Four-time FIFA World Cup winners Germany and three-time runners-up the Netherlands are through to next summer’s finals after rounding off the European Qualifiers with commanding victories.
UEFA.com rounds up Monday’s action as Groups A, G and L all concluded.
Qualifying lowdown
Results
Group A: Northern Ireland 1-0 Luxembourg, Germany 6-0 Slovakia
Group G: Malta 2-3 Poland, Netherlands 4-0 Lithuania
Group L: Czechia 6-0 Gibraltar, Montenegro 2-3 Croatia
Germany 6-0 Slovakia
Four-time world champions Germany won Group A in style, earning direct qualification and sending Slovakia to the play-offs. Nick Woltemade headed in the 18th-minute opener, but only Oliver Baumann’s smart save stopped Dávid Ďuriš from swiftly equalising with a shot from close range.
Serge Gnabry then finished neatly before Leroy Sané struck twice in five minutes from Florian Wirtz assists. After a quieter start to the second period, substitute Ridle Baku drove in the fifth midway through the half, before debutant Assan Ouedraogo added further gloss by sweeping in from Sané’s back-heel.
Netherlands 4-0 Lithuania
The Netherlands’ finals place was never in doubt from the moment Frenkie de Jong picked out Tijjani Reijnders for the Netherlands’ 16th-minute opener. Edvinas Gertmonas denied Virgil van Dijk and Reijnders struck the post, before Ronald Koeman’s side found their ruthless streak with three goals in five second-half minutes.
Cody Gakpo stroked in a penalty just before the hour mark, and Xavi Simons then fired in his side’s third after jinking run across the box. Donyell Malen completed the whirlwind spell as he took the ball upfield from inside his own half and flashed in the fourth.
Malta 2-3 Poland
Poland began the day with hopes of pipping the Netherlands to top spot in Group G. The home defeat in Amsterdam never materialised, however, and until Piotr Zieliński’s deflected effort dropped into the unguarded net on 85 minutes, an away victory in Malta was far from assured.
Twice the visitors led, through Robert Lewandowski’s header and Paweł Wszołek’s first international strike in nearly ten years. Malta swiftly struck back each time, through Irvin Cardona and Teddy Teuma’s penalty, but could not muster a response to Zieliński’s fortuitous late strike.
Best of the rest
- Nikola Vlašić struck a brilliant winner as Group L winners Croatia recovered from 2-0 down to beat Montenegro and complete a campaign where they dropped just two points.
- Czechia were already certain of second place in Group L, but started their preparations for the play-offs in positive fashion with six goals (from six scorers) against Gibraltar.
- Jamie Donley converted a penalty late in the first half, his first international goal, as Northern Ireland beat Luxembourg to finish third in Group A.
Tuesday’s fixtures
All kick-offs 20:45 CET
Group B: Sweden vs Slovenia, Kosovo vs Switzerland
Group C: Scotland vs Denmark, Belarus vs Greece
Group E: Bulgaria vs Georgia, Spain vs Türkiye
Group H: Romania vs San Marino, Austria vs Bosnia and Herzegovina
Group J: Wales vs North Macedonia, Belgium vs Liechtenstein
