European Qualifiers: Denmark join Germany in reaching finals

Joakim Mæhle was on target as Denmark edged past Austria to join Germany in reaching the FIFA World Cup finals via the European Qualifiers, while Belgium, Switzerland, Serbia, Russia, Croatia and Portugal – helped by Ronaldo's tenth international hat-trick – ensured they would finish in the top two places in their respective groups.

UEFA.com wraps up all the action from Matchday 8.

All Tuesday's results

Group A: Portugal 5-0 Luxembourg, Serbia 3-1 Azerbaijan
Group B: Kosovo 1-2 Georgia, Sweden 2-0 Greece
Group C: Bulgaria 2-1 Northern Ireland, Lithuania 0-4 Switzerland
Group D: Kazakhstan 0-2 Finland, Ukraine 1-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina
Group F: Denmark 1-0 Austria, Faroe Islands 0-1 Scotland, Israel 2-1 Moldova
Group I: Albania 0-1 Poland, England 1-1 Hungary, San Marino 0-3 Andorra

Sweden leapfrog Spain to go top
Alexander Isak made the difference as Sweden moved two points clear of Spain at the top of Group B. Greece hit the post and crossbar before Isak won a penalty, which Emil Forsberg steered in. Isak then burst through a confused Greek defence to clip in the second, before Pantelis Hatzidiakos was sent off late on.

Perfect Danes seal qualification
Denmark booked their spot in next year’s finals as they maintained their perfect record in Group F. The hosts were dominant against a depleted Austria, but it took a piece of magic from Thomas Delaney to break the deadlock, the midfielder dancing through Austria's back line before teeing up Joakim Mæhle to convert the clinching goal.

England held up by Hungary
Roland Sallai's 24th-minute penalty gave Hungary the lead and a first goal in five competitive meetings with England, only for the Three Lions to reply 13 minutes later when John Stones equalised from an exquisite Phil Foden cross. England remain three points clear of Poland at the Group I summit despite their 21-match winning run in home qualifiers ending; Marco Rossi's men are six points and two positions shy of second place.

Best of the rest

• Cristiano Ronaldo bagged his tenth international hat-trick to increase his world-record international goals tally to 115 in 182 appearances, as Portugal dismantled Luxembourg to guarantee a top-two berth in Group A. He has now scored more goals against Luxembourg (8) than any other international side.
• In Group F, Lyndon Dykes netted in his fourth consecutive World Cup qualifying fixture as Scotland squeezed past the Faroe Islands, while Todor Nedelev's second-half double helped Bulgaria recover against Northern Ireland, to keep the Lions in Group C contention.
• Andorra recorded their biggest ever win in their 3-0 victory away to San Marino in Group I.

All Monday's results

Group E: Belarus 0-2 Czech Republic, Estonia 0-1 Wales
Group G: Latvia 1-2 Turkey, Netherlands 6-0 Gibraltar, Norway 2-0 Montenegro
Group H: Croatia 2-2 Slovakia, Cyprus 2-2 Malta, Slovenia 1-2 Russia
Group J: Iceland 4-0 Liechtenstein, North Macedonia 0-4 Germany, Romania 1-0 Armenia

Mannschaft first to finals
Timo Werner's double helped dominant Germany become the first team to qualify for next year's World Cup. The visitors were well on top throughout but the closest they came in the first half was when Werner hit the post. After the break, they broke through thanks to Kai Havertz before Werner's two well-taken goals and a first international strike for Jamal Musiala saw them cruise to victory. Armenia's loss in Romania confirmed their place as Group J winners.

Russia assured of second
A breathless encounter in Maribor saw Russia claim a narrow 2-1 victory over Slovenia and move top of Group H. Defenders Georgi Dzhikiya and Igor Diveev put the visitors ahead – the former with a superb overhead kick – before a brilliantly taken Josip Iličić goal just before half-time threatened to turn the game on its head. However, Valeri Karpin's side were able to retain their lead and make a huge step forward in qualifying by guaranteeing a top-two finish in the section.

Croatia lose top spot
Slovakia became the first side to score more than once against Croatia in a European Qualifier since October 2013 – and ended a sequence of six successive clean sheets in qualifying for Zlatko Dalić's side – by twice taking the lead through Ivan Schranz and Lukáš Haraslín. Andrej Kramarić replied with a header exactly a year after his previous international goal and provider Luka Modrić curled in from a 71st-minute free-kick to earn a point that also confirms a top-two finish for Croatia, though they have relinquished first place to Russia for now.

Best of the rest

• Memphis Depay became the first Netherlands player in history to score 13 goals in a calendar year, adding a further effort in their resounding victory against Gibraltar. The Oranje nearly sealed a place in the top two, only for Turkey to avoid defeat in Latvia late on then seal three points through Burak Yılmaz in the 99th minute.