European Qualifiers: Russia, Croatia and Germany score 6, 7 and 9 | European qualifications
Spain, Russia, Croatia and North Macedonia celebrated major victories, with the Portuguese leading the group after a draw.
UEFA.com talks about the highlights of Round 9.
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Germany
Thursday matches
Group A: Azerbaijan 1-3 Luxembourg, Ireland 0-0 Portugal
Group B: Georgia 2-0 Sweden, Greece 0-1 Spain
Group H: Russia 6-0 Cyprus, Malta 1-7 Croatia, Slovakia 2-2 Slovenia
Group J: Armenia 0-5 North Macedonia, Germany 9-0 Liechtenstein, Romania 0-0 Iceland
An important victory in Greece
The Swedes conceded two goals from Khvichi Kvaratskhelia and unexpectedly lost to Georgia in Batumi, in light of which the Spaniards had a chance to get ahead of the rival at the head of the group. And the charges of Luis Enrique have achieved their goal. A penalty shot by Pablo Sarabia brought the UEFA EURO 2020 semi-finalists a minimal victory over the Greeks, which means that in Sunday’s meeting with the Swedes of Spain, a draw will be enough to maintain the first place and win a direct ticket to the World Cup. The Greeks will remain in third place regardless of the outcome of the match against Kosovo.
Russia retained its leadership
Russia on Sunday will leave for Split in high spirits. Valery Karpin’s wards scored six unanswered goals to Cyprus in St. Petersburg and retained the first line in the standings. In the first half, the hosts limited themselves to the ball of Alexander Erokhin, and in seven minutes of the second they scored three more goals – Fyodor Smolov, Andrey Mostovoy and Alexey Sutormin scored. Anton Zabolotny, too, did not leave the field without a goal, and Erokhin in the end hit the target with “scissors” and scored a double.
Tournament layouts
In other matches
- The return of Zlatan Ibrahimovic to the starting lineup did not help the Swedes. In Batumi, the 40-year-old striker remained in the shadow of Khvichi Kvaratskhelia, who scored a double and brought Georgia a resounding victory. After the Swedish victory in the evening session, Jan Andersson’s team dropped to second place.
- The Portuguese on the road played on the zeros with Ireland, but still ahead of Serbia at the head of Group A. However, in the decisive meeting in Lisbon, Cristiano Ronaldo & Co will not help the remote in Dublin Pepe.
- North Macedonia scored five unanswered goals away from the Armenian national team and significantly increased its chances for second place. Especially in Yerevan, Enis Bardi tried to score a hat-trick.
- The Croats scored seven goals in Malta and kept a two-point gap from Russia ahead of the leaders’ meeting in the final round. The Germans, who guaranteed themselves a ticket to the World Championship while still in the camera, played even more effectively. In Wolfsburg, against Liechtenstein, in the very opening he remained in the minority, nine goals flew in at once – Leroy Sane and Thomas Müller scored a double.
Position in groups
Friday matches
Group C: Italy – Switzerland, Northern Ireland – Lithuania
Group F: Austria – Israel, Denmark – Faroe Islands, Moldova – Scotland
Group I: Andorra – Poland, England – Albania, Hungary – San Marino
Saturday matches
Group D: Bosnia and Herzegovina – Finland, France – Kazakhstan
Group G: Norway – Latvia, Turkey – Gibraltar, Montenegro – Netherlands
Group E: Belgium – Estonia, Wales – Belarus