Get ready for a thrilling journey through the European Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup! A perfect storm of talent and determination is brewing as Spain, Portugal, and Norway continue their unbeaten runs. But here's where it gets controversial... are these teams truly invincible, or will their luck run out soon? Let's dive into the action and find out!
The Unbeaten Trio: Spain, Portugal, and Norway
These three nations are on a roll, with each securing wins on Saturday night and inching closer to their dream of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. But let's not forget the other key players in this drama:
- Kylian Mbappé: This French superstar played a pivotal role in his team's success, opening up a significant lead in their group.
- Switzerland: They matched France's feat with a notable victory over Sweden, adding more intrigue to Group B.
Thursday's matches also saw Scotland stage a remarkable comeback against Greece, keeping them level with Group C leaders Denmark. And let's not forget the important wins for Austria, Netherlands, and the Faroe Islands, who are all making their mark on these qualifiers.
Now, let's dive into the highlights of Matchday 7 and uncover the key moments that shaped these results.
Qualifying Lowdown:
Saturday's Results:
- Group E: Spain's dominance continued with a 2-0 win over Georgia, while Türkiye crushed Bulgaria 6-1.
- Group F: Portugal narrowly beat the Republic of Ireland 1-0, and Hungary defeated Armenia 2-0.
- Group I: Norway's Erling Haaland led his team to a 5-0 victory over Israel, keeping their perfect record intact. Italy also won comfortably in Estonia.
- Group K: Serbia fell to Albania 0-1, and Latvia and Andorra drew 2-2.
Spain's Dominance: 2-0 over Georgia
Yeremy Pino's clinical finish and Mikel Oyarzabal's powerful free-kick extended Spain's perfect Group E record. Pino's goal, a sweeping strike after a clever touch from Robin Le Normand, was a thing of beauty. Georgia's former Valencia keeper, Giorgi Mamardashvili, kept his team in the game with a stunning save from a Ferran Torres penalty.
Portugal's Late Heroics: 1-0 against Ireland
Rúben Neves stepped up as the hero, scoring in the 91st minute to secure Portugal's win. It was a tense match, with Cristiano Ronaldo's penalty saved by Caoimhin Kelleher. But Neves had the last laugh, heading home Francisco Trincão's cross to break Irish hearts.
Norway's Haaland Show: 5-0 over Israel
Erling Haaland, the top scorer in these qualifiers, recovered from an early penalty miss to score a hat-trick and lead Norway to victory. His 12 goals in six games are a testament to his incredible form.
Italy's Comfortable Win: 3-0 over Estonia
Moise Kean, Mateo Retegui, and Pio Esposito all found the net as Italy maintained their six-point gap behind Norway. Kean's early goal set the tone for a dominant display.
Türkiye's Big Win: 6-1 over Bulgaria
Arda Güler was the star, scoring and creating two assists as Türkiye secured their second win in three games.
Friday's Results:
- Group A: Northern Ireland beat Slovakia 2-0, and Germany dominated Luxembourg 4-0.
- Group B: Kosovo and Slovenia drew 0-0, while Sweden lost 0-2 to Switzerland.
- Group D: Iceland and Ukraine played out an eight-goal thriller, with Ukraine winning 5-3. France beat Azerbaijan 3-0.
- Group J: Kazakhstan crushed Liechtenstein 4-0, and Belgium and North Macedonia drew 0-0.
Germany's Dominance: 4-0 over Luxembourg
Captain Joshua Kimmich's brace, along with goals from David Raum and Serge Gnabry, secured a dominant win for Die Mannschaft. Kimmich's penalty and Gnabry's fierce effort showcased their clinical finishing.
France's Mbappé Magic: 3-0 over Azerbaijan
Kylian Mbappé's brilliance was on full display as he danced past defenders and set up goals for Adrien Rabiot and Florian Thauvin. France's perfect record in Group D continued thanks to his exceptional performance.
Belgium vs North Macedonia: 0-0 Draw
This top-of-the-table clash ended in a stalemate, with North Macedonia's resolute defense keeping Belgium at bay. Jeremy Doku's outstanding performance for the Red Devils wasn't enough to break the deadlock.
Switzerland's Win: 2-0 over Sweden
Granit Xhaka's penalty and a late goal from substitute Johan Manzambi gave Switzerland a vital win, putting them five points clear in Group B.
Ukraine's Thriller: 5-3 over Iceland
Ruslan Malinovskyi's brace and late goals from Ivan Kaliuzhnyi and Oleh Ocheretko secured Ukraine's victory in an action-packed match.
Northern Ireland's Win: 2-0 over Slovakia
Trai Hume's delicate lob sealed the deal for Northern Ireland, keeping them level with Germany on six points in Group A.
Thursday's Results:
- Group C: Denmark crushed Belarus 6-0, and Scotland staged a comeback to beat Greece 3-1.
- Group G: Finland beat Lithuania 2-1, and Netherlands dominated Malta 4-0.
- Group H: Austria thrashed San Marino 10-0, and Cyprus and Bosnia and Herzegovina drew 2-2.
- Group L: Czechia and Croatia played out a 0-0 draw, while Faroe Islands recorded a stunning 4-0 win over Montenegro.
Scotland's Comeback: 3-1 over Greece
Scotland's stunning comeback in Glasgow boosted their chances of qualifying for the World Cup finals for the first time since 1998. Ryan Christie and Lewis Ferguson's goals turned the game around after Kostas Tsimikas' opener for Greece.
Czechia vs Croatia: 0-0 Draw
A draw suited Group L leaders Croatia, but Czechia showed significant improvement from their previous 5-1 defeat to the same opponents.
Austria's Rampage: 10-0 over San Marino
Austria's perfect record in Group H continued with a rampant display. Marko Arnautović's four goals made him the country's all-time record goalscorer.
Denmark's Dominance: 4-0 over Belarus
Rasmus Højlund's brace and a dominant first-half performance put Denmark in control of Group C.
Netherlands' Victory: 4-0 over Malta
Cody Gakpo's brace from the penalty spot, along with goals from Tijjani Reijnders and Memphis Depay, secured Netherlands' win.
Faroe Islands' Historic Win: 4-0 over Montenegro
Hanus Sørensen's brace led Faroe Islands to their biggest competitive victory, scoring four goals for the first time in a competitive match.
Sunday's Fixtures:
- Group C: Scotland vs Belarus, Denmark vs Greece
- Group G: Netherlands vs Finland, Lithuania vs Poland
- Group H: San Marino vs Cyprus, Romania vs Austria
- Group L: Faroe Islands vs Czechia, Croatia vs Gibraltar
All kick-offs are at 20:45 CET unless stated.
So, who do you think will emerge as the ultimate winners in these European Qualifiers? Will Spain, Portugal, and Norway maintain their perfect records, or will other teams rise to challenge them? Share your predictions and opinions in the comments below! Let's keep the football fever alive!
