Turkey is keeping its chance to participate in the World Cup in Qatar in 2022. However, despite a victory, Stefan Kuntz’s team only remains third in the group. The World Cup qualifying results on Monday.
With his first victory as the Turkish national soccer coach, Stefan Kuntz preserved the small chance of participating in the World Cup. And let his joy run wild after the final whistle.
TV recordings show how the former European championship coach of the German U21s strolls across the pitch after the final whistle and nine minutes of stoppage time, repeatedly pausing and pausing – and can’t hold back his tears of joy.
In the last second, Turkey secured a 2-1 victory in Latvia. On the way to the final round in Qatar in 2022, Turkey is still only in third place behind the Netherlands (6-0 against Gibraltar) and Norway (2-0) against Montenegro).
Three days after his debut in a 1-1 draw against Norway, Kuntz was initially lucky that his team did not fall behind due to Antonijs Cernomordijs (7th). The Turks then took control, but Merih Demiral made an own goal (70th). Former Bundesliga professional Serdar Dursun (75th) and Burak Yilmaz with a penalty kick (90th + 9th) caused the turnaround.
For the World Cup ticket, two victories against Gibraltar and Montenegro are mandatory in November: Turkey has 15 points, Norway (17) in play-off rank two must lose one of their last games. League leader Netherlands (19) is almost through.
The Netherlands left nothing to be desired against the football dwarf Gibraltar. Virgil van Dijk (9th) and Memphis Depay (21st / 45th +3, hand penalty) got the team of bond coach Louis van Gaal on track during the break. Denzel Dumfries (48th), Arnaut Danjuma (75th) and Dortmund’s Donyell Malen (86th) ensured the befitting result.
Important victory for the Russians
There was a change at the top of the table in Group H. Russia overtook Croatia. The Russians won 2: 1 (2: 1) in Slovenia and Croatia did not get more than 2: 2 (1: 2) at home against Slovakia, although Andrej Kramaric from TSG 1899 Hoffenheim made it to 1 : Had hit 1 (25th). Cyprus and Malta had already separated 2-2 (1-0).
Belgium paused, Wales still third
The leader of Group E, Belgium, was still in action in the Nations League on Sunday and was therefore out of action again. Behind them, Wales are in a good starting position thanks to a 1-0 (1-0) win in Estonia. The Welsh are still third. But the Czech Republic, as Belgium’s first pursuer, also has eleven points on the account, but also completed one game more. For the Czechs, Patrick Schick from Bundesliga club Bayer 04 Leverkusen scored 2-0 (1-0) at Belarus.
Romania with good World Cup playoff chances
In the German group, Romania got the chance to play-offs for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Three days after the 2-1 defeat against Germany in Hamburg, the team won 1-0 (1-0) against Armenia in Bucharest on Monday. Alexandru Mitrita (26th) scored the decisive goal with a head from a corner.
Due to the success, Romania not only took revenge for the 2: 3 defeat in the first leg, but also improved with 13 points to second place in the table in Group J. The team of coach Mirel Radoi benefited from the 0: 4 (0: 0) – North Macedonia lost to Germany, which qualified early for Qatar. Like Armenia, North Macedonia have twelve points ahead of the final two group matches.
In the third group game, which was no longer decisive for participating in the World Cup, Iceland prevailed 4: 0 (2: 0) against bottom group Liechtenstein.