With his first victory as the Turkish national soccer coach, Stefan Kuntz preserved the small chance of participating in the World Cup. The former European champion coach of the German U21s and his new team won 2-1 (0-0) in Latvia in the last second. 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. Meanwhile, Norway won the eminently important win against Montenegro even without the injured exceptional striker Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund and remains on the play-off spot. Mohamed Elyounoussi released the hosts with his goals in the 29th and 90th minute.
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). 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.