World Cup European Qualifiers Update
FIFA World Cup 2018 Russia Qualifiers News: England, Portugal, Scotland, Denmark, Germany
England drew 0-0 against Slovenia but are still undefeated in Group F. England got another clean sheet due to passionate saves by goalkeeper Joe Hart. The stalemate keeps the Three Lions two points ahead of Slovenia. Lithuania is at the top of the group, after Slovakia beat Scotland 3-0. Two goals from Róbert Mak and a header by Adam Nemec put a stop to Scotland's unbeaten start. Scotland will travel to play England on November 11. Fiodor Černych scored for Lithuania after Malta were reduced to ten men, Arvydas Novikovas converted a penalty for the second goal in Lithuania's draw on Saturday.
FIFA World Cup holders' Germany defeated Northern Ireland with two early goals at five minutes from Julian Draxler and Sami Khedira retaining Germany’s 100% winning streak after three matches. Third place Northern Ireland’s goalkeeper Michael McGovern had not conceded more than one goal in any of his 17 previous internationals prior to this loss. Azerbaijan are still unbeaten after drawing 0-0 with the Czech Republic to earn a point. Azerbaijan goalie Kamran Agayev has not leaked a single goal as his side sits in second place two points behind Germany and five points ahead of the Czechs. Montenegro won in Denmark, and Poland beat Armenia late in added time. Norway defeated San Marino 4-1 with goals from subs Adama Diomande, Martin Samuelsen and Joshua King. Mattia Stefanelli scored the equalizer.
Robert Lewandowski headed in a goal in added time to continue his run of scoring in eight straight qualifiers as Poland defeated Armenia 2-1. Denmark lost 0-1 to Montenegro who are level with Poland in Group E, and two points clear of Romania at the top of the group after Fatos Bećiraj scored the only goal in the match at 32 minutes. Romania earned a point with a 0-0 draw against Romania making it 15 qualifying group games unbeaten. Samat Smakov captained Kazakhstan on his 75th and last international appearance for the side.
Euro 2016 winners Portugal beat Faroe Islands 6-0 with FC Porto striker Andre Silva scoring a first-half hat-trick and Real Madrid superstar striker Cristiano Ronaldo netting his 66th international goal. Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo has scored five goals in two games, including four goals in Portugal’s 6-0 home win against Andorra. CR7 added another goal on Monday as the European champions defeated the Faroe Islands 6-0, moving Portugal up to second in Group B. Ronaldo's goal haul of 66 goals from 135 caps moves the Portugal striker into sixth place on the all-time top European goal scorers list. Ahead of Ronaldo are Gerd Müller and Robbie Keane at 68, and Ferenc Puskás's record 84 goals. After losing their opener 2-0 away at Switzerland, European Champions Portugal enjoyed victories against both Andorra and the Faroe Islands - two of UEFA's smaller nations. Goal difference will determine winners in these qualifiers, and Portugal’s goal advantage may be invaluable.
The Netherlands defeated Belarus 4-1 in Group A then lost 1-0 at home to France leaving them three points adrift of both Les Bleus and Sweden. The Netherlands may fail to qualify for consecutive major tournaments for the first time in more than three decades. In 1988 they won their only major championship triumph to date. In Amsterdam, Paul Pogba's 30th-minute long range goal put France on top in Group A ahead of the Netherlands and Sweden, who beat Bulgaria 3-0.
Belgium’s Christian Benteke made history as he scored within 8.1 seconds against Gibraltar in their Group H match at Estadio Algarve. Benteke's goal is the fastest ever World Cup qualifying goal and the fastest goal ever to be scored in Belgium’s history. The Crystal Palace striker netted a hat-trick in the 6-0 Group H victory. Benteke beat the previous record of 8.3 seconds set by San Marino's Davide Gualtieri against England in 1993. Chelsea's Eden Hazard was also on the score sheet, along with Axel Witsel and Dries Mertens, as Roberto Martinez's Belgium side won their third 2018 World Cup qualifier maintaining a 100% start.
World Cup European Qualifiers Results
Thursday October 6
China PR 0-1 Syria
Korea Republic 3-2 Qater
Uzbekistan 0-1 Iran
Japan 2-1 Iraq
United Arab Emirates 3-1 Thailand
Saudi Arabia 2-2 Australia
Republic of Ireland 1-0 Georgia
Austria 2-2 Wales
Moldova 0-3 Serbia
FYR Macedonia 1-2 Israel
Italy 1-1 Spain
Liechtenstein 0-2 Albania
Iceland 3-2 Finland
Turkey 2-2 Ukraine
Kosovo 0-6 Croatia
Friday October 7
Ghana 0-0 Uganda
France 4-1 Bulgaria
Luxembourg 0-1 Sweden
Netherland 4-1 Belarus
Greece 2-0 Cyprus
Portugal 6-0 Andorra
Latvia 0-2 Faroe Islands
Hungary 2-3 Switzerland
Estonia 4-0 Gibraltar
Belgium 4-0 Bosnia and Herzegovina
Gabon 0-0 Morocco
Azerbaijna 1-0 Norway
England 2-0 Malta
Armenia 0-5 Romania
Montenegro 5-0 Kazakhstan
Congo DR 4-0 Libya
Burkina Faso 1-1 South Africa
Poland 3-2 Denmark
Scotland 1-1 Lithuania
Slovenia 1-0 Slovakia
Northern Ireland 4-0 San Marino
Germany 3-0 Czech Republic
Senegal 2-0 Cape Verde Islands
Sunday October 9
Zambia 1-2 Nigeria
Congo 1-2 Egypt
Wales 1-1 Georgia
Israel 2-1 Liechtenstein
Ukraine 3-0 Kosovo
Finland 0-1 Croatia
Tunisia 2-0 Guinea
Albania 0-2 Spain
FYR Macedonia 2-3 Italy
Serbia 3-2 Austria
Moldova 1-3 Republic of Ireland
Iceland 2-0 Turkey
Algeria 1-1 Cameroon
Monday October 10
Belarus 1-1 Luxembourg
Faroe Islands 0-6 Portugal
Andorra 1-2 Switzerland
Netherlands 0-1 France
Sweden 3-2 Bulgaria
Latvia 0-2 Hungary
Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 Cyprus
Estonia 0-2 Greece
Gibraltar 0-6 Belgium
Tuesday October 11
Australia 1-1 Japan
Iraq 4-0 Thailand
Uzbekistan 2-0 China PR
Kazakhstan 0-0 Romania
Iran 1-0 Korea Republic
Qatar 1-0 Syria
Saudia Arabia 3-0 United Arab Emirates
Denmark 0-1 Montenegro
Poland 2-1 Armenia
Germany 2-0 Northern Ireland
Czech Republic 0-0 Azerbaijan
Norway 4-1 San Marino
Slovenia 0-0 England
Lithuania 2-0 Malta
Slovakia 3-0 Scotland
2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying tickets
Coming up in November 11-13 are more not-to-be-missed European Qualifying games featuring England, Scotland, France, Sweden, Spain, and Portugal competing on the Road to Russia. Buy World Cup 2018 tickets and FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 Final tickets now online from 1st4FootballTickets.com!
Friday 11 November: England v Scotland tickets, France v Sweden tickets
Saturday 12 November: Croatia v Iceland tickets, Spain v FYR Macedonia tickets
Sunday 13 November: Greece v Bosnia and Herzegovina tickets, Portugal v Latvia tickets
