What we noticed in June's European Qualifiers

What do you think of our choices? What stood out for you? Let us know using #WCQ on @EuroQualifiers

• The results
• The group standings
• Next matches

Key numbers ...

Teams
Most points: Switzerland, Germany 18 (i.e. 100% record)
Unbeaten: Switzerland, Germany, Serbia, Republic of Ireland, Wales, Poland, England, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Greece
Most goals: Germany 27
Fewest conceded: Germany 1

Players
Most goals: Robert Lewandowski (Poland), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) 11
Most assists: Dušan Tadić (Serbia) 7

Cristiano Ronaldo v Robert Lewandowski
Lionel Messi is usually the only stick by which Cristiano Ronaldo's achievements can be measured, but – in these European Qualifiers at least – Robert Lewandowski is matching him goal for goal. The Poland ace registered in his 11th successive European Qualifier on Saturday, and went on to complete a hat-trick against Romania, while Ronaldo score just the two in Latvia on Friday. With four qualifiers to go and 11 strikes apiece, will either – or both – break the 13-goal record for a single European qualifying campaign, currently shared by Lewandowski (UEFA EURO 2016) and Northern Ireland's David Healy?

Jovetić: a class act
The Montenegro captain trails Ronaldo and Lewandowski by five goals in the campaign's scorers' rankings, but if there were extra marks for artistic merit, he would be higher up. Jovetić bagged Montenegro's first hat-trick since independence in Saturday's 4-1 win against Armenia, with the Sevilla forward's goals getting better as the game went on – a sharp low finish, followed by a beautiful curling drive and then an effortless scissor-kick. 

• Ronaldo the top scorer: the stats

Germany's strength in reserve
Joachim Löw experimented when Germany met San Marino in November, Serge Gnabry a notable beneficiary as he hit a hat-trick on his debut in an 8-0 victory. He tested new options again on Saturday, his young starting XI hailing from 11 different clubs. Was it a successful experiment? Hoffenheim front man Sandro Wagner thought so – the 29-year-old followed Gnabry by netting three in his first international, though the score was a relatively modest 7-0 this time.

Iceland no flash in the pan
Iceland had played Croatia three times in the space of four years without winning or scoring when they came together on Sunday, and the Nordic team looked set for another blank until Hordur Magnússon broke the deadlock late on. It was a seismic result, leaving the two sides level on 13 points at the top of Group I. The king of all surprise packages at UEFA EURO 2016, could Iceland be a thorn in the giants' paws at the 2018 FIFA World Cup too? 

Andorra's annus mirabilis
The year 2017 has been one of unalloyed joy for Andorra so far: since beating San Marino 2-0 in a friendly in March, they have earned a 0-0 Group B draw against the Faroe Islands (their first qualifying point since 2005) and – more amazing still – on Saturday won only their second European Qualifier in 101 attempts, humbling Hungary 1-0. Their 31 August hosts Switzerland will be quaking in their boots. 

• PLAY DAILY 11s AND WIN

Captain Kane to the rescue
After 70 minutes of Saturday's 115th match between football's oldest international rivals, most fans would have been happy to settle for a 0-0 draw, but the last 20 minutes were a thriller. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain put England ahead, only for Leigh Griffiths to fire in free-kicks on 87 and 90 minutes to send the Scots into raptures. However, first-time captain Harry Kane had the final say, volleying a leveller three minutes into added time. 

• TAKE THE CHALLENGE: EUROPEAN QUALIFIERS MATCH PREDICTOR

What do you think of our choices? What stood out for you? Let us know using #WCQ on @EuroQualifiers.

• Next Week of Football: 31 August–5 September