Germany thrash North Macedonia to seal place at Qatar 2022 – World Cup Qualifiers round-up

Germany certified for the 2022 World Cup after crushing North Macedonia 4-0 on Monday to safe the highest spot of their qualifying Group J with two video games to spare.

A second-half double by Timo Werner and one objective every from Kai Havertz and Jamal Musiala secured Germany’s fifth win of their fifth recreation below new coach Hansi Flick and lifted them to 21 factors, with Romania in second place on 13.

All group winners in European qualification robotically safe a spot on the event in Qatar.

The Germans, who had been eradicated within the first spherical of the 2018 World Cup and the final 16 at this yr’s Euros, had an early likelihood with a Thomas Mueller header.

However, as of their 2-1 residence win over Romania on Friday, the Germans lacked precision with their closing go and ending, creating solely a handful of probabilities within the first half till Timo Werner hit the publish with a low drive in stoppage time.

Germany, crushed 2-1 by North Macedonia in Duisburg in March, broke the impasse within the fiftieth minute when Serge Gnabry break up the defence with an excellent by way of ball for Mueller and he laid it off for Havertz to faucet in.

Ahead Werner then scored twice in three minutes, first drilling in from one other Mueller help within the seventieth after which curling a shot residence from 15 metres three minutes later.

Substitute Musiala accomplished the victory seven minutes earlier than the top together with his first worldwide objective.

Group H: Croatia lose floor after draw with Slovakia

Croatia dented their hopes of qualifying robotically for the 2022 World Cup after a 2-2 residence draw with Slovakia of their Group H conflict on Monday left them trailing Russia by two factors in a two-team race for the highest spot.

The Russians, who’ve 19 factors from eight video games, beat Slovenia 2-1 away to leapfrog Croatia, who got here from behind twice towards the Slovakians and had a late objective scrapped after a VAR examine.

Each Russia and 2018 World Cup runners-up Croatia are assured of no less than a play-off berth as third-placed Slovakia are on 10 factors and don’t have any likelihood of breaking into the highest two.

Winger Ivan Schranz headed the Slovakians right into a Twentieth-minute lead earlier than Andrej Kramaric glanced within the equaliser 5 minutes later and the guests struck once more on the stroke of halftime by way of Lukas Haraslin.

Croatia captain Luka Modric levelled with a 71st-minute free-kick earlier than substitute Nikola Vlasic was denied a winner within the 83rd as his close-range effort was dominated out for an infringement.

Croatia subsequent go to Malta whereas Slovakia host Slovenia and Russia host Cyprus on November 11.

Group E: Early Moore goal earns Wales crucial win

Kieffer Moore’s early strike was sufficient to earn Wales a significant 1-0 victory in Estonia on Monday to maintain a playoff spot in World Cup Qualification Group E of their sights.

Wales began nicely and raced right into a Twelfth-minute lead, with Moore prodding residence following a goalmouth scramble from a nook.

As Wales drained it turned a matter of holding on reasonably than searching for a second, with the hosts nearly levelling by way of substitute Vlasiy Sinyavskiy, who was denied by an excellent save from goalkeeper Danny Ward.

The third-placed guests survived some nervy moments late on to maneuver onto 11 factors within the group, stage with Czech Republic in second, though Wales have two video games left in comparison with the Czech’s one. Belgium are high with 16 factors.