Germany sealed their qualification for the FIFA World Cup 26™ with a comprehensive victory over Slovakia to top Group A. The European heavyweights have been joined at the global showpiece by the Netherlands, who cruised past Lithuania to finish atop Group G.
Despite their defeat, Slovakia are still in the running for a place in the World Cup after finishing second in the table to reach the 16-team UEFA Play-off competition. Also there are Poland, who edged past Malta in their final fixture to secure the runners-up spot in Group G.
In Group L, the qualifying campaign ended on a dramatic note as Croatia fought back to secure a last-gasp victory over Montenegro, while Czechia put six past Gibraltar. Meanwhile, Northern Ireland edged past Luxembourg in Group A to end their preliminaries on a high note.
Group A
Germany goals: Woltemade (18), Gnabry (29), Sane (36, 41), Baku (67), Ouedraogo (79)
Leroy Sane dazzled as Germany booked their place at a 19th straight World Cup with a dominant performance against Slovakia.
Nick Woltemade got the ball rolling with a towering header. Serge Gnabry was then sent through to double the lead, before Florian Wirtz teed up Leroy Sane twice in five minutes to make the game safe before half-time.
The general direction of traffic continued towards the Slovakia goal after the break and Ridle Baku was on hand to finish off a flowing team move for five. Teenage debutant Assan Ouedraogo capped off the scoring following a delightful backheel by Sane.
Northern Ireland goal: Donley pen (44)
Jamie Donley’s first-half penalty ensured Northern Ireland ended their campaign with victory over Luxembourg.
Donley thought he had given his side the lead early on when he smashed home from just inside the box, but it was disallowed for offside. The visitors then looked sure to draw first blood as Christopher Martins ran through, only to be denied by a sprawling Conor Hazard save. Donley would break his duck at the end of the half, sending a penalty home after Ciaron Brown had been caught in the area.
Michael O’Neill’s side, who are assured of a place in Thursday’s UEFA play-off draw, controlled much of the play in the second half but couldn’t find a second goal.
Group G
Malta goals: Cardona (36), Teuma pen (68)
Poland goals: Lewandowski (32), Wszolek (59), Zielinski (85)
Poland are on their way to the UEFA Play-off after edging Malta in a thriller in Ta’Qali. The Netherlands’ home win over Lithuania removed any chance of automatic qualification for the Poles, but they remain in the World Cup mix as the second-place finisher in the group.
Poland enjoyed a good start and talisman Robert Lewandowski broke the deadlock by turning in a header from a free-kick. Malta responded nicely and pulled level from a counter-attack that was finished by Irvin Cardona. Poland regained the lead through Pawel Wszolek, who stroked home a cross from Lewandowski. But back again came Malta with another equaliser after VAR ruled for a penalty and Teddy Teuma converted the spot kick.
The last word belonged to Poland though, as Piotr Zielinski fired in from outside the area to earn the visitors the win.
Netherlands goals: Reijnders (16), Gakpo pen (58), Simons (60), Malen (62)
Netherlands wrapped up their World Cup qualification with a decisive victory over Lithuania in Amsterdam. The Dutch were in control from the start, and a giveaway allowed them to strike quickly, with Tijjani Reijnders sweeping in a right-footed finish. Cody Gakpo then doubled the advantage from the penalty spot after a handball in the area. Xavi Simons stretched it to three before a rampaging run from Donyell Malen completed the scoring.
Group L
Montenegro goals: Osmajic (3), Krstovic (17)
Croatia goals: Perisic pen (37), Jakic (72), Vlasic (87)
Croatia fought back from a two-goal deficit to stun Montenegro and ensure they remained undefeated in their World Cup qualifying campaign.
After securing their place in the global finals, Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic fielded a much-changed line-up. That decision appeared to backfire after Milutin Osmajic capitalized on a mistake by Slobodan Rubezic to give Montenegro the lead. The home side then doubled their advantage thanks to a brilliant individual goal from Nikola Krstovic on the edge of the area.
As the first half came to a close, Ivan Perisic pulled a goal back for Croatia with a well-taken penalty. The visitors attacked relentlessly after the break and secured a deserved equaliser after an opportunistic effort from Kristijan Jakic, which was given after a lengthy VAR review. Nikola Vlasic pounced on a Marko Perovic error to power home to secure a dramatic victory.
Czechia goals: Doudera (5), Chory (18), Coufal (32), Karabec (39), Soucek (44), Hranac (51)
Czechia ended their World Cup qualifying campaign on a high note after cruising past Gibraltar.
Ahead of their participation in the UEFA play-off competition, the Czechs scored five in the opening half, with the first coming after just five minutes as Thomas Chory found a wide-open David Doudera, who expertly found the corner of the net. The pair then reversed roles as Chory converted a right-wing cross from Doudera to double the lead.
A rare goal from distance by defender Vladimir Coufal made it three, as Adam Karabec and Tomas Soucek further extended the lead just before the break. In the second half, Robin Hranac became the sixth different goalscorer when he bundled in a corner from close range.
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.
