Denmark and England are on the brink of qualification as Denmark continues its perfect run with seven wins after defeating host Moldova 4-0, while England overwhelmed host Andorra 5-0 on Saturday in the seventh round of the European qualifiers for the 2022 Qatar World Cup. Sweden and Switzerland tightened the race against Spain and Italy with Sweden winning 3-0 against host Kosovo, and Switzerland defeating host Northern Ireland 2-0.
Denmark, which impressed everyone by reaching the semifinals of the Euro this summer, secured one of the top two spots in the group (the first qualifies directly while the second enters a playoff with the second-place teams from the ten qualifying groups). Denmark raised its points total to 21 and has the chance to secure its sixth-ever finals appearance next Tuesday if it beats third-placed Austria at home or if direct pursuer Scotland fails against host Faroe Islands. In the same group, Scotland overturned a deficit to beat host Israel 3-2, strengthening its position in second place with 14 points, four points behind Denmark, which leads with a perfect score in six matches and faces Moldova later.
Austria revived its hopes of competing for a playoff spot with a 2-0 victory over the Faroe Islands, with goals from Leipzig's German midfielder Conrad Leimer (26) and his former teammate, Bayern Munich's current midfielder Marcel Sabitzer (48). England scored five goals against host Andorra at the Andorra national stadium, which had experienced a fire that was quickly extinguished the evening before the match on Friday. England moves a step closer to qualification, continuing its dominance over Group Nine. Ben Chilwell (17), Bukayo Saka (40), Tammy Abraham (59), James Ward-Prowse (79), and Jack Grealish (86) scored the goals.
The European runners-up solidified their lead with 19 points (six wins and one draw), four points ahead of Albania, which caused a major upset by beating host Hungary 1-0 with a goal from Southampton's Armando Broja (80). Poland secured its position in third place with a crushing 5-0 victory over host San Marino, with goals from Karol Swiderski (10), Christian Brody (20 own goal), Tomasz Kedziora (50), Adam Buksa (84), and Krzysztof Piatek (90+1).
Switzerland returned to winning ways after two consecutive draws, defeating host Northern Ireland 2-0 in Geneva in the fifth round of Group Three. Goals were scored by Eintracht Frankfurt’s loanee to AEK Athens, Steven Zuber (45+3), and substitute Young Boys midfielder Christian Fassnacht (90+1). Northern Ireland suffered a heavy blow as Newcastle's midfielder Jamal Lewis received a second yellow card (37). This was Switzerland's third win in five matches, raising its total to 11 points, closing the gap to three points behind Italy, who lead with 14 points from six matches but are absent from this international window due to the UEFA Nations League, where they lost the semifinal against Spain (1-2) on Wednesday and will play for third place against Belgium on Sunday.
Northern Ireland remains at five points from five matches in third place. In the same group, Lithuania achieved its first win in the qualifiers by defeating host Bulgaria 3-1.
In Group Two, Sweden regained its balance and tightened the race against leading Spain by defeating host Kosovo 3-0. Spain is absent from the current international window due to its participation in the UEFA Nations League, where it reached the final by defeating European champions Italy (2-1) and will face France in the final on Sunday.
In the same group, Greece continued its resurgence and improved its chances for the second playoff spot with a late and valuable 2-0 victory over host Georgia, with goals by Anastasios Bakasetas (90 from a penalty) and Dimitris Pelkas (90+5). This is Greece's second consecutive win after three straight draws, raising its total to nine points in third place with one match less.
Serbia climbed to the top of Group One over Portugal with a hard-fought 1-0 win against host Luxembourg, while Ireland recorded its first win in the qualifiers by overcoming host Azerbaijan 3-0. Serbia now has 14 points from six matches, one point ahead of Portugal, who have played only five matches and were absent from the current round as they are playing a friendly against Qatar, the World Cup host.
