European 2026 World Cup qualifying results on Monday:
Group A
Germany 6 Slovakia 0
Northern Ireland 1 Luxembourg 0
Group G
Malta 2 Poland 3
Netherlands 4 Lithuania 0
Group L
Montenegro 2 Croatia 3
Czech Republic 6 Gibraltar 0
THE NETHERLANDS sealed their 2026 World Cup berth on Monday with a dominant 4-0 victory against Lithuania in Amsterdam.
The Oranje — three-time finalists in 1974, 1978, and 2010 — will participate in their 12th World Cup after finishing top of Group G ahead of Poland, who won 3-2 in Malta, and will have to go through the play-offs next March to reach the tournament in North America.
With a very advantageous goal difference of +13 compared to Poland at the start of the match, the Dutch could even have afforded a defeat.
But Ronald Koeman’s men entertained the 50,000 spectators at the Johan Cruyff Arena with their high-tempo play, too fast for the Lithuanians, who were constantly pinned back in their own half.
Despite a compact opposing defence, Koeman’s men found the breakthrough after 15 minutes through Tijani Reijnders, perfectly set up by Frenkie De Jong.
The score was 1-0 at half-time despite the overwhelming home dominance, thanks to a remarkable performance from Lithuanian goalkeeper Edvinas Gertmonas.
Shortly before the hour, however, Gertmonas was powerless to prevent Cody Gakpo from making it 2-0 from a penalty for handball.
Two minutes later, Xavi Simons fired home from close range to make it 3-0.
Doneyll Malen sealed the victory another two minutes later, and Koeman brought on five substitutes.
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Luciano Valente made his Oranje debut for the final 10 minutes, with a huge cheer going up from the Amsterdam crowd as the 22-year-old Feyenoord attacking midfielder took to the field.
Nick Woltemade (Germany) celebrates his goal. Alamy Stock Photo
Alamy Stock Photo
Meanwhile, Germany captain Joshua Kimmich said his side “wanted to send a message” with Monday’s 6-0 thumping of Slovakia in Leipzig, which sealed their progress to the 2026 World Cup.
Leroy Sane struck twice, and Newcastle’s €75 million man Nick Woltemade scored for the third straight game.
The win put Germany through atop Group A and into next year’s tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Slovakia finished second and will go into a play-off.
“Everyone wanted to send a message today. Everyone knew what was at stake,” Kimmich told Germany’s ZDF. “In Germany, we’re not used to it being difficult to qualify — that’s why I’m very happy with how we played.”
Germany have laboured past underdog opponents in this campaign but were 4-0 up at half-time and humming in Leipzig.
Woltemade continued his golden run with the opening goal after 18 minutes. Serge Gnabry added the second 11 minutes later.
Under-pressure Liverpool midfielder Florian Wirtz sparked to life late in the first half, laying on two goals for Sane in five minutes.
Ridle Baku and debutant Assan Ouedraogo scored in the second half.
“We’re relieved. It’s a great moment,” Woltemade said. “I’m playing, I’m scoring goals, and I’m hopefully playing at the World Cup.”
“Tonigh,t we showed the quality we have in this team. It was a pleasure,” Woltemade, 23, added.
Germany’s win also guarantees the four-time World Cup winners a high seeding that should protect them from an early clash with another of the tournament’s big guns.
“Every player played well today and worked like a dog,” coach Julian Nagelsmann said.
“We showed incredible team spirit and pushed ourselves on the pitch from the very beginning.”
- Fifth straight victory -
The nature of Germany’s fifth straight victory puts a glowing finish on a solid but unimpressive qualifying campaign.
Germany have been efficient but rarely impressive and needed to avoid defeat on Monday to top their group and qualify directly.
Slovakia had dominated Germany to win 2-0 in the reverse fixture, their first ever competitive victory over the European giants.
Nagelsmann will be buoyed by the performance under pressure, while several injured starters will make their way back in the coming months, including Kai Havertz, Jamal Musiala, Antonio Rudiger and Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
The Germans helped quell the butterflies when Woltemade headed in to break through with 18 minutes gone.
The strike meant the Newcastle striker had scored Germany’s past four goals over three games.
After Slovakia’s Michal Duris forced a fingertip save from Germany’s Oliver Baumann, Gnabry put the fans in party mood with 29 minutes gone, guiding the ball home to double Germany’s lead.
Wirtz then found Sane with two pinpoint passes to put Germany four up at the break.
Nagelsmann took off captain Joshua Kimmich with Germany well in control and his replacement, Baku, had an immediate impact, blasting in a Gnabry pass two minutes after coming on.
The German coach brought on teenager Ouedraogo with 15 minutes remaining, and the RB Leipzig midfielder added a goal and celebrated in front of his home fans.
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Poland join Ireland in playoffs as Netherlands qualify
European 2026 World Cup qualifying results on Monday:
Group A
Group G
Group L
THE NETHERLANDS sealed their 2026 World Cup berth on Monday with a dominant 4-0 victory against Lithuania in Amsterdam.
The Oranje — three-time finalists in 1974, 1978, and 2010 — will participate in their 12th World Cup after finishing top of Group G ahead of Poland, who won 3-2 in Malta, and will have to go through the play-offs next March to reach the tournament in North America.
With a very advantageous goal difference of +13 compared to Poland at the start of the match, the Dutch could even have afforded a defeat.
But Ronald Koeman’s men entertained the 50,000 spectators at the Johan Cruyff Arena with their high-tempo play, too fast for the Lithuanians, who were constantly pinned back in their own half.
Despite a compact opposing defence, Koeman’s men found the breakthrough after 15 minutes through Tijani Reijnders, perfectly set up by Frenkie De Jong.
The score was 1-0 at half-time despite the overwhelming home dominance, thanks to a remarkable performance from Lithuanian goalkeeper Edvinas Gertmonas.
Shortly before the hour, however, Gertmonas was powerless to prevent Cody Gakpo from making it 2-0 from a penalty for handball.
Two minutes later, Xavi Simons fired home from close range to make it 3-0.
Doneyll Malen sealed the victory another two minutes later, and Koeman brought on five substitutes.
Luciano Valente made his Oranje debut for the final 10 minutes, with a huge cheer going up from the Amsterdam crowd as the 22-year-old Feyenoord attacking midfielder took to the field.
Meanwhile, Germany captain Joshua Kimmich said his side “wanted to send a message” with Monday’s 6-0 thumping of Slovakia in Leipzig, which sealed their progress to the 2026 World Cup.
Leroy Sane struck twice, and Newcastle’s €75 million man Nick Woltemade scored for the third straight game.
The win put Germany through atop Group A and into next year’s tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Slovakia finished second and will go into a play-off.
“Everyone wanted to send a message today. Everyone knew what was at stake,” Kimmich told Germany’s ZDF. “In Germany, we’re not used to it being difficult to qualify — that’s why I’m very happy with how we played.”
Germany have laboured past underdog opponents in this campaign but were 4-0 up at half-time and humming in Leipzig.
Woltemade continued his golden run with the opening goal after 18 minutes. Serge Gnabry added the second 11 minutes later.
Under-pressure Liverpool midfielder Florian Wirtz sparked to life late in the first half, laying on two goals for Sane in five minutes.
Ridle Baku and debutant Assan Ouedraogo scored in the second half.
“We’re relieved. It’s a great moment,” Woltemade said. “I’m playing, I’m scoring goals, and I’m hopefully playing at the World Cup.”
“Tonigh,t we showed the quality we have in this team. It was a pleasure,” Woltemade, 23, added.
Germany’s win also guarantees the four-time World Cup winners a high seeding that should protect them from an early clash with another of the tournament’s big guns.
“Every player played well today and worked like a dog,” coach Julian Nagelsmann said.
“We showed incredible team spirit and pushed ourselves on the pitch from the very beginning.”
- Fifth straight victory -
The nature of Germany’s fifth straight victory puts a glowing finish on a solid but unimpressive qualifying campaign.
Germany have been efficient but rarely impressive and needed to avoid defeat on Monday to top their group and qualify directly.
Slovakia had dominated Germany to win 2-0 in the reverse fixture, their first ever competitive victory over the European giants.
Nagelsmann will be buoyed by the performance under pressure, while several injured starters will make their way back in the coming months, including Kai Havertz, Jamal Musiala, Antonio Rudiger and Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
The Germans helped quell the butterflies when Woltemade headed in to break through with 18 minutes gone.
The strike meant the Newcastle striker had scored Germany’s past four goals over three games.
After Slovakia’s Michal Duris forced a fingertip save from Germany’s Oliver Baumann, Gnabry put the fans in party mood with 29 minutes gone, guiding the ball home to double Germany’s lead.
Wirtz then found Sane with two pinpoint passes to put Germany four up at the break.
Nagelsmann took off captain Joshua Kimmich with Germany well in control and his replacement, Baku, had an immediate impact, blasting in a Gnabry pass two minutes after coming on.
The German coach brought on teenager Ouedraogo with 15 minutes remaining, and the RB Leipzig midfielder added a goal and celebrated in front of his home fans.
– © AFP 2025
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