Croatia pulls off ticket to World Cup 2026. Germany OK, but will play it all out in 90'
Beating the Far Oer Islands 3-1 in a comeback, thanks to goals by Gvardiol, Musa and Vlasic, Croatia has arithmetically won qualification for the 2026 World Cup. In Group L, in fact, the Czech Republic is chasing in second place with a gap of six points, impossible to make up with one match to play: the Czechs will play in the playoffs since the Far Oers, only one point behind them, have concluded their eight-match schedule.
Germany’s qualification, on the other hand, is by no means a foregone conclusion: the Germans beat Luxembourg 2-0 away with Woltemade’s double but did not dislodge Slovakia, which in 91′ thanks to Bobcek found success against Northern Ireland, also moving them to 12. The last day, Monday 17, will offer just the challenge between the Mannschaft and the Slovaks: given the overall goal difference (+7 for Germany, +4 for Slovakia), the former would pass even with a draw.
For the Netherlands, qualification is now just a formality, but the 1-1 draw in Poland (Kaminsky for the hosts, Depay’s equalizer) does not allow them to celebrate it already today. Three points ahead of just the Poles and a goal difference of +19, against +6 for Lewandowski and co. will still allow the Oranje to play the last match of the round, against Lithuania on Monday night, in relative peace of mind.
In the evening’s other matches, Malta beat Finland 1-0 away with a goal from Grech, while Montenegro bounced back from an early disadvantage in Gibraltar to win 2-1 (on goal Jessop for the hosts, Juventus’s Adzic and Atalanta’s Krstovic on a penalty kick for the Balkans). These four national teams are already long out of the picture.
