Germany perfect in World Cup qualifying
England advances with win, Scotland, Poland remain in running to play in Russia
BELFAST, IRELAND— Defending champion Germany booked its place at next year’s World Cup and stayed perfect in qualifying by beating Northern Ireland 3-1 on Thursday.
Sebastian Rudy and Sandro Wagner scored in the first half and Joshua Kimmich wrapped it up late as Germany made it nine wins from nine games to be certain of finishing at the top of Europe Group C.
Josh Magennis claimed the home side’s consolation after a corner in injury time.
Germany moved eight points clear of Northern Ireland, which was already assured of at least second place, with just one round of games remaining.
Group winners qualify automatically for the finals in Russia, while the top eight runners-up from nine groups go on to playoffs to decide the other four places allocated to Europe.
Already out of contention, the Czech Republic defeated Azerbaijan 2-1 in Baku to move to third, and Mohamed (Moi) Elyounoussi scored a hat trick in Norway’s 8-0 rout of San Marino.
Germany coach Joachim Loew said before his side’s game in Belfast that he wants to complete qualifying with 10 wins in 10 games, a feat accomplished previously only by Spain before it won the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
GROUP F
Harry Kane secured England’s place at the World Cup by scoring in stoppage time to seal a 1-0 victory over Slovenia that highlighted the limita- tions of Gareth Southgate’s Russiabound team on Thursday.
England offered little attacking threat on a dreary and subdued night at Wembley Stadium that was lit up only in the fourth minute of additional time when Kane latched onto Kyle Walker’s cross and struck under goalkeeper Jan Oblak.
“It feels amazing to get there (to the World Cup),” Kane said after his 11th goal in 22 internationals. “It’s no easy feat. There are some other top countries around the world struggling to qualify.”
England, which hasn’t missed a World Cup since 1994, could still be joined in Russia next year by neighbour Scotland.
Martin Skrtel’s 89th-minute own goal gave Scotland a 1-0 victory over Slovakia, which was reduced to 10 men from the 23rd minute when Robert Mak was shown a second yellow card for diving.
The Scots, missing from the World Cup since 1998, will be guaranteed second place in Europe Group F and a potential place in the playoffs if they beat Slovenia on Sunday.
Slovakia, which is two points behind Scotland, has a far easier final group game on Sunday against bot- tom-placed Malta, which gained its first point by drawing with Lithuania 1-1.
GROUP E
Robert Lewandowski scored a hat trick to become Poland’s all-time highest scorer and put his team on the verge of qualifying for the World Cup after beating Armenia 6-1 on Thursday.
After Denmark won at Montenegro 1-0, Poland leads Europe Group E by three points over Denmark, and needs a point from the last-round match on Sunday against Montenegro in Warsaw to automatically qualify as the group winner.
Montenegro is third, six points behind.
With his third hat trick in the campaign, Lewandowski became the most prolific scorer in this European qualifying with 15, one ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo.