Croatia are the third European team after England and France to secure their World Cup ticket. The Netherlands are as good as guaranteed a place. Germany retain their advantage over Slovakia.
14.11.2025, 22:57
SDA
With a 3:1 home win against the Faroe Islands, Croatia secured their eighth consecutive appearance in the finals. The Faroese, who have been remarkably strong in this qualifying campaign, did not make it easy for the favorites in Rijeka and took the lead after a quarter of an hour through Geza David Turi. Goals from Josko Gvardiol, Petar Musa and Nikola Vlasic turned the game around. Even a draw would have been enough for Croatia to qualify early. The play-offs in this group will be contested by the Czech Republic.
The race between the Netherlands and Poland to win the group is de facto decided. Bonds coach Ronald Koeman's team secured a valuable 1-1 draw thanks to a goal from record goalscorer Memphis Depay shortly after the break. Poland will not be able to make up for their 13-goal goal difference in the final round. Poland play in Malta, the Netherlands at home against Lithuania.
In Group A, the direct duel in Leipzig on Monday will decide whether Germany or Slovakia clinch a direct ticket to the World Cup. The four-time world champions, who won 2:0 in Luxembourg on Friday evening, have the better starting position. Although the Slovakians secured their place in the play-offs with a 1-0 home win over Northern Ireland in stoppage time, they are level on points with the Germans but have the worse goal difference.
Germany will not be going into Leipzig with too broad a chest. The 2-0 defeat against the Slovaks in the first leg is still too fresh in their minds and their performance against Luxembourg was not convincing enough. After a first half in which the Luxembourgers were the better team, Nick Woltemade scored twice to give Germany the win.
Telegrams and tables.
Group A:
Luxembourg - Germany 0:2 (0:0)
Luxembourg. - SR Brooks (ENG). - Goals: 49 Woltemade 0:1. 69 Woltemade 0:2.
Slovakia - Northern Ireland 1:0 (0:0)
Kosice - referee Kovacs (ROU). - Goal: 91st Bobcek 1:0. - Remarks: 99th yellow-red card against Ballard (Northern Ireland).
1. Germany 5/12 (10:3). 2. Slovakia 5/12 (6:2). 3. Northern Ireland 5/6 (6:6). 4. Luxembourg 5/0 (1:12).
Group G:
Finland - Malta 0:1 (0:0)
Helsinki. - SR Weinberger (AUT). - Goal: 82nd Grech 0:1 - Remarks: Malta with Chouaref (Sion).
Poland - Netherlands 1:1 (1:0)
Warsaw. - Referee Mariani (ITA). - Goals: 43rd Kaminski 1:0. 47th Depay 1:1.
1. Netherlands 7/17 (23:4). 2. Poland 7/14 (11:5). 3. Finland 8/10 (8:14). 4. Malta 7/5 (2:16). 5. Lithuania 7/3 (6:11).
Group L:
Croatia - Faroe Islands 3:1 (1:1)
Rijeka. - SR Aghajew (AZE). - Goals: 16 Turi 0:1. 23 Gvardiol 1:1. 57 Musa 2:1. 70 Vlasic 3:1.
Gibraltar - Montenegro 1:2 (1:2)
Gibraltar. - Referee Papapetrou (GRE). - Goals: 20. Jessop 1:0. 33. Adzic 1:1. 42. Krstovic 1:2.
1. Croatia 7/19 (23:2). 2. Czech Republic 7/13 (12:8). 3. Faroe Islands 8/12 (11:9). 4. Montenegro 7/9 (6:14). 5. Gibraltar 7/0 (3:22). - Croatia qualified for the World Cup, Czech Republic in the playoffs.
