"A charming hostess and former Miss Switzerland, Melanie Winiger? Check. Numerous ornate plinths bearing see-through bowls, a trophy or a football. Check. More montages from World Cups passim than were strictly necessary? Check. A dizzying array of acrylic multi-coloured draw balls? Check. Fifa legends Christian Karembeu, Marco Materazzi and Martin Dahlin? Checkity-check-check. A shiny floor? Check. Fifa competition manager Manolo Zubiria explaining protocol? Check."
"Such were the mandatory ingredients for the usual over-stuffed and undercooked helping of pure, concentrated Fifa that eventually revealed at least for the parochial purposes of Football Daily that Wales will be at home to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Northern Ireland will be away to Italy, and the Republic of Ireland will face Czech Republic in Prague as they attempt to negotiate the next steps of their meandering paths to next summer's Geopolitics World Cup."
FIFA staged a highly theatrical playoff draw featuring familiar pageantry: hostess Melanie Winiger, former players, ornate plinths, montages, colourful draw balls, a shiny floor, and protocol briefings. The draw produced specific playoff ties: Wales at home to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Northern Ireland away to Italy, and the Republic of Ireland facing the Czech Republic in Prague. If those home nations prevail, Wales would host Northern Ireland in a decisive eliminator and the Republic of Ireland would host Denmark or North Macedonia to determine a World Cup place. Other European routes include Ukraine v Sweden and potential winners facing Poland or Albania, with Slovakia or Kosovo likely meeting Romania or Turkey. Scotland remained absorbed by a long-range Kenny McLean goal and ongoing radio coverage.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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