Soccer-World champions France handed comfortable draw in 2022 qualifiers
The French recently beat Ukraine 7-1 in a friendly although their opponents were weakened by COVID-19 related absences. Old rivals England and Poland will face each other again as they were placed in Group I while Spain must get past Sweden, who qualified for the 2018 World Cup at the expense of Italy, in Group B.
Reuters | Zurich | Updated: 07-12-2020 23:26 IST | Created: 07-12-2020 23:26 IST
World champions France were handed an apparently comfortable draw in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers when they were placed with Ukraine, Finland, Bosnia and Kazakhstan in European Group D on Monday. The French recently beat Ukraine 7-1 in a friendly although their opponents were weakened by COVID-19 related absences.
Old rivals England and Poland will face each other again as they were placed in Group I while Spain must get past Sweden, who qualified for the 2018 World Cup at the expense of Italy, in Group B. Italy themselves must face Switzerland, Northern Ireland, Bulgaria and Lithuania in Group C.
The winners of the 10 groups qualify directly, while the 10 runners-up go into a play-off system along with two teams from the Nations League. Three of those 12 teams also qualify. (Writing by Brian Homewood Editing by Christian Radnedge)