GENEVA: Spain still looks the best team in Europe, England finally put on a show in World Cup qualifying, and France got back-to-back wins while almost dropping points despite Kylian Mbappé’s goals.
Every European team have now begun their qualifying group, and it was a good week for 40-year-old greats Cristiano Ronaldo, in Portugal’s fast start, and Luka Modrić, with Croatia leading its group.
Erling Haaland’s five-goal haul in Norway’s 11-1 beating of Moldova pushed Italy closer to the playoffs in a group where goal difference could be decisive.
Italy had perhaps the strangest week in their quest to avoid missing a third straight World Cup.
The four-time champion earned six points and scored 10 goals yet ended with new coach Gennaro Gattuso filmed aiming expletives at an Israel player on the field after a wild 5-4 win.
Germany also could risk ending up in the playoffs next March after stumbling to an opening 2-0 loss at Slovakia. It was a first-ever German loss on the road in World Cup qualifying.
Slovakia might yet regret winning only 1-0 at Luxembourg from a 90th-minute goal. Only the group winner advance directly in November and goal difference is the first tiebreaker.
Stylish Spain
Euro 2024 winner Spain were denied adding a 2025 Nations League title only by a penalty shootout loss against Portugal at a final where it twice led.
Already Spain look Europe’s best hope at the 2026 World Cup. If a 3-0 win at struggling Bulgaria was routine, the 6-0 thrashing of Euro 2024 quarterfinalist Turkiye in Istanbul was a standout result.
A hat trick from midfielder Mikel Merino meant Spain did not need goals from Lamine Yamal though the 18-year-old star had two assists.
Spain look balanced, young and still improving for Luis de la Fuente, the understated coach. Hosting Georgia and star winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia on Oct. 11 in Elche should be a highlight of the next international break.
Tuchel’s England emerge
England demolished Serbia 5-0 in one of Europe’s more intimidating stadiums in Belgrade.
The style of victory should end talk that the Euro 2024 finalist are failing to fire under German coach Thomas Tuchel despite racking up wins and clean sheets. Tuchel called it “a statement victory against a difficult opponent in a difficult environment.”
The fine link-up play for the second goal between Noni Madueke, Elliot Anderson and Morgan Rogers, before Madueke scored, was extra impressive by players from three different clubs who combined have just 19 games for England.
France had a trickier first week and eked out wins against Ukraine (2-0) and Iceland (2-1), which were denied a late leveler in Paris by video review. Mbappé scored in each game and now is second on Les Bleus’ all-time list with 52 goals, trailing Olivier Giroud’s 57.
Swiss summit
A quarterfinal exit at Euro 2024 — in a penalty shootout against England — seemed to mask how good Switzerland were at the tournament. Dominant wins in the US in June against World Cup co-hosts Mexico and the US also went under the radar.
Switzerland were impressive starting a tight-looking qualifying group and used home advantage in Basel to full effect: Four first-half goals in a 4-0 win over Kosovo, then three before halftime to beat Slovenia 3-0.
Three of the seven goals were scored by Breel Embolo, fulfilling the promise he showed as a teenager. Captain Granit Xhaka is still running the show in midfield. Trips to Sweden and Slovenia follow in October.
San Marino’s hopes
The chance of the “world’s worst team,” 210th-ranked San Marino, getting into the European qualifying playoffs looks slim. San Marino are in contention because they are among 14 winners of a UEFA Nations League group last year.
The 16-nation playoffs in March involve the 12 runners-up in November of qualifying groups, plus four teams via their Nations League ranking. Those four will have finished no higher than third in qualifying groups.
San Marino are ranked No. 14 in Nations League standings so need at least 10 of the top 13 to win or place second in their World Cup qualifying group.
As it stands, Sweden — which took just one point this week from games against Slovenia and Kosovo — and Romania could need back-door entry to the playoffs. So too Northern Ireland, Wales or North Macedonia, plus Moldova. All would get in above San Marino.
World Cup draw in DC
There is a clear scenario for Italy being the team to avoid at the World Cup draw on Dec. 5 in Washington. Pay attention Brazil and Argentina, US and Canada.
For the second straight men’s World Cup, not all entries will be finalized before the tournament draw must be made.
Six placeholders will join 42 confirmed qualifiers to take account of playoff brackets decided in March. Four are in Europe and two in the intercontinental section.
All six placeholders come out of seeding pot 4 of lowest-ranked teams, even if a playoff contender is Italy (currently No. 11 in the FIFA rankings ) or Germany (No. 9).
For top-seeded teams, like the South American powers or the co-hosts, Italy would not be an ideal option.
Still, in the lopsided 48-team format — where third-placed teams in eight of the 12 groups must advance to the expanded first knockout round of 32 teams — everyone has a better chance than in the balanced 32-team group-stage format.
European World Cup qualifying: Spain reigns, Tuchel’s England emerges and Mbappé keeps France steady
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European World Cup qualifying: Spain reigns, Tuchel’s England emerges and Mbappé keeps France steady
- Erling Haaland’s five-goal haul in Norway’s 11-1 beating of Moldova pushed Italy closer to the playoffs in a group where goal difference could be decisive
- Germany also could risk ending up in the playoffs next March
Zemmer fires 7-birdie round to lead Hilton Classic in Morocco
- 5-under round leaves Zimmer 1 shot ahead of compatriot Matteo Cristoni as Italy dominates early leaderboard
TANGIER: Italy’s Aron Zemmer produced a composed and clinical display to card a five-under-par opening round and claim the first-round lead at the Hilton Classic here on Monday.
Zemmer’s compatriot Matteo Cristoni was just one shot behind, giving the Azzurri a strong early lead at the second event of the MENA Golf Tour’s Morocco Series at Al-Houara Golf Club in Tangier.
Zemmer, who started from the 10th tee, carded seven birdies against two bogeys in strong, swirling wind that made scoring difficult throughout the field.
He birdied three consecutive holes from the third before adding another at the ninth to make the turn four-under, and despite dropping shots at 11 and 12, responded with birdies at 15 and 18 to sign for a 67.
Despite a three-putt early in his round, Zemmer was in good spirits, riding the confidence of a strong performance at last week’s Al -Houara Classic. “To make seven birdies in those conditions is very pleasing,” Zemmer said.
“I came into the week feeling confident after playing well last week, and my iron play was solid which allowed me to go at a few pins. I made a small adjustment to my putting setup which definitely helped today.”
Also starting from the 10th, Cristoni was equally impressive, making birdies at 10 and 13 before picking up further shots at the third, fourth and sixth on the front nine. A sole bogey at the seventh was the only blemish on a four-under 68.
Ireland’s Alex Maguire shares second place on four-under par after a round that featured arguably the shot of the day, an eagle at the par-five 15th alongside four birdies.
Maguire admitted he had been hard on himself after a disappointing finish at last week’s Al-Houara Classic but found inspiration on the morning of his round from a fellow Irishman, Ryder Cup star Shane Lowry.
Lowry’s widely-reported interview about throwing away a three-shot lead down the stretch at the Cognizant Classic on the PGA Tour struck a chord. “It was very, very gusty and in many ways it felt like it got harder as the round went on,” Maguire said.
“The front nine was more constant, you could read the wind and commit to a number, but on the back nine it became really unpredictable. It’s much more about feel and experience in these conditions.
“The first thing I saw this morning was Shane Lowry talking about going through something similar at a much bigger event and saying you’ve just got to keep teeing it up and not dwell on it.
“It helped me stop feeling sorry for myself and just get on with it, and I think that showed today.”
Four players share fourth place on three-under par: France’s Pierre Pineau, Scotland’s Sebastian Sandin, England’s Curtis Knipes and Pakistan’s Aadam Syed.
Pineau, who chipped in twice on what he described as two of the toughest holes on the course, credited his experience of playing in Ireland and Scotland for helping him handle the breeze.
“My driving was especially solid and I played very well tee to green,” Pineau said. “Having played so many tournaments in Ireland and Scotland, I’m used to these kinds of conditions.”
Knipes, who felt he benefited from the draw as the wind eased later in his round, was encouraged by his form heading into the second day.
“The wind was pumping and swirling at times but my game feels in a better spot than last week,” he said. “When you look at the scoring overall it’s a very good round in those conditions.”
Seven players are tied for eighth on two-under par: Toby Hunt (Wales), Haiko Dana (Spain), Alfonso Buendia (Spain), Michael Stewart (Scotland), Zubair Firdaus (Malaysia), Brody Harbinson (Australia) and Andoni Etchenique (France).
Ayoub Lguirati was the highest-placed Moroccan, the home favorite carding a level-par round to share 18th position and keeping local interest alive in the tournament.
Round two takes place on Tuesday, with the final round on Wednesday. The Hilton Classic has a prize fund of $100,000 and awards Official World Golf Ranking points.
