World Cup Qualifying Roundup: Germany Crush Slovakia To Qualify As Netherlands Progress

Germany secured a spot astatine adjacent year’s World Cup by crushing Slovakia 6-0 successful their last qualifier, pummeling them into submission pinch 4 goals successful nan first half and sending their opponents into a playoff successful March.

The four-time world champions, who collapsed retired successful nan first information of nan past 2 editions of nan World Cup, vanished apical of their group, 3 points clear of Slovakia.

Unmarked Nick Woltemade headed successful for nan lead successful nan 18th infinitesimal pinch his 4th consecutive extremity successful nan past 3 matches for Germany. Serge Gnabry latched onto a cleanable Leon Goretzka walk to make it 2-0.

Florian Wirtz put Leroy Sané done successful nan 36th to curl his changeable past Martin Dubravka and put nan crippled to furniture earlier Wirtz delivered different assistance for nan winger to people his 2nd extremity of nan evening 5 minutes later. Slovakia, who had beaten Germany successful Bratislava successful September, had nary reply to nan hosts’ relentless pressure.

“We played a really bully crippled tonight. From nan first to nan past 2nd we did not let thing astatine nan backmost and were creative,” said Woltemade.

“I dream it was nosy to watch america tonight. It is awesome to play for Germany. We person now qualified for nan World Cup.”

The gait dropped aft nan break but substitutes Ridle Baku and teen Assan Ouédraogo added a extremity apiece, pinch nan second becoming nan youngest subordinate to people for Germany connected his debut aged 19.

Netherlands secured their berth astatine nan finals pinch an easy 4-0 location triumph complete Lithuania, finishing apical of Group G.

Cody Gakpo enjoys scoring arsenic Netherlands eased to qualification. Photograph: Piroschka Van De Wouw/Reuters

The separator could person been moreover bigger, specified was nan Dutch dominance, but nan consequence ensured they completed nan run 3 points clear of second-placed Poland.

Tijjani Reijnders put nan Netherlands 1-0 up astatine half-time earlier nan hosts scored a accelerated trio of goals successful nan 2nd play from Cody Gakpo, Xavi Simons, and Donyell Malen.

Piotr Zielinski struck precocious to gain Poland a 3-2 triumph distant to Malta, securing nan visitors a spot successful adjacent year’s playoffs. Robert Lewandowski opened nan scoring earlier Irvin Cardona equalised. Pawel Wszolek swept Poland up again earlier Teddy Teuma’s punishment made it 2-2.

Jamie Donley’s first world extremity saw Northern Ireland extremity their Group A run pinch a drab 1-0 triumph complete Luxembourg astatine a subdued Windsor Park.

Donley, making his first competitory Northern Ireland start, sent Anthony Moris nan incorrect measurement from nan punishment spot successful nan 44th infinitesimal aft Christopher Martins fouled Ciaron Brown successful nan box, and that was each it took to settee a disappointing game.

Northern Ireland had hoped this would beryllium nan nighttime they secured 2nd spot successful nan group, but Friday’s stoppage-time 1-0 conclusion by Slovakia near this arsenic a dead-rubber – albeit pinch a playoff spot successful March to look guardant to owed to their Nations League group triumph past year.

Czech Republic, who were already assured of a playoff, dismantled Gibraltar 6-0.

The hosts managed 5 first-half goals pinch David Doudera scoring successful nan 5th minute.

Tomas Chory, Vladimir Coufal, Adam Karabec and nan skipper Tomas Soucek besides netted successful a ascendant opening period. Robin Hranac bundled successful a area minutes aft nan restart to information disconnected nan scoring.

The Czechs had locked up 2nd spot earlier nan lucifer and vanished connected 16 points down Croatia, who recovered from 2 goals down to hit Montenegro 3-2.