Spain pushed all the way in Georgia
All Europe’s big guns win qualifiers but Spanish need inury-time strike
W orld Cup qualifying in Europe took a quirky turn when the goalposts were removed before a match between Switzerland and Lithuania because they were deemed the incorrect size.
It was one of the few things that didn’t go to script yesterday.
All the continent’s heavyweight countries secured victories, though Spain left it late — the second minute of stoppage time, to be precise — to see off Georgia 2-1 after falling behind.
Like Spain, France started their qualification campaign with an unexpected draw at home but also got back on track in their second game, easing to a 2-0 victory in Kazakhstan.
Italy stretched their unbeaten streak to 24 games with a 2-0 win in Bulgaria, and England also moved on to a maximum six points in group play with a 2-0 victory in Albania. Germany made it two straight wins to open qualifying, too, by beating Romania 1-0 away.
Denmark became the latest European team to use the World Cup qualifiers to direct attention to workers’ rights in 2022 host Qatar.
Their players wore red T-shirts with the slogan “Football supports change” for the team photo before kickoff against Moldova, who Denmark went on to beat 8-0.
The Danish football federation said the shirts would be signed and auctioned to raise money for projects with Amnesty International that help migrant workers in Qatar.
Olmo rescues Spain
Dani Olmo came off the bench to snatch a come-from-behind win for Spain, his long-range shot getting palmed into the top corner of the net by flailing Georgia keeper Giorgi Loria.
Ferran Torres equalised for Spain in the 55th minute, his fifth goal in six starts, after Georgia went ahead just before halftime.
Sweden look like being Spain’s biggest challenger in Group B for the one automatic qualifying spot after sealing a second straight win by beating Kosovo 3-0. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, freshly out of international retirement, had a hand in two of the goals, having also claimed an assist on his first game back, a 1-0 win over Georgia on Friday.
Penalty miss
A missed penalty by Kylian Mbappe had little effect for France in their comfortable win in Kazakhstan.
The world champions were already two goals ahead by then, through Ousmane Dembele — one of a raft of changes by manager Didier Deschamps — and an own goal by Sergey Malyy in the first half.
Mbappe came on after Anthony Martial appeared to hurt his knee getting his studs caught in the synthetic turf at Astana Stadium, and the Paris Saint-Germain star won the penalty himself — only to see his shot tipped around the post.
Ukraine and Finland drew 1-1 and have two points each to sit behind France in Group D.
Kane v Lewandowski
England play Poland in a key Group I qualifier at Wembley on Thursday and both their world-class strikers look in good shape for it.
Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski scored for a 10th straight game for club and country, netting a double in Poland’s 3-0 win over Andorra. The Poles opened by drawing with Hungary.
Harry Kane scored one goal and set up another for Mason Mount in England’s 2-0 win in Albania, which built on the 5-0 thrashing of San Marino on Friday.
England lead the group with six points. Hungary are level with Poland on four after beating San Marino 3-0.
Italy flying
Italy’s back-to-back wins to open World Cup qualifying come after a perfect 10 wins in qualifying for Euro 2020. Goals against Bulgaria from Andrea Belotti, from the penalty spot, and Manuel Locatelli, the first for his country, followed up a victory over Northern Ireland on Friday.
Switzerland are behind Italy only on goal difference after their 1-0 win over Lithuania, secured by an early goal from Xherdan Shaqiri. The start of the game was delayed 10 minutes because one of the goals was not regulation size and had to be changed.
Germany top
Germany top Group J on goal difference after Serge Gnabry finished off a team move in the 16th minute that involved Antonio Rudiger and Kai Havertz. The Germans are rebuilding after a 6-0 Nations League loss to Spain in November.
Armenia are also on six points after beating Iceland 2-0, while North Macedonia cruised to a 5-0 win over Liechtenstein for their first points.
Record win
Denmark earned their biggest win in a World Cup or European Championship qualifier. Kasper Dolberg and Mikkel Damsgaard both scored twice in Herning for the Danes, who were 5-0 up after 39 minutes.
Denmark are the only team in Group F with six points. Austria are two back after coming from behind to beat the Faroe Islands 3-1, while Israel and Scotland drew 1-1.