Poland into the playoffs
©IMAGO
As expected, the Netherlands has secured its ticket to next year’s World Cup. Coach Ronald Koeman’s team easily beat Lithuania 4-0 (1-0) in the final qualifying game, thus only eliminating theoretical remaining doubts. Tijjani Reijnders (16th minute), Cody Gakpo (58th), Xavi Simons (60th) and Donyell Malen (62nd) scored the goals for Oranje.
Pursuer Poland, on the other hand, has to go into the playoffs despite a flattering 3:2 (1:1) win against outsiders Malta. Robert Lewandowski (32′), Pawel Wszolek (59′) and Piotr Zielinski (85′) scored the goals for the Poles, which the Dutch could only theoretically have caught up with even if they had lost to Lithuania due to the goal difference. Irvin Cardona (36th) and Teddy Teuma (68th/penalty) scored for Malta.
Although World Cup qualification had already been practically certain, Bond coach Koeman relied on his key players in Amsterdam. And that paid off: the hosts dominated the game and deservedly took the lead through Reijnders. After the break, Gakpo and former Bundesliga professionals Xavi and Malen secured the decision with a triple strike within four minutes.