World Cup 2026 Qualifying Roundup: Northern Ireland In Playoffs After Defeat

Tomas Bobcek’s stoppage-time extremity ended Northern Ireland’s hopes of making it retired of World Cup qualifying Group A but they came distant from a 1-0 conclusion by Slovakia assured of a playoff spot regardless.

Debutant Bobcek had been connected nan transportation for only 3 minutes erstwhile he fired successful from Laszlo Benes’ area successful nan first of 8 minutes added on, and nan extremity stood contempt Northern Ireland appeals for a foul aft Dan Ballard had gone down successful nan buildup. Slovakia had already seen second-half strikes from Lukas Haraslin and David Strelec chalked disconnected but this clip it stood to spark chaotic celebrations arsenic nan location chair emptied.

Northern Ireland’s nonaccomplishment was compounded by a 2nd yellowish paper for Ballard successful nan dying moments, but Croatia’s 3-1 triumph complete nan Faroe Islands intends they will beryllium successful nan playoffs successful March having won their Nations League group.

Slovakia now spell to Leipzig connected Monday pinch a chance to apical nan group if they tin hit Germany, who stayed supra them successful first spot successful Group A connected extremity quality acknowledgment to a 2-0 triumph complete Luxembourg. Newcastle striker Nick Woltemade scored some goals.

Woltemade put nan visitors successful beforehand successful nan 49th infinitesimal and nan Germans were amazingly connected nan backmost ft for overmuch of nan first half. He added different successful nan 69th minute. But Julian Nagelsmann’s squad had lacked immoderate existent punch going guardant successful nan first half, while littering nan transportation pinch protect errors that allowed Luxembourg to carve retired respective scoring chances.

A triumph aliases tie will nonstop Germany to nan World Cup, while Slovakia must triumph to declare apical spot successful nan group.

Nick Woltemade scores his and Germany’s 2nd extremity successful their 2-0 triumph against Luxembourg. Photograph: Alex Grimm/Getty Images

Croatia completed a 3-1 comeback triumph complete the Faroe Islands astatine location to unafraid their spot astatine adjacent year’s finals. With Croatia now having 19 points successful Group L, second-placed Czech Republic tin nary longer drawback them, arsenic they beryllium connected 13 points pinch only 1 lucifer near to play against Gibraltar connected Monday. The Faroe Islands person played each their games and will not suffice for their first World Cup contempt picking up 4 wins successful qualifying. In nan aforesaid group, Montenegro scraped to a 2-1 distant triumph complete minnows Gibraltar successful a dormant rubber.

The Netherlands are connected nan verge of qualification aft battling backmost to tie 1-1 distant against second-placed Poland successful Group G. Jakub Kaminski handed Poland a half-time lead arsenic they needed triumph to support live hopes of topping nan group. But Memphis Depay replied for nan visitors successful Warsaw soon aft nan break to guarantee nan Dutch moved to 17 points pinch Poland 2nd connected 14.