Mission accomplished, but the bill to pay for a qualification obtained by a hair's breadth risks being high. In fact, on Saturday 2 December, the draw will take place in Hamburg which will outline the groups for the next European Championships in Germany. And Italy, holders of the title, could end up in the fourth pot .
The polls, in fact, are ordered based on placement in the elimination round. The subsequent criteria, however, take into account the points won and the overall goal difference. Germany will therefore end up in the first tier as the host country. Then, the best firsts: Portugal, France, Spain, Belgium and England.
The "other" firsts will be in the second pot , therefore Denmark, Hungary, Turkey, Albania, one between Romania and Switzerland, to which will be added the best second, Austria.
In the third pot the runners-up: Scotland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Holland, Czech Republic, to which will be added one of Croatia (should they beat Armenia, as is probable) or Italy. If Modric and his teammates were overtaken by Wales, the Azzurri would be placed in the third pot, with Wales slipping into fourth.
The other teams making up the last group will be the second between Romania and Switzerland, Serbia, and three national teams arriving from the playoffs.
(Unioneonline/L.Ne.)