piroe made his Suriname debut in their play-off semi-final against Bolivia.
Suriname had led 1-0, but conceded twice in seven minutes late on to miss out on competing in next week’s final.
Leeds’ Joel Piroe, right, made his international debut for Suriname on Thursday but saw his World Cup hopes dashed by Bolivia
Bolivia will instead face Iraq, who have Luton Town’s Ali Al-Hamadi in their side.
Bolivia are looking to play at the first World Cup since USA 1994 and their fourth in total, while Iraq are hoping to feature for the second time having been among the participants at Mexico 1986.
Winner’s World Cup group: France, Senegal, Norway
