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MATCHDAY: Scotland-Ukraine WC playoff; Finalissima in London

Posted May 31, 2022 7:00 am

By The Associated Press

Ukraine players take part in a training session, at Hampden Park, in Glasgow, Scotland, Tuesday May 31, 2022. Scotland will play Ukraine in a World Cup qualifier soccer match on Wednesday. (Andrew Milligan/PA via AP) The Associated Press

A look at what's happening in European soccer on Wednesday:

WORLD CUP PLAYOFF

Scotland hosts Ukraine in Glasgow for the right to play Wales on Sunday for a place at this year's World Cup in Qatar. The game was postponed by FIFA in March because Ukraine could not field a team one month after its country was invaded by Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy gave his blessing for Ukraine's players and coach Oleksandr Petrakov to leave their homeland to prepare for and play the game at Hampden Park.

FINALISSIMA

Italy and Argentina will meet at Wembley Stadium in London for a match between the most recent winners of the European Championship and Copa America. It is the first of three inter-continental championships that UEFA and CONMEBOL - the soccer bodies of Europe and South America, respectively - have agreed to stage. It will be the third time the champions of the world's two most powerful soccer confederations face off in official competition. On the other two occasions, France beat Uruguay in 1985 and Argentina beat Denmark in 1993.

NATIONS LEAGUE

Wales visits Poland just four days before a much bigger match - against either Scotland or Ukraine in a World Cup playoff. For that reason, Wales coach Robert Page is unlikely to risk his main players and jeopardize the team's chances of qualifying for its first World Cup since 1958.

SPANISH PLAYOFF

The promotion playoffs begin in Spain with the first leg of the Canary Islands derby between Tenerife and Las Palmas. The return match at Las Palmas will be on Saturday, with the winner advancing to face either Girona or Eibar for the final spot in the first division next season. Girona hosts Eibar in their first leg on Thursday, with the return game on Sunday. Eibar finished in third place, just missing out on the two automatic promotion places that went to AlmerÃƒa and Ronaldo-owned Valladolid.

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Ukraine's Oleksandr Zinchenko reacts, during a press conference, at Hampden Park, in Glasgow, Scotland, Tuesday May 31, 2022. Scotland will play Ukraine in a World Cup qualifier soccer match on Wednesday. (Andrew Milligan/PA via AP) The Associated Press

Argentina's Lionel Messi, left, walks with his teammates during a training session ahead of Wednesday's Finalissima soccer match between Italy and Argentina at Wembley Stadium in London , Tuesday, May 31, 2022. (AP photo/Frank Augstein) The Associated Press

Italy's Andrea Belotti, left, stands his teammate Sandro Tonali during a training session ahead of Wednesday's Finalissima soccer match between Italy and Argentina at Wembley Stadium in London , Tuesday, May 31, 2022. (AP photo/Frank Augstein) The Associated Press

Italy's manager Roberto Mancini, right, looks his players during a training session ahead of Wednesday's Finalissima soccer match between Italy and Argentina at Wembley Stadium in London, Tuesday, May 31, 2022. (AP photo/Frank Augstein) The Associated Press

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