By Daily Sports Nigeria on April 1, 2022

With the 2022 World Cup draw complete, the only teams left to decide are the three remaining playoff paths yet to be completed.

Two of them are the intercontinental playoffs between various continental qualifying hopefuls.

The third will come from a delayed European playoff path which sees three teams still alive, with two to be eliminated and one to be left standing.

Two results from a competitive soccer perspective came from Russia's invasion of Ukraine: Russia was disqualified from UEFA World Cup qualifying, while the Ukraine's participation was postponed. The postponement of Path A where Ukraine was placed came after the Ukrainian FA petitioned UEFA and FIFA with a request to postpone the matches.

UEFA, along with the support of Ukraine's opponent Scotland, worked to postpone the fixtures and reschedule the matches to allow for the hostilities to end and ease the burden on the Ukraine FA. Many members of Ukraine's national team play in the Ukrainian league, which is paused as a result of the war.

"Football is inconsequential amid conflict, but we have conveyed the strong sense of solidarity communicated to us by Scotland fans and citizens in recent days," read a statement from the Scottish FA in light of Ukraine's request to postpone. "The Scotland Men's and Women's National Teams stand in solidarity with our fellow participants from Ukraine's football community.

"A match, no matter how significant on the pitch, feels unimportant right now, but we intend to express our friendship and unity when we face each other next month. In the meantime we pray for your wellbeing and the safety of all those people needlessly suffering. Until we meet, we send our love."

Ukraine's request was ultimately granted by UEFA, and the necessary matches have been postponed until a to-be-determined date in June following the conclusion of most European club seasons.

The semifinal between Wales and Austria went on as scheduled, which saw Wales progress past Austria on the back of two Gareth Bale goals.

Source FlashSport

Posted April 1, 2022

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