All the verdicts from the semi-finals: Montella advances with Kadioglu’s goal, Gyokeres scores three for Ukraine and will now challenge the Poles, who eliminated Albania thanks to goals from Lewandowski and Zielinski. A brace for the Lazio winger, who drags his team into the final against the Czechs
Eight national teams, four places. The scoreboard has been defined for the final stage of the play-offs which are worth qualifying for the World Cup. In the playoff semi-finals, Denmark beat North Macedonia 4-0 thanks to the “Italians” Isaksen (a brace) and a goal from former Sampdoria player Damsgaard. Norgaard is also on the net. Riemer’s team will challenge the Czech Republic in the final. After a 2-2 draw in regulation time, Koubek’s men advance to penalties against Ireland. Kovar was decisive, doing well to neutralize two spot kicks. Gyokeres leads his Sweden with a hat-trick, Ukraine eliminated: Potter’s team will find Poland. Lewandowski and Zielinski close the Albania case. Even Turkey continues to dream, the World Cup has been missing for 24 years. A flash from Kadioglu was enough for Montella’s group to beat Lucescu’s Romania. Calhanoglu was replaced in the 90th minute due to a calf problem. The Turks will face Kosovo, who surprisingly won 4-3 over Calzona’s Slovakia.
Coup Türkiye, Kosovo feat
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It’s a first half blocked in Istanbul between Türkiye and Romania. In the 53rd minute a flash from Kadioglu, assisted by Arda Guler, broke the deadlock. First Yildiz had hit the crossbar. The response from Lucescu’s men came in the 77th minute with the post from former Genoa player Stanciu, but it wasn’t enough for the guests to equalise. Montella’s team wins the playoff final. He hadn’t played for the national team for four years: he came back and scored. In the 6th minute, Slovakia beat Kosovo thanks to a header from Valjent, Mallorca’s central defender, assisted by former Sassuolo player Haraslin. After a quarter of an hour the equalizer came with a very precise shot from Hodza. Before the break, Calzona’s team gets back ahead thanks to Haraslin. But at the start of the second half Asllani made it 2-2 and in the 59th minute Kosovo turned it around with Muslija’s free kick. In the 71st minute Foda’s group also found the 4-2 with Hajrizi. In extremis, Slovakia closes at 4-3 with Strelec. It ends like this, Muriqi and his companions do the feat.
Türkiye-Romania 1-0. Scorers: 53′ Kadioglu Slovakia-Kosovo 3-4. Scorers: 6′ Valjent (S), 21′ Hodza (K), 45′ Haraslin (S), 47′ Asllani (K), 60′ Muslija (K), 72′ Hajrizi (K), 94′ Strelec (S)
Denmark ahead
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The “Italian” axis gives Denmark the advantage in the 49th minute against North Macedonia: Hojlund serves Isaksen, then former Sampdoria player Damsgaard passes Dimitrievski. In two minutes, Riemer’s team spreads: the Lazio striker scores a brace and takes his team to 3-0. Then Norgaard signs the poker. In the final, the Danes will face the Czech Republic. After the hat-trick against Hungary, Troy Parrott unlocks the match against Schick and his teammates with a penalty. In the 23rd minute Ireland doubled their lead by taking advantage of an unfortunate rebound from Kovar. Before the break the former Roma thought about shortening the score from the spot. Five minutes from the end Krejci sends the game to extra time making the score 2-2. However, penalties are needed to send Koubek’s group to the final stage of the play-offs.
Denmark-North Macedonia 4-0. Scorers: 49′ Damsgaard, 58′ and 59′ Isaksen, 76′ Norgaard
Czech Republic-Ireland 6-5 pens (2-2 in the 90th minute). Scorers: 19′ pen. Parrott (I), 23′ own goal Kovar, 27′ pen. Schick (R), 86′ Krejci (R)
Poland is there
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Albania tries to surprise Poland in the 42nd minute with a very quick counterattack by Hoxha, a Dinamo Zagreb winger: goalkeeper Grabara made a poor exit. But in the 62nd minute captain Lewandowski headed home goal number 89 for the national team and equalised. Ten minutes later Zielinski made the decisive 2-1 with a perfect shot that beat Strakosha. Urban’s team is in the playoff final. Until now he had never scored in the World Cup qualifiers, but he broke free on the most important evening. In the 6th minute Gyokeres puts Sweden ahead against Ukraine on a neutral pitch in Valencia. In the first half, Atalanta defender Hien was forced to come off due to injury, taking his place at Starfelt. The Arsenal striker scores the second in the 52nd minute and also makes it 3-0 from a penalty. Ponomarenko’s flag goal arrives in full injury time. Potter’s men pass by
Poland-Albania 2-1. Scorers: 42′ Hoxha (A), 63′ Lewandowski (P), 73′ Zielinski (P)
Ukraine-Sweden 1-3. Scorers: 6′, 51′ and 72′ pen. Gyokeres (S), 91′ Ponomarenko (U)
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