Scotland are second in Austria Group F’s table and can no longer take a World Cup qualifier. The Scots won 2-0 against the Republic of Moldova in Chisinau on Friday evening to settle the play-off ranks with 20 points after nine games. Nathan Patterson (38th) and Che Adams (65th) corrected the away win. Moldova’s Vadim Rata failed in the 82nd minute with a penalty from Scottish goalkeeper Craig Gordon.
>> Match Report: Moldova against Scotland
Due to Scotland’s victory, Israel had no chance of making the top two even before the start of the duel with Austria in Klagenfurt. The Scots have participated in eight World Cups so far, but their previous participation – in France in 1998 – was a long time ago. The final group game in Glasgow on Monday against group winners Denmark no longer has any significance for a table result.
England almost certainly have a ticket for the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar. The “Three Lions” beat Albania 5-0 at London’s Wembley Stadium on Friday evening, as Group I chasing Poland won 4-1 in Andorra, three points away. In addition, the leader has a better goal difference of six hits and will end up in the underdog San Marino. It is still open in Pool C, where Italy and Switzerland played 1:1 and are tied.
Okafor with starting XI
As expected, the British did not allow anything to burn. Star striker Harry Kane scored all five hits before the break with Triple Pack (18th, 33rd, 45th), Harry Maguire (9th) and Jordan Henderson (28th). Kane now has 44 goals in the national team. Against Albania, the Tottenham attacker scored from the left, right and head, a feat that David Platt last achieved in 1993 against San Marino in the England jersey. Like regular participants Denmark and Germany, the English may already be planning with the final round.
Poland was as safe in Andorra as striker Ricard Fernandez received a red card in the first minute of the game. Bayern star Robert Lewandowski scored twice (5th, 73rd), and Kamil Jozwiak (11th) and Arkadiusz Milik (45th + 2) also entered the shooting list. The Albanians fell behind by five points, which is why the top two places are fixed.
At the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, the Swiss were the more dangerous team before the break. It is also thanks to Salzburg striker Noah Okafor, who showed a really strong performance in his starting XI debut in “Confederates” livery. Above all, his pace repeatedly caused problems for “Squadra Azurra”, as well before 0:1, where the 21-year-old then served Sylvan Widmer and credited himself with an assist in his second international. were able to give. ,
A goal from the Salzburg striker, who has scored nine goals and five assists after 20 competitive games this season with the “Bulls”, was in the air a few times, but did not fall. That is why the home team equalized in the 36th minute with the help of Giovanni Di Lorenzo. After the break, both teams did not smell the winning goal until the end.
There was a slightly controversial penalty for the Italians after Ulysses Garcia fouled Domenico Berardi, but Jorginho (90th) missed. The midfielder shot clearly on it after failing in the “first leg” from Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer’s point. Almost in turn, Andy Zekiri (93rd) missed the Swiss’ chance to win. The Italians take a two-goal lead before the final round against Northern Ireland in Belfast on Monday, while the Swiss will host Bulgaria in Lucerne.
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