the recap of the qualifying evening

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To believe that the gods of football were not satisfied. The start of the ninth day of the European Zone qualifiers, Thursday 11 November, offers even more suspense before the last matches scheduled for the next few days.

Sunday will see three direct finals for the first places in the group take place. Spain, victorious against Greece (1-0) will approach theirs in a favorable position against Sweden, the big loser of the day. Portugal stalled against Ireland (0-0) and will absolutely have to do better against Serbia. Large winner in Malta (1-7), Croatia for its part offered a last chance to overthrow Russia.

A little Spain takes advantage of the Swedish faux pas

With many absent, the Spanish selection provided the essentials in Greece. La Roja did not really shine in Athens. But a penalty from the player loaned by PSG to Sporting, Pablo Sarabia, was enough for the happiness of the finalist of the last League of Nations. Spain did not have the mastery in this game. But she now has that of her destiny. She can thank Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s Sweden for that.

Seven and a half months later, the AC Milan striker regained his Swedish selection. But it didn’t shine, and all of Sweden collapsed. The Scandinavian formation was quite logically beaten by Georgia (2-0) in Tbilisi. The star of the evening is called Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, great hope of European football, and author of his first double in selection, at 20 years old. With Spain’s victory in Greece, Sweden is no longer the leader of Group B and is one point behind before the final on Sunday (8.45 p.m., in Seville).

Portugal misses its evening and puts itself in danger

Sweden is not the only one to have experienced disappointments. Portugal could not do better than a very insufficient draw in Ireland (0-0). Fernando Santos’ players can even consider themselves happy, so much they were under pressure from the premises, and even finished the game at 10 after the expulsion of Pepe, who will be suspended for the last day.

Unlike the first leg where he saved his team from a brace in added time, Cristiano Ronaldo was not decisive and missed the main Lusitanian opportunity. The 2016 European champion remains in charge of group A, but now tied with Serbia, with 17 points before Portugal – Serbia determining Sunday in Lisbon.

Germany dynamites the Liechtenstein, Croatia flames to save its skin

Croatia also went for their Group H final against Russia (Sunday, 3 p.m.). The vice-world champion had to win in Malta to have another chance. Faced with opposition from a much lower standard, the Croats did not really tremble (1-7), with the exception of the goal-gag scored against his camp by Marcelo Brozovic, author of an unfortunate release in his own face and nets of his keeper. For the rest, the residents of Ligue 1 had fun. The Marseillais Duje Ćaleta-Car and the Rennais Lovro Majer (doubled) signed their first achievements in the selection.

Already qualified for several weeks, Hansi Flick’s Germany had fun against Liechtenstein (9-0). Well helped by two csc, but also by a big heat stroke with three goals between the 20th and 23 minutes, the Mannschaft took care of its goal difference. Leroy Sané and Thomas Müller scored twice, while Ridle Baku (Wolfsburg) scored his first goal for his third cap.


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