- FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ qualifying resumes today
- Belgium and Portugal among European teams in action
- Preliminary action concludes with more matches in the Concacaf zone
After some shocks and stunning performances on Wednesday and Thursday, qualifying for Qatar 2022 resumes in the UEFA and Concacaf zones today.
Turkey continued their fine form and won their first two World Cup qualifiers of a campaign for the first time in their history, while Croatia and the Netherlands both bounced back after opening-match losses.
Line-ups
Republic of Ireland vs Luxembourg
Serbia vs Portugal
Slovakia vs Malta
Czech Republic vs Belgium
-
Croatian players celebrate after scoring first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar qualifying match between Croatia and Cyprus on March 27, 2021 at HNK Rijeka stadium in Rijeka, Croatia.
27 Mar 2021
Croatian players celebrate after scoring first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar qualifying match between Croatia and Cyprus on March 27, 2021 at HNK Rijeka stadium in Rijeka, Croatia.
© imago images
-
Luuk de Jong of Netherlands celebrates after scoring
27 Mar 2021
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS – MARCH 27: Luuk de Jong of Netherlands celebrates after scoring their team’s second goal during the FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar qualifying match between the Netherlands and Latvia at the Amsterdam Arena on March 27, 2021 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. In a government-backed initiative 5,000 ticket-holders will be allowed watch the match provided they have tested negative for coronavirus. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
-
Erling Haaland of Norway looks on during the FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar qualifying match between Norway and Turkey at the La Rosaleda Stadium on March 27, 2021 in Malaga, Spain.
27 Mar 2021
MALAGA, SPAIN – MARCH 27: Erling Haaland of Norway looks on during the FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar qualifying match between Norway and Turkey at the La Rosaleda Stadium on March 27, 2021 in Malaga, Spain. Sporting stadiums around Norway remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
-
Ozan Tufan of Turkey celebrates after scoring
27 Mar 2021
MALAGA, SPAIN – MARCH 27: Ozan Tufan of Turkey celebrates after scoring their team’s first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar qualifying match between Norway and Turkey at the La Rosaleda Stadium on March 27, 2021 in Malaga, Spain. Sporting stadiums around Norway remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
-
Nicholas Ioannou of Cyprus and Josip Brekalo of Croatia in action during the FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar qualifying match between Croatia and Cyprus on March 27, 2021 at HNK Rijeka stadium in Rijeka, Croatia.
27 Mar 2021
Nicholas Ioannou of Cyprus and Josip Brekalo of Croatia in action during the FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar qualifying match between Croatia and Cyprus on March 27, 2021 at HNK Rijeka stadium in Rijeka, Croatia.
-
General view inside the stadium of Netherlands fans during the National Anthems prior to the FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar qualifying match between the Netherlands and Latvia at the Amsterdam Arena on March 27, 2021 in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
27 Mar 2021
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS – MARCH 27: General view inside the stadium of Netherlands fans during the National Anthems prior to the FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar qualifying match between the Netherlands and Latvia at the Amsterdam Arena on March 27, 2021 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. In a government-backed initiative 5,000 ticket-holders will be allowed watch the match provided they have tested negative for coronavirus. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
-
Netherlands v Latvia – FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar Qualifier
27 Mar 2021
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS – MARCH 27: Frenkie de Jong of Netherlands is put under pressure by Vladislavs Gutkovskis and Kriss Karklins of Latvia during the FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar qualifying match between the Netherlands and Latvia at the Amsterdam Arena on March 27, 2021 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. In a government-backed initiative 5,000 ticket-holders will be allowed watch the match provided they have tested negative for coronavirus. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
-
Norway players form a huddle prior to the FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar qualifying match between Norway and Turkey at the La Rosaleda Stadium on March 27, 2021 in Malaga, Spain.
27 Mar 2021
MALAGA, SPAIN – MARCH 27: Norway players form a huddle prior to
the FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar qualifying match between Norway and Turkey at the La Rosaleda Stadium on March 27, 2021 in Malaga, Spain. Sporting stadiums around Norway remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)© Getty Images
-
Ozan Tufan of Turkey celebrates with teammates after scoring
27 Mar 2021
MALAGA, SPAIN – MARCH 27: Ozan Tufan of Turkey celebrates with teammates after scoring their team’s first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar qualifying match between Norway and Turkey at the La Rosaleda Stadium on March 27, 2021 in Malaga, Spain. Sporting stadiums around Norway remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
-
Ozan Tufan of Turkey celebrates with Burak Yılmaz and Mert Muldur after scoring their team’s first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar qualifying match between Norway and Turkey at the La Rosaleda Stadium on March 27, 2021 in Malaga, Spain.
27 Mar 2021
MALAGA, SPAIN – MARCH 27: Ozan Tufan of Turkey celebrates with Burak Yılmaz and Mert Muldur after scoring their team’s first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar qualifying match between Norway and Turkey at the La Rosaleda Stadium on March 27, 2021 in Malaga, Spain. Sporting stadiums around Norway remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
-
Luuk de Jong of Netherlands scores their team’s second goal during the FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar qualifying match between the Netherlands and Latvia at the Amsterdam Arena on March 27, 2021 in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
27 Mar 2021
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS – MARCH 27: Luuk de Jong of Netherlands scores their team’s second goal during the FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar qualifying match between the Netherlands and Latvia at the Amsterdam Arena on March 27, 2021 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. In a government-backed initiative 5,000 ticket-holders will be allowed watch the match provided they have tested negative for coronavirus. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
-
Ozan Tufan of Turkey celebrates with Umut Merao after scoring their team’s third goal during the FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar qualifying match between Norway and Turkey at the La Rosaleda Stadium on March 27, 2021 in Malaga, Spain.
27 Mar 2021
MALAGA, SPAIN – MARCH 27: Ozan Tufan of Turkey celebrates with Umut Merao after scoring their team’s third goal during the FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar qualifying match between Norway and Turkey at the La Rosaleda Stadium on March 27, 2021 in Malaga, Spain. Sporting stadiums around Norway remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)
© Getty Images
Results
Montenegro 4-1 Gibraltar
- Montenegro made it six points from two games with a 4-1 win over Gibraltar. Fatos Beqiraj tapped home the opener in the 26th minute, before Reece Styche swiftly restored parity from the spot. It was all the Brave Falcons thereafter, though, and headers from defenders Marko Simic and Zarko Tomasevic put them in control. Stevan Jovetic put the icing on the cake late on with a brilliant free-kick, which was his 12th goal in his last 11 appearances in World Cup qualifying.
Russia 2-1 Slovenia
- FIFA World Cup hero Artem Dzyuba emerged as Russia’s darling once again, scoring a match-winning double against Slovenia to boost the 2018 hosts’ Qatar 2022 hopes. Boosted by that opening-match win over Croatia, Slovenia gave as good as they got in the early stages but, just as the home fans were becoming frustrated, Dzyuba settled their nerves with a cool side-foot finish into the bottom corner. The Russia captain then bustled his way through to double his team’s lead nine minutes later, although that two-goal cushion lasted merely seconds before it was halved by Josip Ilicic’s fine first-time left-foot strike. Dzyuba’s double leaves him on 29 Russia goals – just one short of Alexandr Kerzhakov’s all-time record.
Belarus 4-2 Estonia
- After losing heavily to the Czech Republic 6-2 on the opening matchday, Estonia responded positively by opening the scoring in Minsk. Henri Anier rocketed a shot past Aleksandr Gutor. Belarus, however, answered with a goal of their own via the penalty spot. Vitali Lisakovich sent Matvei Igonen the wrong way before referee Robert Hennessy blew the half-time whistle. Anier scored his second on the night with a tidy finish, guiding in a lofted ball sent into the area. However, once again, Belarus struck back ten minutes later when Yury Kendysh headed in a free-kick sent in by captain Ihar Stasevich. Pavel Savistki scored the winner after Estonia went a man down with a nifty, lofted finish and Lisakovich added another with a stylishly-worked free-kick routine that culminated with him scoring from over 20 yards out to cap off a strong start to Belarus’ Group E campaign.
Netherlands 2-0 Latvia
- The Netherlands bounced back from their opening-match defeat to Turkey by recording a dominant victory over Latvia. The 2-0 scoreline did scant justice to the Oranje’s superiority, and would have been higher but for the woodwork being rattled on several occasions and Memphis Depay enjoying a luckless evening in front of goal. Their opening goal was worth the wait though, with Steven Berghuis cutting in from right and curling an unstoppable left-foot shot just inside the post from 25 yards for his first international goal. Luuk de Jong rounded off the win with a powerful downward header from Depay’s out-swinging corner as the Dutch became the first European team to reach the milestone of 300 goals in World Cup qualifying.
Norway 0-3 Turkey
- Turkey continued their scintillating form in Group G with a 3-0 win over Norway in Malaga. Ozan Tufan opened the scoring when he finished off a great team move within five minutes. Caglar Soyuncu doubled Turkey’s lead when he broke free and headed in the first corner kick of the match. Tufan’s second of the afternoon was the pick of the bunch. The versatile Fenerbahce man curled in an unstoppable effort past substitute Andre Hansen to ensure Turkey won their first two World Cup qualifiers of a campaign for the first time.
Croatia 1-0 Cyprus
- Croatia rebounded from a disappointing defeat in their Group H opener by edging Cyprus 1-0 in Rijeka. Luka Modric won his 135th cap, breaking Darijo Srna’s national team record, but the Russia 2018 runners-up struggled to break down their visitors. They did, however, score from their first attempt on target, Mario Pasalic capitalising upon a defensive mistake to head home from close range just before half-time. Cyprus got more into the same as the second half wore on, but failed to seriously trouble Croatia, who got their campaign up and running.
