Thursday and Friday WC Qualifier Reviews
Here are the reviews of the best games that happened during Thursday's and Friday's qualifiers.
Asia
In the Asian qualifiers there are two groups of six teams in this round. The top two teams from each group automatically qualify for the World Cup, the 3rd place teams from Group A and B have a play-off match against each other. The remaining teams can't qualify for the World Cup.
Group B: Japan vs Australia
Japan become the 2nd team from Asia to qualify for the World Cup in Russia as they over come Australia 2-0. The Socceroos needed a win to get 2nd place in the group and in the first 30 minutes were dominating the game with 65% ball possession. Australia couldn't find the net, however Japan did. In the 41th minute Stuttgart forward Takuma Asano was left unmarked with only him and the keeper and scored a simple but crucial goal.
In the 2nd half Japan take control of the game and force the Socceroos to play sloppy football. Japan add a second goal in the 82nd minute as Yosuke Ideguchi scores a cracker and the shot hits the top right hand corner. As Japan qualifies for Russia in style, Australia will need a win against Thailand and hope Saudi Arabia don't beat Japan to get 2nd place.
In the 2nd half Japan take control of the game and force the Socceroos to play sloppy football. Japan add a second goal in the 82nd minute as Yosuke Ideguchi scores a cracker and the shot hits the top right hand corner. As Japan qualifies for Russia in style, Australia will need a win against Thailand and hope Saudi Arabia don't beat Japan to get 2nd place.
Africa
In the African qualifiers, there are 5 groups of four teams. The 1st place teams in each group qualify directly to the World Cup. The remaining team cannot qualify for the World Cup.
Group E: Uganda vs Egypt
Europe
Uganda shocked Egypt by winning 1-0, and could reach the World Cup for the first time ever in their history. Uganda start off strong and are taking many chances to score. In the 32nd minute, unmarked Emmanuel Okwi has a opportunity to score and his shot is saved by Essam El Hadary.
In the 51st minute Emmanuel Okwi strikes it home for Uganda as he takes on Mohammed Shafy, dribbles past him and scores. As Egypt try to respond, in the 61st minute keeper Denis Onyango saves a header from Mohammed Salah with the defence clearing the ball. The Pharaohs continue to attack, but are no match for Uganda's strong defence. This is a huge win for Uganda since they are now in 1st place with 7 points. Egypt are now one point behind Uganda in 2nd place currently with 6 points.
In the 51st minute Emmanuel Okwi strikes it home for Uganda as he takes on Mohammed Shafy, dribbles past him and scores. As Egypt try to respond, in the 61st minute keeper Denis Onyango saves a header from Mohammed Salah with the defence clearing the ball. The Pharaohs continue to attack, but are no match for Uganda's strong defence. This is a huge win for Uganda since they are now in 1st place with 7 points. Egypt are now one point behind Uganda in 2nd place currently with 6 points.
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 A: France vs Netherlands
Les Bleus cruse passed the Dutch as the won a comfortable 4-0. France get the perfect start as Antoine Griezmann scores a one on one passed Barcelona FC keeper Jasper Cillessen. France continue to dominate the 1st half as Oranje struggle to get something out of this game.
It doesn't get any better for the Dutch in the beginning of the second half, as Kevin Strootman is shown a 2nd yellow after tackling Griezmann and is sent off. However Oranje miss a huge opportunity to tie the game, after Quincy Promes crosses the ball to Bayern Munich forward Arjen Robben but heads it across goal for Barcelona defender Umtiti to clear it. The Les Bleus strike again as Monaco midfielder Thomas Lemar scores his first international goal for France to make it 2-0. It get worse for Oranje, as Griezmann creates a counter attack and passes to Thomas Lemar to make it 3-0 for Les Bleus. The French brilliance continues as PSG forward Kylian Mbappe strikes the ball to the bottom left hand corner to finish the game at 4-0. France are back in 1st place as the Netherlands are in 4th place and need to start winning games if they want to qualify to Russia.
It doesn't get any better for the Dutch in the beginning of the second half, as Kevin Strootman is shown a 2nd yellow after tackling Griezmann and is sent off. However Oranje miss a huge opportunity to tie the game, after Quincy Promes crosses the ball to Bayern Munich forward Arjen Robben but heads it across goal for Barcelona defender Umtiti to clear it. The Les Bleus strike again as Monaco midfielder Thomas Lemar scores his first international goal for France to make it 2-0. It get worse for Oranje, as Griezmann creates a counter attack and passes to Thomas Lemar to make it 3-0 for Les Bleus. The French brilliance continues as PSG forward Kylian Mbappe strikes the ball to the bottom left hand corner to finish the game at 4-0. France are back in 1st place as the Netherlands are in 4th place and need to start winning games if they want to qualify to Russia.
Group C: Czech Republic vs Germany
In a close encounter, Germany barely win 2-1 and continue their winning streak. However the Germans get the perfect start, as Mesut Ozil passes the ball to RB Leipzig forward Timo Werner and he slides the ball in to make it 1-0 for Die Mannschaft in the 4th minute. Die Mannschaft are controlling the match as Czech Republic playing conservative football and will make sure the Germans don't grab a second. The Czech's have a great opportunity to score just before half time, but Werder Bremen defender Theodor Selassie shoots the ball way over goal.
Die Mannschaft continue to create chances as Ozil has a long range effort in the 66th minute but deflects off a teammate and is cleared by the Czech defence. In the 78th minute the Czech's finally get their goal as, Hertha Berlin midfielder Vladimir Darida scores a bullet from 25 yards out to tie the game. However Czech Republic's defence was broken in the 88th minute as Bayern Munich defender Mats Hummels headers the ball in the net to maintain Germany's 100% win record in Group C. Czech Republic are in 3rd place and are seven points below 2nd place Northern Ireland and are devastated that they didn't get something out of this match.
Die Mannschaft continue to create chances as Ozil has a long range effort in the 66th minute but deflects off a teammate and is cleared by the Czech defence. In the 78th minute the Czech's finally get their goal as, Hertha Berlin midfielder Vladimir Darida scores a bullet from 25 yards out to tie the game. However Czech Republic's defence was broken in the 88th minute as Bayern Munich defender Mats Hummels headers the ball in the net to maintain Germany's 100% win record in Group C. Czech Republic are in 3rd place and are seven points below 2nd place Northern Ireland and are devastated that they didn't get something out of this match.
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