The footballers of England and Switzerland became other certain participants in the World Cup in 2022. On the contrary, the reigning European champions from Italy are waiting for a promotion to the championship in Qatar.
Albion outclassed San Marino 10-0 with four goals from Captain Harry Kane and won Group I. The Swiss defeated Bulgaria 4-0 at home and skipped the “Azzurri” at the head of Group C, who only drew 0-0 in Northern Ireland.
Today, 11 out of 32 participants know the World Cup. Germany, Denmark, France, Belgium, Croatia, Spain, Serbia and Brazil have already succeeded in qualifying, adding to Qatar. The final tournament will take place next year from November 21 to December 18.
The Italians were unable to break through Northern Ireland’s defenses in Belfast, and goalkeeper Donnarumma had to support them several times. The team from the Apennine Peninsula has to go to the playoffs for the second time in a row, in the past they unexpectedly lost to Sweden for advancing to the World Championship in 2018.
In the first half in Lucerne, the Swiss have not yet expressed a goal over Bulgaria. Okafor hit the bar shortly before the break, but in the 48th minute the home striker opened the score with the premier goal for the national team. Vargas, Itten and Freuler highlighted the favorite. The Swiss national team won the group two points ahead of Italy and will play for the twelfth time in the World Championships.
The British dominated Group I by six points ahead of Poland. It ended the qualification in Warsaw with a 1: 2 loss to Hungary and will go to the March playoffs.
The world’s worst team according to the FIFA rankings resisted England only in the sixth minute, when Maguire scored. Then the goalkeeper of San Marino was overcome by Fabbri’s own goal. From the 27th to the 42nd minute, Kane won four times, scoring two goals from penalties. Tottenham striker became the first English scorer in four goals in a single match since Ian Wright did so in 1993.
Smith Rowe, Mings, Abraham and Saka highlighted the domestic debacle after the change of sides. Albion scored ten goals in the match for the first time since the 1-0 victory over the USA in May 1964. The English will start at the World Cup for the seventh time in a row and for the sixteenth time in total. They won gold in 1966, their last major international trophy.
A certain participant in the World Championships, Denmark in Glasgow lost 0: 2 to Scotland, which was already guaranteed a draw before the match. The Northerners in qualifying group F hesitated for the first time after the initial nine wins.
Group C:
Northern Ireland – Italy 0: 0
Switzerland – Bulgaria 4: 0 (0:0). Branky: 48. Okafor, 57. Vargas, 72. Itten, 90.+1 Freuler.
| 1. | Switzerland | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 15:2 | 18 |
| 2. | Italy | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 13:2 | 16 |
| 3. | Northern Ireland | 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 6:7 | 9 |
| 4. | Bulgaria | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6:14 | 8 |
| 5. | Lithuania | 8 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 4:19 | 3 |
Group F:
Austria – Moldova 4: 1 (2: 0). Goals: 4th and 55th from pen. Arnautovic, 22. Trimmel, 83. Ljubicic – 60. Nicolaescu.
Israel – Faroe Islands 3: 2 (1: 0). Goals: 30. Dabbur z pen., 58 Weissman, 74. D. Peretz – 62. S. Vatnhamar, 72. K. Olsen.
Scotland – Denmark 2: 0 (1: 0). Goals: 35. Souttar, 86. Adams.
| 1. | Denmark | 10 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 30:3 | 27 |
| 2. | Scotland | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 17:7 | 23 |
| 3. | Israel | 10 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 23:21 | 16 |
| 4. | Austria | 10 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 19:17 | 16 |
| 5. | Faroe Islands | 10 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 7:23 | 4 |
| 6. | Moldova | 10 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 5:30 | 1 |
Group I:
San Marino – Angles 0:10 (0: 6). Goals: 27. z pen., 32., 39. z pen. and 42. Kane, 6. Maguire, 15. Own Fabbri, 58. Smith Rowe, 69. Mings, 78. Abraham, 79. Saka. Red Cross: 68. Rossi (San Marino).
Albania – Andorra 1: 0 (1: 0). Branka: 73. Hammers with pen.
Poland – Hungary 1: 2 (0: 1). Goals: 62. Šwiderski – 37. Schäfer, 80. Gazdag.
| 1. | England | 10 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 39:3 | 26 |
| 2. | Poland | 10 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 30:11 | 20 |
| 3. | Albania | 10 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 12:12 | 18 |
| 4. | Hungary | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 19:13 | 17 |
| 5. | Andorra | 10 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 8:24 | 6 |
| 6. | San Marino | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 1:46 | 0 |
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