The Italian national team got a ticket to the semifinals of the playoffs of the League of Nations a year ago, when they snatched the first place in the group from the Netherlands. A lot of water has flowed under the bridge since then, but the team only added to the game. The main victory of this year was the success at Euro 2020. “Squadra Azzurra” confidently passed the group round, after which they could not score against Austria in regulation time, which was corrected in additional 30 minutes. The only match in which the Italians gave up control of the game was the semi-final with today’s opponent. According to Roberto Mancini, this fight turned out to be the most difficult for his squad. In the selection for the World Championship in Qatar, the hosts practically secured a ticket to the Mundial after six rounds. Four wins and two peaceful outcomes, brought 14 points and six points of separation from Switzerland. Among the losses, the absence of Ciro Immobile and Andrea Belotti can be noted.
Aaron Boone’s New York Yankees had the same win rate as their Wild Card opponent and finished in the American League behind them. In recent matches, the Yankees have slowed down somewhat, failed to get into the top three at the end of the season and are forced to make their way to the playoffs through the Wild Card. The series against the Tampa Bay Races was lost 1:2 on aggregate.
