Germany and Netherlands secure qualification, and more: World Cup 2026 qualifying – as it happened

9.56pm GMT Righto, that then is us. Thanks for your company and comments, sorry I couldn’t use them all; peace out. 9.54pm GMT It’s not going to be entirely edifying, is it? Related: US unveils World Cup visa system but warns fans could still be denied entry Updated at 9.54pm GMT 9.50pm GMT Results Group A Germany 6-0 Slovakia (Germany qualify, Slovakia go into the playoffs) Northern Ireland 1-0 Luxembourg (Northern Ireland already in the playoffs via the Nations League) ** Group G Malta 2-3 Poland (Poland go into the playoffs) Netherlands 4-0 Lithuania (Netherlands qualify) ** Group L Czechia 6-0 Gibraltar (Czechia already qualified for playoffs) Montenegro 2-3 Croatia (Croatia already qualified for World Cup) Updated at 10.03pm GMT 9.42pm GMT Northern Ireland 1-0 Luxembourg First half not too bad, second half not too good; that won't be enough to win the playoff, whoever it’s against. 9.40pm GMT FULL TIME: Netherlands 4-0 Lithuania The Netherlands were 99.99% there before tonight, now they’re absolutely there. 9.39pm GMT GOAL! Malta 2-3 Poland (Zielinski 85) A shot from just outside the box, deflected, and Poland have probably pinched it! 9.37pm GMT FULL TIME: Germany 6-0 Slovakia A fantastic performance from Germany, who needed to deliver and did. They’ll be at the World Cup, of course they will, and I’m excited to see how they get on. 9.35pm GMT There’s been too much going on elsewhere to report much from Windsor Park. But it’s still 1-0 to Northern Ireland with four minutes of added tie remaining; the commentators reckon it’s been flat since half-time. 9.34pm GMT GOAL! Montenegro 2-3 Croatia (Vlasic 87) A Vlasic vaporiser, leathered from the edge of the box, right of centre, rises high inside the near post, and the heist is complete! 9.32pm GMT “I agree with you that Germany seems less likely to lift the not-the-Jules-Rimet than France, Spain or Brazil,” says Kári Tulinius, “and that is because unlike those teams, their defence is lacking. They don’t have top-tier centre-backs and lack defensive midfielders who could make up for that. They should be able to score bucketloads, though.” In fairness, there aren’t that many brilliant centre-backs in the game, nor many brilliant international defences. I guess if you stick Musiala into the mix, that elevates them, but I wouldn’t take them to beat Spain, and I feel like the winners will probably have to. 9.28pm GMT WHAT A GOAL! Germany 6-0 Slovakia (Ouedraogo 79) Sane plays a one-two with Nmecha, racing off the left into the box, takes a return, plays back to Nmecha who taps into Woltemade, he returns to Sane, who leaps to flick inside, and Ouedraogo, only an international player for 40-odd seconds, lashes across Dubravka and into the far corner! What a moment! Updated at 9.30pm GMT 9.24pm GMT I’m very much enjoying Tuchel’s calm responses to questions seeking headlines not information. I’m not sure he’ll get the best football this squad is capable of playing, but for the first time since Terry Venables, England have a manager who is a good, coach, tactician and communicator. Related: Tuchel will visit Alexander-Arnold to explain how he can earn England recall 9.20pm GMT GOAL! Montenegro 2-2 Croatia (Jakic 72) Croatia try various flicks, tricks and shots, their perseverance paying off when one comes back off the post and Jakoc taps in. From 2-0 down, Croatia are level! Updated at 9.23pm GMT 9.18pm GMT GOAL! Malta 2-2 Poland (Teuma pen 68) We’re back level at the Ta’Qali! 9.17pm GMT NO GOAL! Malta 1-2 Poland The ref goes to check VAR from a previous incident … and awards Malta a penalty! I know! 9.16pm GMT GOAL! Malta 1-3 Poland (Swiderski 62) Skoras megs his man down the left, cuts back, and Swiderski finishes low. Updated at 9.19pm GMT 9.14pm GMT GOAL! Germany 5-0 Slovakia (Baku 67) Feet from Woltemade, who megs his man and flicks square with the outside of his boot, Gnabry goes one more, and Baku drives low and hard inside the near post – though perhaps Dubravka could’ve done better. This is a proper tousing now, and it might yet intensify. Updated at 9.18pm GMT 9.12pm GMT “I think it’s far too early to decide if this German team is a serious competitor for the World Cup,” reckons Jörn Gillys-Niemeyer. “On paper the possible team is surely world class. As are other teams. It will depend on two things imo: form (and the current manager showed at the last European Championships that he is willing to leave people at home that are not in good form no matter the name) and most importantly a good pre-tournament camp. It was a marketing claim actually not much liked - Die Mannschaft. But it is where a bunch of individuals can become a team of champions.” As per the Spirit of Spiez in 1954. I just don’t see that they’ve got the elite quality that the best teams do, nor the wealth of gamechanging options. 9.10pm GMT GOAL! Malta 1-2 Poland (Wszolek 59) Another goal I can’t see, so did it really happen? 9.07pm GMT GOAL! Netherlands 4-0 Lithuania (Malen 62) Lithuania win a corner and, for reasons best known to I don’t even know who, look to pick out a man on the edge. Instead, the Netherlands counter, one pass setting Malen away down the right with Simons inside. A sway takes him away from the only defender between him and goal and though he takes a heavy touch, the keeper can’t get out quickly enough and is soon beaten by a vicious shot, hissing and screeching high inside the near post. Three goals in four minutes for Koeman’s boys. Updated at 9.12pm GMT 9.04pm GMT GOAL! Netherlands 3-0 Lithuania (Simons 60) Gakpo punhes a square pass into the box and Sions collects, carrying across the face of goal and feinting the feinting again to diddle a pair of defenders, before swivelling into a shot pulled inside the near post. 9.03pm GMT GOAL! Czechia 6-0 Gibraltar (Hranac 51) I can’t see this one, but it’s his first for his country. 9.02pm GMT GOAL! Netherlands 2-0 Lithuania (Gakpo 58) The keeper dives left and Gakpo passes right. I daresay Netherlands are through. 9.01pm GMT PENALTY TO NETHERLANDS In Dam, De Ligt heads a free-kick back across, the ball tickles a defender’s finger, his arm out as he lands, and after checking VAR, the ref points to the spot. That is vey, very harsh. 8.59pm GMT Toni Kroos, what a player. And what a stroke of luck: he was meant to sign for Man United in the summer of 2014, only for David Moyes to get sacked and Louis van Gaal to decide he preferred Ander Herrera. Oooh, clever clever. Updated at 8.59pm GMT 8.57pm GMT Tangentially, the precision of the touch-and-trap here. Updated at 8.57pm GMT 8.56pm GMT We don’t see many of these these days, but Germany have a free-kick inside the Slovakia box, right of centre and 11 yards out. Raum taps to Kimmich who lays back for Sane, by which time 83 defenders are between ball and goal, blocking behind for a corner which comes to nowt. 8.53pm GMT “So I opened up this MBM and the first thing I read is an English commentator writing off the Germans’ chances of World Cup glory,” writes Justin Kavanagh. “The Congolese use voodoo (allegedly); the Germans use their English naysayers.” I don’t support England, though, and I’d be amazed if Germany win the World Cup. They’d need a lot of help from the draw. Related: Nigeria left to blame ‘voodoo’ after dramatic playoff defeat by DR Congo 8.51pm GMT Malen goes around the outside, crosses low, and narrowly avoid picking out Depay. 8.50pm GMT Germany send on Nmecha for Pavlovic, who played nicely. 8.49pm GMT And away again in Belfast. 8.49pm GMT We’re away again in Dam. 8.47pm GMT Our teams are returning… 8.47pm GMT Who might Northern Ireland meet in the playoffs? Italy, Turkey, Denmark, Germany, Ukraine, Poland are the potentials, but Germany, of courser, are almost through as group winners, while Denmark will be if they avoid defeat against Scotland. 8.37pm GMT Half-time reading: Related: Scotland approach one-game World Cup shootout with excitement and focus 8.36pm GMT Germany have played really well tonight, Slovakia less so. They’ve dominated midfield and been good getting bodies around Woltemade, but the visitors have been so open. 8.35pm GMT Half-time scores Germany 4-0 Slovakia Northern Ireland 1-0 Luxembourg Malta 1-1 Poland Netherlands 1-0 Lithuania Czechia 5-0 Gibraltar Montenegro 2-1 Croatia Updated at 8.41pm GMT 8.34pm GMT GOAL! Czechia 5-0 Gibraltar (Soucek 44) A cross from inside the box, a diving header, and a typical Soucek goal. 8.32pm GMT GOAL! Northern Ireland 1-0 Luxembourg (Donley pen 44) Donley opens body and passes, left-footed, into the bottom-left. That’s the 20-year-old’s first goal for his country. 8.31pm GMT PENALTY AT WINDSOR PARK! Martins tries to clear, boots Brown’s studs at the same time, and after a VAR check the ref points to the spot. 8.30pm GMT GOAL! Germany 4-0 Slovakia (Sané 41) Woltemade and Wirtz gang up to win the ball down the left, Wirtz measures a lovely ball to the far post, and Sane leaps to make sure he can finish with his left foot, powering into the net. Updated at 8.33pm GMT 8.29pm GMT GOAL! Czechia 4-0 Gibraltar (Karabec 39) A lovely ball out to the right, a cross and a finish. 8.27pm GMT GOALS! Malta 1-1 Poland (Lewandowski 32, Cardona 36) A free-kick into the box and a header; a pick-out at the back post, a keeper diving at feet, a bobble, and a tap-in. 8.26pm GMT GOAL! Montenegro 2-1 Croatia (Perisic pen 37) Croatia are still going to be picking their golden generation in 2096. Updated at 8.28pm GMT 8.25pm GMT GOAL! Germany 3-0 Slovakia (Sane 36) There he is! Wirtz turns to clip a gorgeous pass over the Slovakia defence and into the path of Sane, who takes a terrific touch to deliver ball into stride before slipping into the far corner. 8.23pm GMT GOAL! Czechia 3-0 Gibraltar (Coufal 32) Coufal runs away from a free-kick out on the right, the ball goes to the front post and when it’s knocked back to the edge, he’s there to drive low into the near corner. That’s very nicely planned and executed. 8.21pm GMT Germany have dominated Slovakia so even if Duric had scored, it seems unlikely it would’ve altered the result – the class difference is too pronounced. 8.18pm GMT Back in Amsterdam, Reijnders charges forward has men either side … and opts to shoot, his trivela hitting the far post, two-thirds of the way up. 8.17pm GMT GOAL! Germany 2-0 Slovakia (Gnabry 29) This is so simple. A ball into Goretzka, who slides between two defenders into the box, and Gnabry easily rolls into the bottom right. Germany are going to the World Cup! Who knew?! Updated at 8.19pm GMT 8.15pm GMT Luxembourg counter in Belfast and Sinani drills fresh air right into the corner, then Olesen sweeps wide from 20 yards. 8.13pm GMT Slovakia ought to equalise! A shot from the edge is blocked, the ball is bundled through to Durix, and he pokes goalward from seven yards … but Baumann tips around the post then, from the corner, the clearance sits up for Duric, who strikes across it … and it flies just over the top. 8.09pm GMT GOAL! Czechia 2-0 Gibraltar (Chory 18) A cross from the right, bouncing up, and a well controlled, though lonely finish. 8.08pm GMT GOAL! Montenegro 2-0 Croatia (Kristovic 17) A neat turn on the edge and a low finish, that the keeper should probably keep out. 8.06pm GMT GOAL! Germany 1-0 Slovakia (Woltemade 18) A corner is only half-cleared and when Kimmich sends the ball back in from the opposite flank, Woltemade is along in the six=yard box to head home. He’s now scored Germany’s last four goals. Updated at 8.11pm GMT 8.05pm GMT Northern Ireland have just had a goal ruled out for offside, Galbraith going too early before crossing for Donley. 8.03pm GMT Ruud Gullit scored for Netherlands in their ill-fated qualifying campaign for Euro ‘84. I’d not have guessed he made his international debut in 1981. And what a finish it was! 8.02pm GMT GOAL! Netherlands 1-0 Lithuania (Reijnders 16) Apoor pass out is seized upon by De Jong, whose tackle is also a pass, putting Reijnders in, and he punches an outswinging finish high into the net. 7.59pm GMT In Amsterdam, Gakpo heads too close to the keeper after De Jong finds him with a cunning dink, then Malen’s low shot is saved. 7.58pm GMT Northern Ireland are putting it on Luxembourg, Galbraith driving them forward; they could really do with a centre-forward. 7.57pm GMT GOAL! Czechia 1-0 Gibraltar (Doudera 5) A man over down the right and a low finish. Updated at 8.07pm GMT 7.55pm GMT In Leipzig, Germany have Slovakia under pressure, Schlotterbeck heading over from a corner. I’m sure Slovakia plan to sit back, looking to strike on the break. 7.55pm GMT 7.54pm GMT Email! “The Dutch should not be too cocky about their superior goal difference,” chides Malc Shuttleworth. “I was living in Amsterdam in 1983 when the Spanish won by ELEVEN GOALS to go to the Euro ‘84 finals at the Dutch’s expense.” 7.51pm GMT GOAL! Montengro 1-0 Croatia (Osmajic 3) Terrible defending under a high ball allows Osmajic to hare forward and drill home a low finish. 7.50pm GMT I’m eager to see how Germany use Nick Woltemade. He’s a lovely footballer but no threat in behind – he reminds me a little of Dimitar Berbatov. Serge Gnabry and Leroy Sane, though, might be able to play off him – I think it’s the former on the right and latter 0on the left, perhaps for that reason. 7.47pm GMT Aaaand away we go. 7.47pm GMT At Windsor Park. there’s a minute’s applause for George Best, who died 20 years ago next week. The best player to come out of the British Isles? I didn’t see him, obviously, but from what I know, it isn’t even close. The goals here – against Gordon Banks, too – deserve the glorious commentary they get. 7.44pm GMT Highlights of that match here: Updated at 7.44pm GMT 7.42pm GMT Germany have only lost four World Cup qualifiers in their entire history. That is ridiculous – though it’s worth noting one of those reverses came against tonight’s opposition earlier in the group. 7.41pm GMT Out come our various teams… 7.37pm GMT A question: can Germany or the Netherlands win the World Cup? My sense is no, not a chance; the winner will come from Spain, France, England, Brazil, Argentina, with it being hard to look past the first of those. Of course tonight’s big dogs could beat any of them in a one-off, but I can’t see them winning four knockout matches. They don’t have the gamebreakers or options of the best, nor anyone transcendental who can render everything but them irrelevant. 7.33pm GMT Northern Ireland are, as we said, into the playoffs via the Nations League, but will want to build momentum going into that tonight. They fought hard against Slovakia, only to concede a winner in injury time, but they did beat the same opposition at home and, in Ethan Galbraith, have a very modern midfielder doing brillaintly at Swansea. 7.29pm GMT Looking at the Netherlands side, Matthijs de Ligt isn’t just back in the squad but back in the team. He’s earned that with his performances this season, but there’s not much recovery pace between him and Virgil van Dijk, nor does he have the safety in numbers provided by three centre-backs and Casemiro sat in front. 7.27pm GMT Slovakia aren’t the same without the recently retired totem – and now assistant manager – Marek Hamsik. It’s hard to see how they can get after Germany, but Napoli’s Stan Lobota and Atleti’s David Hancko are useful; perhaps David Strelec of Boro can save the day. Otherwise, Leo Sauer, currently with Feyenoord, was excellent when the sides met in Bratislava. 7.21pm GMT So, what’s interesting? I’m looking forward to seeing how Germany do in midfield; I’ve always enjoyed Leon Goretzka, though he’s past his best now, but alongside him, Pavlovic is already extremely good with plenty of scope to get better. I am, of course, also keen to see how Florian Wirtz gets on – the pace of international football might suit him better than that of the Prem. 7.18pm GMT Group L teams Montenegro (4-4-2): Nikic; Vesovic, Tuci, Rubezic, Marusic; Jankovic, Loncar, Bulatovic, Osmajic; Jovetic, Krstovic. Subs: Popovic, Petkovic, Milic, Radunovic, Sipcic, Simun, Vukotic, Brnovic, Perovic, Adzic, Kostic, Djukanovic. Croatia (4-2-3-1): Livakovic; Jakic, Sutalo, Caleta-car, Gvardiol; Perisic, Moro, Vlasic, Mario Pasalic, Ivanovic; Matanovic. Subs: Pandur, Stanisic, Pongracic, Erlic, Modric, Sucic, Fruk, Pasalic, Kramaric, Musa, Orsic. ** Czechia (4-2-3-1): Kovar; Coufal, Hranac, Zeleny, Jurasek; Beran, Soucek; Doudera, Schick, Karabec; Chory. Subs: Jedlicka, Markovic, Chaloupek, Rynes, Sadilek, Cerv, Hellebrand, Danek, Ladra, Sejk, Chytil. Gibraltar (4-3-3): Hankins; Olivero, Lopes, Mauro, Jolley; Ronan, Pozo, Torilla; Scanlon, Bartolo, Del Río. Subs: Banda, Lopez, McClafferty, Mouelhi, Bent, Perera, Vinet, Morgan, Borge, Jessop. 7.11pm GMT Group G teams Netherlands (4-3-3): Verbruggen; Timber J, De Ligt, Van Dijk, Aké; Reinjders, De Jong; Simons, Malen, Gakpo; Depay. Subs: Roefs, Flekken, Geertruida, Van de Ven, Gravenberch, Timber Q, Schouten, Valente, Emegha, Lang. Lithuania (5-3-2): Gertmonas; Tutyskinas, Armalas, Utkus; Sirvys, Gineitis, Vorobjovas, Sirgedas, Lasickas; Cernych, Kalinauskas. Subs: Svedkauskas, Barktus, Olberkis, Beneta, Upstas, Lekiatus, Micevicius, Simkus, Golubickas, Burba, Paulauskas, Dubickas. ** Malta (4-2-3-1): Bonello; Muscat, Mentz, Shaw, Camenzuli; Satariano, Guillaumier; J.Mbong, Teuma, Chouaref; Cardona. Subs: Debono, Al-Tumi, Borg, Pepe, Beerman, Overend, Grech, Paiber, Mbong, Zammit, Buhagiar, Corbalan, Poland (5-4-1): Dragowski; Wszolek, Kedziora, Kiwior, Wisnieski, Skoras; Kaminski, Slisz, Zielinski, Zalewski; Lewandowski. Subs: Kochalski, Grabara, Cash, Ziolkowski, Szczesniak, Bereszynski, Kapustka, Grosicki, Rozga, Kozlowski, Swiderski, Buksa. 7.01pm GMT Group A teams Germany (4-2-3-1): Baumann; Kimmich, Tah, Schlotterbeck, Raum; Pavlović, Goretzka; Gnabry, Wirtz, Sané; Woltemade. Subs: Schneller, Dahmen, Thiaw, Anton, Brown, Baku, Ouedraogo, Nmecha, Schade, Leweling, Burkardt, Adeyemi. Slovakia (4-3-3): Dúbravka; Gyömbér, Skriniar, Obert, Hancko; Bero, Lobotka, Sauer; Duris, Strelec, Duda. Subs: Pekarík, Schranz, Satka, Hrosovsky, Vavro, Haraslin, Benes, Rodák, Takac, Boženík, Bobcek, Rigo. ** Northern Ireland (3-5-2): Hazard, Brown, McNair, McConville; Bradley, Lewis, Galbraith, Lyons, McDonnell; Donley, Price. Subs: Clarke, Southwood, Toal, Johnson, Devlin, Devenny, McCausland, Kelly, Marshall, Charles, Smyth, Magennis. Luxembourg (4-3-3): Moris; Jans, Carlson, Korac, Martins M; Barreiro, Olesen, Martins C; Dardari, Thill, Sinani. Subs: Pereira, Fox, Veiga, Selimovic, Dzogovic, Mustafic, Moreira, Thill, Embaló, Curci, Avdusinovic, Muratovic. Updated at 7.19pm GMT 6.49pm GMT Let’s have a look at some teams… 6.45pm GMT Preamble As we well know, these days World Cup qualifiers are designed to deprive us of the good stuff: heartbreak, horror, devastation, desolation, regret, pain, agony, embarrassment, humiliation and so on. Sadly, the best we can do tonight is irritating inconvenience, but in these straitened times, we’ll absolutely take it. Our major intrigue comes in Group A, where Germany take on Slovakia in Leipzig. The two sides are level on points and confirmed as the top two finishers with Julian Nagelsmann’s mannschaft, ahead on goal difference, needing to avoid defeat to ensure automatic qualification. If they are beaten, they will move into the playoffs with the visitors advancing – and we’ll also have a quarter of an an eye on Northern Ireland, into the playoffs via the Nations League, against Luxembourg. In Amsterdam, meanwhile, the Netherlands – top of Group G – must avoid defeat to Lithuania, or see Poland fail to beat Malta, to take the automatic qualifying spot. If they lose and Poland win, Jan Urban’s men go straight into the finals ... provided there’s a goal difference swing of 13. And finally to Group L, which offers no misery for our delectation. Croatia, whose meeting with Montenegro might still be spicy, are qualified in first place; Czechia, who entertain Gibraltar, are cemented in second. But with the big thing not too far away, anything we can learn now stands us in good stead for then. Kick-offs: 7.45pm GMT Updated at 7.03pm GMT