Europe high groups win WCup qualifiers as Swiss transfer goalposts

World Cup qualifying in Europe took a unusual flip when the goalposts have been eliminated earlier than a match between Switzerland and Lithuania as a result of they have been deemed the wrong dimension.
It was one of many few issues that didn’t go to script on Sunday.
All of the continent’s heavyweight nations secured victories, although Spain left it late — the second minute of stoppage time, to be exact — to see off Georgia 2-1 after falling behind.
Like Spain, France began its qualification marketing campaign with an surprising draw at house but additionally obtained again on observe in its second recreation, easing to a 2-0 win at Kazakhstan.
Italy stretched its unbeaten streak to 24 video games with a 2-0 win in Bulgaria, and England additionally moved onto a most six factors in group play with a 2-0 victory at Albania. Germany made it two straight wins to open qualifying, too, by beating Romania 1-0 away.
Meanwhile, Denmark grew to become the most recent European crew to make use of the World Cup qualifiers to direct consideration to staff’ rights in 2022 host Qatar. Its gamers wore purple T-shirts with the slogan “Football supports change” for the crew picture earlier than kickoff towards Moldova, which Denmark went on to beat 8-0.
The Danish soccer federation stated the shirts might be signed and auctioned to boost cash for tasks with Amnesty International that assist migrant staff in Qatar.
OLMO RESCUES SPAIN
Dani Olmo got here off the bench to grab a come-from-behind win for Spain, his long-range shot getting palmed into the highest nook of the online by flailing Georgia goalkeeper Giorgi Loria.
Ferran Torres’ fifth objective in six begins gave Spain, the 2010 world champion, the equalizer within the fifty fifth after Georgia went forward a minute earlier than halftime.
Sweden appears to be like like being Spain’s largest challenger in Group B for the one automated qualifying place after sealing a second straight win by beating Kosovo 3-0.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, freshly out of worldwide retirement, had a hand in two of the objectives having additionally claimed an help on his first recreation again, the 1-0 win over Georgia on Thursday.
Spain began out by drawing 1-1 with Greece.
PENALTY MISS
A missed penalty by Kylian Mbappe had little impact for France in its snug win in Kazakhstan.
The world champions have been already two objectives forward by then, by means of Ousmane Dembele — considered one of a raft of modifications by Didier Deschamps — and an own-goal by Sergey Malyy within the first half.
Mbappe got here on after Anthony Martial appeared to harm his knee getting his studs caught within the artificial turf at Astana Stadium, and the Paris Saint-Germain star received the penalty himself — solely to see his shot tipped across the put up.
Ukraine and Finland drew 1-1 and have two factors every to take a seat behind France in Group D.
KANE VS. LEWANDOWSKI
England performs Poland in a key Group I qualifier at Wembley Stadium on Wednesday and each of their world-class strikers look in good condition for it.
Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski scored for a tenth straight recreation for membership and nation, netting a double in Poland’s 3-0 win over Andorra. The Poles opened by drawing with Hungary.
Harry Kane scored one objective and arrange one other for Mason Mount in England’s 2-0 win in Albania, which constructed on the 5-0 thrashing of San Marino on Thursday.
England leads the group with six factors. Hungary is stage with Poland on 4 factors after beating San Marino 3-0.
ITALY FLYING
Italy’s back-to-back wins to open World Cup qualifying come after an ideal 10 wins in qualifying for Euro 2020.
Goals from Andrea Belotti, from the penalty spot, and Manuel Locatelli, the primary for his nation, adopted up a victory over Northern Ireland on Thursday.
Switzerland is barely behind Italy on objective distinction after its 1-0 win over Lithuania, secured by an early objective from Liverpool winger Xherdan Shaqiri. The begin of the sport was delayed by 10 minutes as a result of one of many objectives was not regulation dimension and needed to be modified.
GERMANY TOP
Germany tops Group J on objective distinction after Serge Gnabry completed off a crew transfer within the sixteenth minute that concerned Chelsea gamers Antonio Rüdiger and Kai Havertz.
The Germans are rebuilding after a 6-0 Nations League loss to Spain in November.
Armenia can also be on six factors after beating Iceland 2-0, whereas North Macedonia cruised to a 5-0 win over Liechtenstein for its first factors of qualifying.
RECORD WIN
Denmark earned its largest win in a World Cup or European Championship qualifier.
Kasper Dolberg and Mikkel Damsgaard each scored twice in Herning for the Danes, who have been 5-0 up after 39 minutes.
Denmark is the one crew in Group F with six factors. Austria is 2 again after coming from behind to beat the Faroe Islands 3-1, whereas Israel and Scotland drew 1-1.