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
Rodrygo’s winner lifts Real Madrid past Alaves to end losing streak
- The victory keeps Real second in the standings on 39 points, four adrift of Barcelona, while Alaves are 12th on 18 points
VITORIA-GASTEIZ, Spain: Rodrygo secured Real Madrid a crucial 2-1 victory over Deportivo Alaves on Sunday in LaLiga, ending a dismal run of form and keeping them within four points of leaders Barcelona.
Real, under pressure after two straight losses in all competitions, broke the deadlock through Kylian Mbappe’s stunning first-half strike.
However, a resilient Alaves levelled in the 68th minute through Carlos Vicente. The visitors restored their lead eight minutes later, courtesy of a counter-attack led by Vinicius Jr, whose assist was converted by Rodrygo.
The victory keeps Real second in the standings on 39 points, four adrift of Barcelona, while Alaves are 12th on 18 points.
The narrow triumph in the Basque Country provided manager Xabi Alonso with much-needed breathing space after a run of two wins from their previous eight matches across all competitions.
Sunday’s victory demonstrated Real’s resilience and ongoing weaknesses. Despite taking a 24th-minute lead through Mbappe’s spectacular strike, they found themselves outplayed by an Alaves side roared on by a sold-out Mendizorrotza stadium.
Mbappe had opened the scoring in trademark fashion after Jude Bellingham threaded a long pass to the French forward, who ran down the left channel before cutting inside and unleashing a bullet strike into the top corner from the edge of the box.
Despite Real’s early lead, Alaves grew dominant as the first half progressed. The hosts pressured Real’s makeshift defense, which featured 19-year-old academy graduate Victor Valdepenas in his senior debut at left back.
Alaves’ pressure was eventually rewarded in the 68th minute when substitute Vicente, introduced moments earlier, latched onto Antonio Blanco’s long ball and surged past Real’s high defensive line to finish into the top corner.
Initially flagged offside, Vicente’s goal was awarded after a VAR review confirmed the forward had timed his run perfectly.
Real’s winner came as Vinicius wrestled past a defender on the left flank before driving into the penalty area and delivering a low cross, finding Rodrygo, who slid in to steer the ball home from close range.
“It was a tough, very competitive match,” Alonso told a press conference.
“We started well and took the lead, but then we lost control and, as a result, we didn’t finish well. We had chances in the second half, but we conceded from the only mistake Valdepenas made and Carlos Vicente took advantage of that, after a great pass.
“But the team continued to fight hard, battling it out in a difficult stadium against a very intense opponent. That second goal gave us the three points and we’re leaving here very happy.”
