Germany and Netherlands attain the World Cup after large wins in last qualifiers
Germany and Netherlands attain the World Cup after large wins in last qualifiers
A 6-0 thrashing of Slovakia on Monday accomplished Germany’s restoration from a surprising begin to group play because the four-time champion maintained its proud file of all the time qualifying for the World Cup.
The Germans will probably be competing on soccer’s greatest stage for the twenty first time in 23 editions. They didn’t enter the inaugural 1930 World Cup and weren’t allowed to enter the 1950 version.
The Netherlands — a long-standing rival of Germany — additionally gained its group to achieve subsequent yr’s match being held within the United States, Canada and Mexico. A 4-0 win over Lithuania noticed the Dutch qualify with an unbeaten file, ending forward of Poland.
Slovakia and Poland will probably be within the playoffs, the draw for which takes place on Thursday.
Germany and the Netherlands joined England, France, Portugal, Croatia and Norway because the European groups to have certified for the 2026 World Cup.
The remaining 5 automated spots will probably be booked on Tuesday when group play is wrapped up.
It was Slovakia which handed Germany a stunning 2-0 loss within the first spherical of matches in Group A. That was solely the Germans’ third ever defeat in World Cup qualifying however they’ve responded with 5 straight wins, culminating within the heavy beating of Slovakia in Leipzig the place the strain was firmly on Julian Nagelsmann’s staff.
Four of the targets got here within the first half; Leroy Sane scored twice after strikes by Nick Woltemade and Serge Gnabry.
The second-half targets had been by two Leipzig gamers — substitute Ridle Baku and Assan Ouédraogo, a 19-year-old midfielder making his debut.
Germany entered the sport needing solely a draw and completed three factors forward of Slovakia.
No staff has reached the World Cup last extra instances than Germany. It was the winner in 1954, 1974, 1990 and 2014 — the primary three as West Germany — and the runner-up in 1966, 1982, 1986 and 2014.
Germany has been eradicated within the group stage within the final two World Cups, nonetheless, to wreck its standing as a world heavyweight.
The Netherlands will get one other probability to win that elusive first World Cup trophy, 4 years after exiting the 2022 match in a dramatic penalty shootout loss to Lionel Messi’s Argentina within the quarterfinals.
A draw with Lithuania on Monday additionally would have been sufficient for the Dutch, who began the sport three factors away from Poland, however they wound up pouring within the targets in Amsterdam — beginning with Tijjani Reijnders within the sixteenth.
Cody Gakpo made it 2-0 from the penalty spot within the 58th and there have been extra targets from Xavi Simons and Donyell Malen, who scored off a robust effort on the finish of his solo run that started inside his personal half.
The Netherlands has been runner-up on the World Cup thrice — in 1974, 1978 and 2010.
soccer: /hub/soccer
This article was generated from an automatic information company feed with out modifications to textual content.
See Less









