POLAND’S SUCCESS LAST night means 15 teams have now been confirmed for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, with more set to be determined this evening.
Meanwhile, history was also made on Sunday. Midfielder Leon Goretzka netted twice as Germany routed Azerbaijan 5-1 to register a perfect World Cup qualifying record of 10 wins in as many games.
The reigning world champions had already sealed their ticket to Russia last Thursday with a 3-1 win over Northern Ireland, and finished their qualifying campaign in Kaiserslautern with a 10th straight victory.
This is the first time Germany have qualified for a World Cup finals with a perfect record and they are unbeaten in their last 16 games.
Joachim Loew’s side are only the second team to achieve the feat in a European qualifying campaign after Spain managed it on their way to winning the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Germany also scored a European qualifying record 43 goals over the campaign.
Despite the comfortable scoreline, Loew was unimpressed with the first-half display as his side went in 1-1 at the break.
“This line-up hadn’t played together before and you could see that in the first half,” he said.
“The second half was better as the opposition tired.
“It would be a mistake to use this qualifying campaign as a benchmark – sure it was good – but the World Cup will be a different matter.
“It will be hard to win the World Cup for a second time.”
The 15 nations that have already booked their place for the 2018 World Cup in Russia with final qualifying matches still to be played:
Europe: Belgium, England, Germany, Poland, Russia (as hosts), Spain
Africa: Egypt, Nigeria
Asia: Iran, Japan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea
North, Latin America: Costa Rica, Mexico
South America: Brazil
Additional reporting by Paul Fennessy
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