39 of 48 starting places awarded
©IMAGO
European champions Spain, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria and Scotland have secured the last direct tickets in Europe for next year’s World Cup. A 2-2 draw against Turkey was enough for the Spaniards, a 1-1 draw in Kosovo for the Swiss and a 1-1 draw against Bosnia-Herzegovina for the Austrians, while the Belgians celebrated a 7-0 win against outsiders Liechtenstein. The Scots celebrated a late 4-2 win against Denmark. This means that 39 of 48 World Cup starting places have been taken. The Bosnians, the Danes, the Turks and the Kosovars, as well as Wales, have to make it to the playoffs.
Substitute Michael Gregoritsch (78th minute) saved the ÖFB team from direct qualification shortly before the end. Previously, Gladbach’s Haris Tabakovic (12th) ensured the guests took the lead for a long time.
But the most dramatic thing happened in Hampden Park in Glasgow. Scott McTominay (3rd) and Lawrence Shankland (78th) gave the Scots the lead twice. Rasmus Höjlund (57th/foul penalty) and Patrick Dorgu (82nd) each managed to equalize. The draw would have been enough for the Danes – but in the third minute of added time Kieran Tierney caused the stadium to shake. Shortly before the final whistle, Kenny McLean increased the score (90+8). Denmark, which played outnumbered for a long time after Frankfurt’s Rasmus Kristensen was sent off (61′), has to serve detention.
The same applies to Turkey, who would only have had a chance of direct qualification with an extremely big win in Spain. But the guests at least managed a draw with the favorites thanks to goals from Deniz Gül (42nd) and Dortmund’s Salih Özcan (54th). Dani Olmo (4th) and Mikel Oyarzabal (62nd) scored for Spain.
Switzerland also played a draw in Kosovo, which at least made it into the playoffs after a strong qualifying round. Rubén Vargas (47th) put the Swiss in the lead, Düsseldorf’s Florent Muslija (74th) equalized.