Italy face Ukraine, Scotland challenge Netherlands
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
Article summary
Italy take on Ukraine and Scotland face the Netherlands after the draw for the European FIFA Women's World Cup play-off semi-finals was made in Nyon.
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Italy will take on Ukraine and Scotland face the Netherlands after the draw for the European FIFA Women's World Cup play-offs was made in Nyon today.
The four contenders, the best runners-up from the seven European groups, are attempting to take UEFA's eighth and last place in next summer's finals in Canada alongside the section winners.
• Play-off draw
Semi-finals: 25/26 & 29/30 October
Scotland v Netherlands
Italy v Ukraine
Final: 22/23 & 26/27 November
Scotland/Netherlands v Italy/Ukraine
• Qualified teams
AFC: Australia, China, Japan (holders), South Korea, Thailand*
CAF: 3 tbc
CONCACAF: Canada (hosts), 3 + 1 to CONCACAF-CONMEBOL play-off tbc
CONMEBOL: 2 + 1 to CONCACAF-CONMEBOL play-off tbc
OFC: 1 tbc
UEFA: England, France, Germany, Norway, Spain*, Sweden, Switzerland*, play-off winners
*First qualification
• Finals draw: 6 December, Ottowa
• Finals: 6 June–5 July, Canada
Draw facts
• Italy, who qualified in 1991 and 1999, beat Ukraine 3-0 on aggregate during the 2011 play-offs but were to lose to the United States for a finals place.
• Scotland, who have never qualified for a major tournament, defeated the Netherlands 4-3 in the Cyprus Women's Cup earlier this year.
• The Netherlands and Ukraine both qualified for UEFA Women's EURO 2009 via the play-offs, and the Dutch also competed in Sweden 2013, but neither have reached a World Cup finals.
