Poland, Russia punch tickets to Euro 2020
Germans and Dutch also close in on finals
PARIS: Poland and Russia secured their places at Euro 2020 on Sunday with victories over North Macedonia and Cyprus respectively, while Germany and the Netherlands boosted their hopes of reaching the finals.
Russia eased to a 5-0 thrashing of 10-man Cyprus, with Poland joining them, Belgium and Italy in the finals by seeing off North Macedonia 2-0 with ease.
Stanislav Cherchesov’s Russia, who reached the World Cup quarter-finals on home soil last year, only had to avoid defeat in Nicosia to follow Belgium in qualifying from Group I.
Valencia winger Denis Cheryshev fired in a ninth-minute opener for the visitors, before Magomed Ozdoev, who scored a fabulous long-range strike on Thursday against Scotland, made it two midway through the first half.
Any thoughts of a Cyprus comeback were ended in just the 28th minute when Kostas Laifis was dismissed for a nasty lunge on Russian full-back Sergei Petrov.
Striker Artem Dzyuba scored his third goal in two games in the 79th minute, before Aleksandr Golovin and Cheryshev’s second completed the rout late on.
Russia will attempt to overtake Belgium, who beat Kazakhstan 2-0 earlier on Sunday, at the summit when they host the world’s No.1 side on Nov 16.
The European Championship finals, which start on June 12 next year, are being held at 12 different venues across the continent, including Saint Russia players celebrate their win against Cyprus in a Euro 2020 qualifying match.
Petersburg in Russia.
Poland went into their Group G game against North Macedonia knowing victory would punch their ticket for the Euros.
They were forced to be patient by the visitors, who could qualify through the play-offs after winning their Nations League group if they fail to do so automatically.
But Przemyslaw Frankowski prodded home less than 60 seconds after coming on as a substitute in the 74th minute, before Akardiusz Milik made the points safe.
Ronald Koeman’s Netherlands
remained at the top of Group C ahead of Germany on head-to-head record with a nervy 2-1 win over Belarus in Minsk.
The Dutch lead third-placed Northern Ireland by three points after beating Michael O’Neill’s side 3-1 on Thursday.
Georginio Wijnaldum scored twice in the first half and Stanislav Dragun cut the deficit early in the second half of the game.
“We have to do better than we did in the second half, although in the end we had things under control,” Dutch captain Virgil van Dijk said.
Victory in Belfast over the Northern Irish next month would secure the Oranje a first appearance at a major tournament since finishing third at the 2014 World Cup.
Germany eased to a 3-0 victory in Estonia despite seeing Emre Can sent off in the 14th minute. Ilkay Gundogan scored twice, with Timo Werner also finding the net.
Croatia were made to wait to qualify, as Gareth Bale’s strike in first-half injury time proved enough to grab a 1-1 draw for Wales in Cardiff.
Nikola Vlasic fired a low ninth-minute shot in off the post to put Croatia on course for qualification, before Bale’s fine goal secured Wales a point.