There were comprehensive victories for Denmark, the Netherlands and Austria on a busy night of UEFA qualifying for FIFA World Cup 26™. Scotland came from behind to record a priceless win over Greece, and the Faroe Islands put four past Montenegro. Finland edged Lithuania, while Cyprus hit a last-gasp equaliser against Bosnia-Herzegovina. The clash between Czechia and Croatia ended goalless.
Group C
Denmark goals: Froholdt (14), Hojlund (19, 45), Dorgu (45+6), Dreyer (66 & 78)
Rasmus Hojlund scored a brilliant brace as Denmark maintained top spot in Group C with a thumping victory over Belarus in Zalaegerszeg, Hungary.
The Danes got off to a lightning-quick start and opened the scoring in the 14th minute when Victor Froholdt struck the ball home from 15 yards after neat interchange play between Andreas Christensen and Mikkel Damsgaard. They doubled their lead just five minutes later thanks to a close-range volley from Hojlund, who has rediscovered his form with Napoli.
As the opening half came to a conclusion, Hojlund scored his second of the evening when Patrick Dorgu rattled the post and the forward tapped home from close range. Then deep into first-half injury time, Hojlund set up Dorgu who found the net with ease after breaking the offside trap. Denmark substitute Anders Dreyer scored twice midway through the second half — both neat left-footed efforts — to seal the rout.
Scotland goals: Christie (64), Ferguson (80), Dykes (90+3)
Greece goal: Tsimikas (62)
Scotland kept pace with Denmark at the top of Group C after a come-from-behind victory that leaves Greece four behind behind the leading pair.
The Greeks, in truth, will be wondering how they failed to emerge with all three points – never mind empty-handed – after completely dominating their Scottish hosts. Profligate finishing was largely to blame for that, with Vangelis Pavlidis producing one of the misses of the night when he failed to make proper contact from inside the six-yard box to convert Tasos Basaketas’s perfect set-up.
Greece continued to probe, however, and their efforts earned belated reward just after the hour-mark when Kostas Tsimikas snatched on a loose ball inside the Scots’ area to fire home with his weaker foot. The Hampden crowd roared their disapproval but within two minutes their side were level when Ryan Christie followed in on his own half-cleared corner to sweep home a right-footed shot.
Another set piece then saw the Scots snatch the unlikeliest of advantages, with Lewis Ferguson rifling into the roof of the net from close range from an Andy Robertson free-kick. There was even time for salt to be applied to Greek wounds when substitute Lyndon Dykes fired into an empty net in stoppage time after snatching on a calamitous error from goalkeeper Kostas Tzolakis.
Group G
Finland goals: Kallman (48,) Markhiev (55)
Lithuania goal: Sirvys (25)
Finland staged a second-half comeback to thwart Lithuania and revive the Huuhkajat’s hopes of qualifying for a first World Cup. The home side dominated much of the first half but fell behind on 25 minutes when right-back Pijus Sirvys met a deflected cross on the edge of the box and crashed a fizzing first-time shot past the helpless Viljami Sinisalo.
That gave the visiting Lithuanians a half-time lead, and genuine hope of a maiden win on Finnish soil. Within ten minutes of the restart, however, the scoreline had been turned on its head, with Benjamin Kallman’s close-range equaliser followed by Adam Markhiev’s first international goal – a superb left-footed curler.
Lithuania rarely threatened a comeback thereafter, and now sit seven points adrift of their Finnish conquerors and Poland, who have played a game fewer. Group G continues to be led by the Netherlands, who are now three points clear at the summit after seeing off Malta, and having also played five games to the Finns’ six.
Netherlands goals: Gakpo pens (12 & 48), Reijnders (57), Depay (90+3)
Cody Gakpo sparkled as the Netherlands strolled on to 13 points from a possible 15 in Ta’ Qali. Virgil van Dijk gifted Malta a great early chance but after collecting a loose back-pass, Joseph Mbong fired wide. They were punished when Ryan Gravenberch was hauled down and Gakpo converted the resulting penalty.
Only the post denied the Liverpool winger a glorious curler, but he got his second by sending Henry Bonello the wrong way from the spot after Wout Weghorst was fouled. Ronald Koeman’s side sealed victory when Gakpo teed up Tijjani Reijnders to slot home, before substitute Memphis Depay headed in a fourth in stoppage time.
Group H
Austria goals: Schmid (7), Arnautovic (8, 47, 83, 84), Gregoritsch (24), Posch (30, 42), Laimer (45), Wurmbrand (76)
Marko Arnautovic became Austria’s all-time record scorer as his team maintained their perfect record in Group H with a huge victory. After netting four times against San Marino, he now has 45 goals for his country, one more than Toni Polster.
Ralf Rangnick’s team raced out of the blocks and went two goals up within the opening ten minutes through strikes from Romano Schmid and Arnautovic.
The Austrian onslaught continued, and it was 6-0 before half-time. Defender Stefan Posch netted a brace and there were also goals for Michael Gregoritsch and Konrad Laimer. The relentless Arnautovic bagged three more after the break and substitute Nikolaus Wurmbrand also got in on the act. Austria are now top of the group, two points ahead of Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Cyprus goal: Laifis (45+1), Ioannis Pittas pen (90+7)
Bosnia-Herzegovina goals: Katic (10), Michael OG (36)
Cyprus hit back from two goals down to draw with Bosnia-Herzegovina and dent the away side’s qualification hopes. Schalke defender Nikola Katic put Bosnia-Herzegovina in front after 10 minutes, converting from a Kerim Alajbegovic delivery. They doubled their advantage when Cyprus goalkeeper Neophytos Michael fumbled a cross into his own goal.
Konstantinos Laifis pulled one back for the Cypriots on the stroke of half-time and then they fired a dramatic late leveller from the penalty spot. After Ivan Sunjic fouled Andronikos Kakoullis in the box, Ioannis Pittas fired in from 12 yards.
Group L
Croatia maintained their lead in the group following a goalless draw with Czechia in Prague. Chances fell for both sides in the first 45, with Lukas Provod and Pavel Sulc offering the sternest tests for Croatia keeper Dominik Livakovic, while a pair of skied efforts from Ivan Perisic stood out for the visitors.
It was a similar story in the second stanza, with neither defence willing to yield an inch. Croatia closed the stronger of the two and had a good crack through Petar Sucic, but no goals were to be found on a day in which Croatia stayed ahead of the Czechs in the group on goal difference and with a match in hand.
Faroe Islands goals: Sorensen (16, 55), Roganovic OG (36). Frederiksberg pen (72)
Faroe Islands boosted their hopes and dealt Montenegro’s a heavy blow with a stunning victory in Torshavn
Hanus Sorensen did the damage with a well-taken brace as the Faroes won a third successive World Cup qualifier for the first time in their history.
While Montenegro dominated possession, they were undone by Sorensen’s heroics, an own goal from the unfortunate Milan Roganovic and a penalty from Arni Frederiksberg. The Faroes are now four points behind Croatia and Czechia, with Montenegro a further three points adrift.
How qualifying works
The first round will follow a familiar format, with 12 groups of four or five teams, and the section winners securing World Cup slots. The continent’s four remaining berths will then be settled in a 16-team UEFA play-off competition involving the 12 group runners-up and four best-ranked UEFA Nations League section winners.
