Saturday and Sunday's WC Qualifier Reviews
Europe
In the European qualifiers, there are 9 groups of six teams. 1st place in each group qualifies directly to the World Cup. 2nd place teams enter a playoff round against each other. The rest cannot qualify.
Group G: Spain vs Italy
Group A: Netherlands vs Bulgaria
Group H: Greece vs Belgium
Spain came on top by winning an impressive 3-0 against Italy. As Italy are playing a 4-4-2 formation, a draw against Spain could be good enough to take the top spot in Group G.
However it doesn't go as planned for the Azzurri (blues), as Isco scores a stunning free kick in the 13th minute after AC Milan defender Leonardo Bonucci gets a foul in the edge of the penalty box. This forces Italy to play attacking football, despite the attack being Italy's weak spot. In the 22nd minute, Matteo Darmian gives a cross to Torino FC forward Andrea Belotti, however David de Gea makes a fantastic save to keep Spain in the lead. Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos has kept Italy from scoring in multiple occasions. Isco scores another goal in the 40th minute and strikes the ball into the far right corner from just outside the penalty box.
In the 2nd half Isco continues to control the game for Spain as Italy are running out of options. Spain finish the game off in the 77th minute as Alvaro Morata and Ramos start a counter attack with Ramos giving a cross for Morata to slide the ball in the net. The win for Spain puts them top of the table. Italy are 3 points behind Spain in 2nd place as it looks like they will have to settle for a playoff round.
However it doesn't go as planned for the Azzurri (blues), as Isco scores a stunning free kick in the 13th minute after AC Milan defender Leonardo Bonucci gets a foul in the edge of the penalty box. This forces Italy to play attacking football, despite the attack being Italy's weak spot. In the 22nd minute, Matteo Darmian gives a cross to Torino FC forward Andrea Belotti, however David de Gea makes a fantastic save to keep Spain in the lead. Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos has kept Italy from scoring in multiple occasions. Isco scores another goal in the 40th minute and strikes the ball into the far right corner from just outside the penalty box.
In the 2nd half Isco continues to control the game for Spain as Italy are running out of options. Spain finish the game off in the 77th minute as Alvaro Morata and Ramos start a counter attack with Ramos giving a cross for Morata to slide the ball in the net. The win for Spain puts them top of the table. Italy are 3 points behind Spain in 2nd place as it looks like they will have to settle for a playoff round.
Group A: Netherlands vs Bulgaria
The Netherlands were under a huge amount of pressure to win this game and they did just that. Oranje got off to the perfect start, as Daley Blind creates a beautiful play and passes it to Brighton central midfielder Davy Propper to simply tap the ball in the net in the 7th minute. The Dutch are causing all sorts of problems for Bulgaria, but the Bulgrians are also creating chances to score. In the 17th minute, Maccabi Haifa midfielder Georgi Kostadinov recives a cross from Strahil Popov, headers the ball but it hits the post. Vincent Janssen tries his luck from 20 yards out in the 34th minute, but the shot goes wide.
Oranje continue the dominate in the 2nd half with Bulgaria being able to have only one scoring opportunity. The Netherlands double the lead in the 67th minute as Blind gets his second assist of the night with Arjen Robben getting the goal. However Bulgaria respond quickly, as Kostadinov headers the ball from a free kick to make it 2-1 in the 69th minute. Janssen has another opportunity in the 75th minute as his curved shot goes just beyond the far post. In the 80th minute, Oranje double the lead again, as Quincy Promes crosses the ball to unmarked Davy Propper as he headers the ball into the bottom right corner.
This win was crucial for the Dutch, but a let down for Bulgaria. Oranje are in 3rd place with three points below Sweden and one point above Bulgaria. Bulgaria must win their last two games, if they want a chance of qualifying to the World Cup.
Oranje continue the dominate in the 2nd half with Bulgaria being able to have only one scoring opportunity. The Netherlands double the lead in the 67th minute as Blind gets his second assist of the night with Arjen Robben getting the goal. However Bulgaria respond quickly, as Kostadinov headers the ball from a free kick to make it 2-1 in the 69th minute. Janssen has another opportunity in the 75th minute as his curved shot goes just beyond the far post. In the 80th minute, Oranje double the lead again, as Quincy Promes crosses the ball to unmarked Davy Propper as he headers the ball into the bottom right corner.
This win was crucial for the Dutch, but a let down for Bulgaria. Oranje are in 3rd place with three points below Sweden and one point above Bulgaria. Bulgaria must win their last two games, if they want a chance of qualifying to the World Cup.
Group H: Greece vs Belgium
Belgium have booked their ticket to Russia next year with two games to spare. Belgium start attacking already in the 3rd minute as Kevin de Bruyne sets up a beautiful cross for Marouane Fellaini but heads the ball to high. Greece have an opportunity themselves in the 18th minute as Konstantinos Stafylidis hits the post.
In the beginning for the 2nd half, Greece are creating more chances than Belgium, but are no match for Belgium's solid backline. In the 70th minute, Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen scores a cracker from distance to make it 1-0 for the Red Devils. However Greece respond quickly as FC Kobenhavn midfielder Zeca who is unmarked in the penalty box, receives a beautiful cross from Georgios Tzavellas and scores in the 73rd minute. A minute later, Belgium maintain their lead as PSG defender Thomas Meunier crosses the ball to Romelu Lukaku to score his 10th goal in the World Cup Qualifiers.
As Belgium are now officially in the 2018 World Cup, this loss for Greece sends them down to 3rd place with one point below Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In the beginning for the 2nd half, Greece are creating more chances than Belgium, but are no match for Belgium's solid backline. In the 70th minute, Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen scores a cracker from distance to make it 1-0 for the Red Devils. However Greece respond quickly as FC Kobenhavn midfielder Zeca who is unmarked in the penalty box, receives a beautiful cross from Georgios Tzavellas and scores in the 73rd minute. A minute later, Belgium maintain their lead as PSG defender Thomas Meunier crosses the ball to Romelu Lukaku to score his 10th goal in the World Cup Qualifiers.
As Belgium are now officially in the 2018 World Cup, this loss for Greece sends them down to 3rd place with one point below Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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