The vice-champions of the world win 1-0 at home against the Russians, the Neapolitan Elmas drags his team into 3-1 against Iceland
The Croatia grabs when it expires the pass for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar thanks to the 1-0 victory against Russia: in Split it is an own goal by Kudryashov eight minutes from 90 ‘to give the three points that allow the world runners-up to overtake the Russians in first place in the group (23 points to 22) . He also qualifies for the playoffs there North Macedonia, who won 3-1 over Iceland thanks to a brace from Neapolitan Elmas.
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GROUP H
It is Croatia that finishes first in group H and therefore directly qualifies for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The 1-0 victory at home over Russia is enough for Dalic’s national team to overtake the Russians in the standings (23 points to 22) and thus force Karpin’s national team to go through to the playoffs. In Split, with a lot of Serie A on the field (from Inter fans Brozovic and Perisic to Atalantino Pasalic), Croatia must necessarily win and throw themselves forward from the first minute, but Russia defends itself very well and leaves little chance to their opponents. The Russian wall does not collapse and the Croatian coach, in the second half, also joins Kramaric with another old acquaintance of our league like Livaja, while Modric tries to invent. The Russian coach responds by removing the trident to strengthen the midfield and defense: it seems the winning move, but in the 82nd minute it is Kudryashov who betrays his team by scoring an own goal that sends the world runners-up to Qatar. Incredible insult instead for Russia. In the other matches of the group, without value for the ranking, Slovakia wins 6-0 in Malta and Slovenia 2-1 over Cyprus.
GROUP J
With Germany already qualified and 4-1 winner at Armenia (Havertz, Gundogan and Hofmann brace for the Germans, Mkhitaryan’s goal from the Armenian flag on a penalty), in Group J it is a fight for second place which is worth the playoffs : North Macedonia wins thanks to a 3-1 victory over Iceland, while a 2-0 win against Liechtenstein is useless for Romania. The Macedonians, who thus close the group with 18 points, precede the Romanians by a length who instead greet all hopes of going to the World Cup. In Skopje, Alioski pushed the hosts forward at the start, then Var denied Khrlinov’s double and then Thorsteinsson equalized for Iceland at the start of the second half. It seems like a joke for Macedonia, but the Neapolitan Elmas plays the charge and between 65 ‘and 87’ scores the brace that allows Milevski’s national team to dream of the World Cup through the playoffs. The success of Macedonia therefore makes Romania’s success in Liechtenstein useless: the goals from Man and Bancu only deceive the guests, who remain behind by a point and lose the possible pass for Qatar.
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