The Netherlands swept aside Finland to take another big step towards FIFA World Cup 26™ qualification, while the Faroe Islands recorded a remarkable victory over Czechia.
A first-half Denmark blitz powered them past Greece, and Scotland dug deep to see off Belarus. Elsewhere, the legendary Robert Lewandowski scored his 87th international goal as Poland beat Lithuania. Romania, meanwhile, struck a last-gasp winner to end Austria’s 100-per-cent record. View a full round-up from Sunday’s action from UEFA qualifying below.
Group C
Scotland goals: Adams (15), McTominay (84)
Belarus goal: Kuchko (90+6)
Che Adams and Scott McTominay were on target as Scotland strengthened their qualification hopes with victory over Belarus.
Steve Clarke’s side toiled for large spells against the section’s bottom team, this despite an excellent 15th-minute opener, when Adams turned superbly on Jack Hendry’s pass before rifling left-footed into the bottom corner.
There were frantic moments, however, and disallowed goals at both ends, before McTominay settled the Hampden Park crowd’s nerves with a late winner. John McGinn and Andy Robertson did the spade work down the left and the Napoli star finished with aplomb, steering home left-footed from 12 yards.
Gleb Kuchko grabbed a stoppage time consolation, but the Scots – who’re chasing a first World Cup since 1998 – emerged unscathed ahead of next month’s decisive double-header against Greece (a) and Denmark (h).
Denmark goals: Hojlund (21), Andersen (40), Damsgaard (41)
Greece goal: Tzolis (63)
Denmark beat Greece in Copenhagen go top of Group C on goal difference. The Danes are now assured of at least a play-off spot, while Greece have been eliminated.
In-form striker Rasmus Hojlund put Denmark ahead, seizing on a loose back-pass and nudging a fine first-time finish beyond goalkeeper Odisseas Vlachodimos. Joachim Andersen’s towering header doubled their lead, and they made it 3-0 before half-time when Mikkel Damsgaard punished another defensive mix-up.
Christos Tzolis’ emphatic strike reduced the deficit just after the hour, but Greece could not stage an unlikely comeback as their qualification hopes evaporated.
Group G
Netherlands goals: Malen (8), Van Dijk (17), Depay pen (38), Gakpo (84)
Memphis Depay scored and served up two assists to power Netherlands past Finland in Amsterdam, placing the Dutch on the World Cup doorstep.
The home side broke through early when Donyell Malen polished off a one-two combination with Depay with a right-footed finish. The veteran forward played the role of provider again to double the margin, with a perfectly struck free-kick that Virgin van Dijk headed into net.
Moments after a Jurrien Timber header smacked off the crossbar, a handball earned the hosts a penalty kick and Depay calmly converted to make it three.
It was smooth sailing from there for the Netherlands, and the exclamation point was a right-footed rocket from Cody Gakpo in the final minutes to round things out.
Poland goals: Szymanski (15), Lewandowski (64)
Poland stayed within striking distance of the table-topping Netherlands with victory over already-eliminated Lithuania.
Poland went ahead in bizarre fashion after a quarter-of-an-hour, with Sebastian Szymanski’s inswinging corner evading everyone and curling into the net.
Robert Lewandowski’s 87th international goal made it 2-0 just after the hour. Szymanski was the creator on this occasion, crossing for the legendary striker to power in a bullet header. Poland then saw out the game with little alarm to bag three valuable points.
Group H
Cyprus goals: Loizou (9), Andreou (59), Kastanos pen (67), Kakoullis (79)
Cyprus proved too strong for San Marino in Serravalle. Loizos Loizou put the away side in front early on, showing impressive technique to net with a controlled volley.
They doubled their lead just before the hour when Stelios Andreou headed home from a corner delivery, before a Grigoris Kastanos penalty made it 3-0. Andronikos Kakoullis rounded off the scoring in style for Cyprus, slamming a rising drive in off the crossbar after a fine team move.
Despite victory, Cyprus have been eliminated. San Marino retain a chance of reaching the play-offs due to their UEFA Nations League ranking.
Romania goal: Virgil Ghita (90+5)
Romania’s World Cup hopes got a massive lift with a last-second winner over group leaders Austria in Bucharest.
There was very little in the way of chances in the first 45, with Romania having a slight edge on chances. Both sides started showing their attacking teeth in the second half, and the hosts were cruelly denied when Valentin Mihaila’s right-footed effort thumped the crossbar.
Romania were growing in confidence and a careless giveaway set up Andrei Ratiu with a chance, only for goalkeeper Alexander Schlager to rescue the Austrian defence.
Just when it looked like Austria would emerge with a precious away point, Romania struck at the death with Ianis Hagi serving up an inch-perfect cross and Virgil Ghita heading into net.
Group L
Faroe Islands goals: Sorensen (67), Agnarsson (81)
Czechia goal: Karabec (78)
The Faroe Islands moved to within one point of second-placed Czechia with a stunning victory in Torshavn.
Three days after their 4-0 thumping of Montenegro, the Faroes recorded one of the finest results in the country’s history. They took the lead midway through the second half, breaking forward at speed before working the ball into the path of Hanus Sorensen, who swept a precision shot into the bottom corner.
Czechia equalised through Adam Karabec’s cool finish, but the Faroe Islands were not to be denied. Martin Agnarsson sent the home fans wild when he punished some sloppy defending to slot home a late winner.
Croatia goals: Fruk (30), Sucic (78), Erlic (90+6)
Croatia edged closer to the World Cup with a victory over a stubborn Gibraltar in Varazdin.
The 2018 finalists were in command from the start, but found it difficult to break through against their already-eliminated visitors. It took until half-hour mark for the first goal to come, with an inch-perfect Marco Pasalic cross finding the rising forehead of Toni Fruk.
They looked set to double their lead early in the second half after Fruk was taken down in the area, but Lovro Majer’s spot kick was saved by Jaylan Hankins.
Luka Sucic would finally put the points to bed by reacting first to a rebound to beat Hankins, followed by a stoppage-time header from Martin Erlic.
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.
