Highlights: Germany and England reach World Cup
Thursday, October 5, 2017
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Germany and England secured their places in the FIFA World Cup finals with wins in Thursday's European Qualifiers but Poland must wait despite Robert Lewandowski's record-breaking hat-trick.
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- Holders Germany qualify with victory in Northern Ireland
- England also into World Cup after dramatic win against Slovenia
- Lewandowski makes history but Poland must wait to reach Russia
- Click on the match to watch highlights
- Permutations: who needs what to qualify
Qualified: Belgium, England, Germany, Russia (hosts)
Group C
Germany only needed a point to clinch qualification at the expense of the only team that could catch them, but instead within 21 minutes the holders were two up and cruising to a perfect ninth win in the group. Sebastian Rudy let fly from distance in just the second minute and Sandro Wagner also struck from outside the box to add to his previous hat-trick against San Marino. Joshua Kimmich made it three late on. Northern Ireland go to Norway on Sunday sure of second place but hoping to boost their play-off chances.
Czech Republic moved ahead of Azerbaijan into third position after Antonín Barák headed in a cross from Vladimír Darida with 24 minutes to go.
Joshua King scored two of Norway's three early goals and Mohamed Elyounoussi got a hat-trick as Norway went fourth, above Azerbaijan on goal difference and two points behind the Czechs.
Group E
Robert Lewandowski's hat-trick took his tally in qualifying to a new European record of 15 goals but although the victory ensured at least a play-off for Poland, top spot will not be decided until Sunday after Denmark also won.
Christian Eriksen's 16th-minute strike, the fifth consecutive international in which he has scored, gave Denmark a win that means they will qualify on goal difference on Sunday should they beat Romania and Poland lose to Montenegro. Though Montenegro cannot now win the group, a victory in Poland and defeat for Denmark could still give them second position on goal difference and even a play-off.
The night's only home winners, Romania made sure of a fourth-placed finish in the group, and condemned Kazakhstan to sixth behind Armenia, thanks to two Constantin Budescu goals.
Group F
Captain Harry Kane's last-gasp effort gave England victory and put a gloss on their qualification, for which in the end they would only have needed a draw. To finish second on Sunday, Slovenia must beat Scotland and hope Slovakia do not defeat Malta.
There was also late drama in Glasgow as under pressure from substitute Chris Martin, Slovakia's Martin Škrtel turned Ikechi Anya's 89th-minute cross into his own net. Earlier Scotland had twice hit the woodwork against a Slovakia team reduced to ten men by Róbert Mak's sending-off midway through the first half. Scotland are now two points clear of Slovakia in second and will seal that spot with a win in Slovenia. Should Scotland draw, Slovakia would overtake them by beating Malta.
The hosts marked Pietro Ghedin's final home match in charge by getting off the mark in Group F with a well-deserved draw. Andrei Agius gave Malta the lead with a pinpoint drive that found the corner of the net and, though Vykintas Slivka levelled with another precision effort from outside the area, Malta held on for a point.