The China Mail - Croatia qualify for 2026 World Cup, Netherlands close, Germany in limbo

Germany's qualification hopes still rest on their final qualification match on Monday at home to Slovakia despite a Nick Woltemade brace giving them a laboured 2-0 win at Luxembourg.

But it was a night when the underdogs struck fear into more illustrious opponents, without managing to strike a telling blow.

The Faroes, who were on a three-match winning run coming into their Group L encounter in Rijeka and still harboured faint hopes of qualification, had the audacity to take the lead against the 2018 World Cup finalists, who only needed a draw to progress.

Geza David Turi picked up the ball just inside the Croatia half and strode forwards unmolested before trying his luck from outside the box and benefiting from a heavy deflection to beat Dominik Livakovic in the Croatia goal on 16 minutes.

The lead lasted only seven minutes before Manchester City defender Josko Gvardiol lashed in an equaliser after some hesitant Faroes defending.

With the evergreen Luka Modric still pulling the strings in Croatia's midfield at 40 on the occasion of his 193rd cap, the hosts gradually took control.

And 12 minutes into the second half, Petar Musa fired in at the near post to settle Croatian nerves.

With the Faroes' hopes of becoming the smallest ever nation to reach a World Cup fading fast, Nikola Vlasic drove the knife in deeper still 20 minutes from time with a cushioned volley to beat goalkeeper Mathias Lamhauge, who had strayed into no-man's land.

- Depay maintain's Dutch lead -

Memphis Depay's Dutch record-extending 55th international goal helped push the Netherlands to the brink of qualification with a 1-1 draw in Poland.

Jakub Kaminski had given Poland hope of pipping Netherlands to top spot in Group G two minutes before the break in Warsaw, latching onto Robert Lewandowski's through ball to slot past Bart Verbruggen in the Dutch goal.

But two minutes after the restart, Depay struck to maintain the Netherlands' three-point lead at the top of the group, and a massive goal difference advantage of 13 that makes qualification at home to Lithuania on Monday a formality.

In Group A, plucky Luxembourg gave Germany plenty of scares in a goalless first half before Newcastle forward Woltemade bagged a second-half brace to keep Germany top of the pool.

They need only a point at home to Slovakia on Monday to book their ticket to the World Cup.

Their nearest rivals, Slovakia, had two goals chalked off by VAR but Tomas Bobcek struck in injury time in Kosice to snatch a 1-0 victory over Northern Ireland.

Slovakia, though, must win in Germany on Monday to top the group and avoid the play-offs.

Elsewhere, Liam Jessop's 20th-minute strike threatened to give Gibraltar a first ever victory -- or even draw -- in a major tournament qualification match, but Vasilije Adzic and Nikola Krstovic ensured Montenegro avoided a shock defeat to triumph 2-1 in Group L.

I.Ko--ThChM