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40 min: Van Dijk and Lewandowski are having a bit of argy-bargy. We won’t see fistifcuffs though. Will we?
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Sounds more like a 40% proof plan, actually.
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“I’m whiling away the hours before Scotland kick off in Greece tomorrow by following tonight’s matches and drinking whisky,” writes Simon. “Thus ensuring I sleep right through the game and wake up on Sunday morning not knowing the result, or indeed caring. It’s a foolproof plan, right?”
Yes. But drink responsibly.
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37 min: Poland on the front foot. Cash cuts in, and decides to shoot from distance. It’s a naff effort that flies high and wide.
Aston Villa’s Matty Cash races clear of Cody Gakpo. Photograph: Piotr Nowak/EPAShare
Updated at 15.30 EST
37 min: “The Warsaw faithful” are getting restless, says the commentator, which is technically accurate. The Dutch are proving themselves as worthy group winners if it continues like this.
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“As one of my sisters married a very nice Faroese man (quite) a while ago, and two of his nephews (the Vatnhamar brothers) have been regulars in the national side, and one of my plucky youngsters (U16 coach in Denmark here) hails from the islands, I suppose I am a *bit* biased,” opens Erik on email “… but it’s very nice to see the minnows getting their elbows in early. Gibraltar, Malta, Faroe Islands … I just hope it will last longer than a VAR review. Giving the slack in the channel, I suppose by the time you get to my mail, order will be restored all over …”
Well, it is 1-1 in Gibraltar, indeed. And 1-1 in Rijeka too. But I enjoyed your email and that’s the main thing.
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Goal! Gibraltar 1-1 Montenegro 1 (Adzic 33)
Pick that one out!
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Flint Town are staring down the barrel now, 2-0 behind at home against New Saints. Dancing in the streets of Total Network Solutions tonight.
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30 min: If any team is having the best of it in Warsaw, it’s the visitors. Poland are struggling to make inroads, and Zielinski is threatening to do something good but never quite managing it, as per.
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Kylian Mbappé has left his France squad and returned to Madrid to receive treatment for an ankle injury, the French Football Federation said. Mbappé, 26, scored two goals in a 4-0 win over Ukraine in Paris on Thursday to help France secure a spot in next year’s World Cup. However, he has been dealing with lingering inflammation in his ankle, leading France manager Didier Deschamps and the Real Madrid medical staff to call him back to the team.
Mbappé now has 400 career goals, including 55 for France – just two shy of Olivier Giroud’s all-time national scoring record. He was scheduled to have scans on Friday, according to ESPN, and will miss France’s game in Azerbaijan on Sunday. (Reuters)
Kylian Mbappé. Photograph: Jean Catuffe/Getty ImagesShare
24 min: Donyell Malen of Aston Villa, in the style of Arjen Robben, cuts in from the right and smacks a shot goalwards. It’s over the bar.
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Updated at 15.13 EST
“At the moment Luxembourg, a country the size of Luxembourg, is giving Germany the runaround,” chips in Charles Antaki. That raised a good chuckle.
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Updated at 15.12 EST
Goal! Croatia 1-1 Faroe Islands (Gvardiol 23)
Order restored.
Josko Gvardiol equalises for Croatia. Fun while it lasted, though. Photograph: AFP/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 15.22 EST
“I would like to point out it isn’t 0-0 everywhere,” emails David. “The New Saints are 1-0 up away against Flint. My mate has gone to watch – in the rain – but he’s a West Ham supporter so he likes suffering!”
Added to which, the mighty Gibraltar and the even mightier Faroe Islands have also hit the onion bag.
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Updated at 15.10 EST
Goal! Gibraltar 1-0 Montenegro (Jessop 20)
There you have it.
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17 min: Van de Ven storms down the Dutch left. Zielinkski fouls him. Memphis Depay bends in a free-kick and Grabara punches clear.
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Goal! Croatia 0-1 Faroe Islands (Turi)
Remarkable! Geza Turi, who plays for Grimsby Town, has got the goal!
Faroe Islands lead Croatia in Rijeka! Photograph: Darko Bandić/APShare
Updated at 15.11 EST
It is nil-nil everywhere. And I mean everywhere.
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12 min: Szymanski is being forced off on the occasion of his 50th cap. Looks like a groin strain. Bartosz Kapustka on in his place. Early tweaks required for Poland.
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Updated at 15.02 EST
10 min: Szymanski is down with what looks like a groin issue. Cash also seemed to take a little knock.
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I guess if Poland win 8-0, and Van Dijk and Lewandowski are both sent off for fighting, this might approach the levels of drama we saw for Ireland v Portugal last night.
Oh maaaate. Photograph: Peter Morrison/APShare
Updated at 15.02 EST
7 min: Kaminski darts down the Poland left and shoots low, but straight at Verbruggen.
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Updated at 14.56 EST
“One element of qualification that doesn’t seem to have got much attention yet is the (in my humble one) lunacy of the Nations League route to a playoff,” emails Tom.
“Sweden have had about as bad a qualifying campaign as you could imagine, yet throughout they’ve been all but guaranteed a playoff spot. I get that Uefa wants to make its new(ish) tournament attractive, but undermining their World Cup qualification groups seems an odd way of going about that.
“The thought also occurs that, if you were a weaker side playing smart, it might be a good idea to tank a Nations League campaign, get into a lower division then win that and sneak a route into a World Cup?”
All sounds extremely sensible Tom. Thanks for your message.
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2 min: What a start for Poland! But what a miss too. Matty Cash is in space on the right, and crosses for Nicola Zalewski, who is six yards out with only the keeper to beat. The bouncing ball gets a bit big on him, and he shins a clumsy effort over the bar and wide. What a chance for Poland. And what a miss by Zalewski. Cash looks a bit miffed.
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Updated at 14.53 EST
First half kick-off
Allez!
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We’ve had the anthems in Warsaw. Now it’s time for some football. I’ll be keeping an eye on goals elsewhere too.
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I make no apology for also posting Zielinski’s recent work of art:
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Here’s that Micky van de Ven belter from the other week:
I can’t see the name Micky van de Ven without thinking of Peep Show and “Men with Ven”. How about you?
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Updated at 14.45 EST
Poland’s recent record in major tournaments is woeful. The players’ relationship with the fans can be a complicated one. And much like England, they have an ageing and overrated striker leading the line.
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Updated at 14.47 EST
Malta’s earlier win in Finland meant that Poland’s playoff place is secure.
Surely, though, Poland are too far behind on goal difference to win the group, even if they win tonight?
Stranger things have happened I suppose. Let’s pretend this is a winner-takes-all clash just for a bit of fun.
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Updated at 14.41 EST
Seriously, though, “>do send me an email. I can’t do this without you.
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Updated at 14.35 EST
Looking forward to seeing Zielinski for Poland. As readers of today’s earlier blog will know, he scored a belting side-footed volley for Inter the other week.
I also saw him score a cracker for Napoli with my own eyes a few years back.
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Which countries have qualified, and how did they do it?
This article by Andy Martin does exactly what it says on the tin:
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Croatia v Faroe Islands teams
Croatia: Livakovic, Stanisic, Vuskovic, Gvardiol, Marco Pasalic, Modric, Mario Pasalic, Perisic, Petar Sucic, Kramaric, Musa. Substitutes: Pongracic, Caleta-Car, Sutalo, Moro, Orsic, Vlasic, Jakic, Fruk, Ivanovic, Matanovic, Ivusic, Pandur.
Faroe Islands: Lamhauge, Faero, Gunnar Vatnhamar, Andrias Edmundsson, Rene Shaki Joensen, Turi, Andreasen, Davidsen, Frederiksberg, Hanus Sorensen, Meinhard Olsen. Substitutes: Dam, Svensson, Bjartalid, Oregaard, Klettskard, Mork, Martin Agnarsson, Justinussen, Joan Edmundsson, Knudsen, Benjaminsen, Reynatrod.
Referee: Aliyar Aghayev (Azerbaijan)
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Updated at 14.20 EST
Slovakia v Northern Ireland teams
Slovakia: Dubravka, Gyomber, Skriniar, Obert, Hancko, Bero, Lobotka, Rigo, Duris, Strelec, Haraslin. Substitutes: Rodak, Takac, Pekarik, Vavro, Mesik, Leo Sauer, Bobcek, Bozenik, Benes, Tupta, Hrosovsky, Schranz.
Northern Ireland: Peacock-Farrell, McConville, Ballard, McNair, Hume, Bradley, Saville, Devenny, Lyons, Price, Charles. Substitutes: Hazard, Southwood, Lewis, Devlin, Marshall, Donley, Smyth, Reid, Kelly, McDonnell, Magennis, Brown.
Referee: Istvan Kovacs (Romania)
ShareDavid Hytner
Thomas Tuchel wants his England substitutes to channel any anger they feel at not starting into making the difference when they can because the team that win the World Cup will be defined by productivity off the bench.
The head coach will prepare a heat-proof gameplan for the finals next summer when temperatures at many of the venues in the United States, Mexico and Canada are expected to be stifling and a major part will involve how best to use his substitutes.
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Poland v Netherlands teams
Poland (4-4-1-1): Grabara; Kedziora, Ziolkowski, Kiwior, Cash; Szymanski, Zielinski, Skoras, Zalewski; Kaminski; Lewandowski. Substitutes: Kochalski, Szczesniak, Rozga, Swiderski, Kapustka, Grosicki, Wszolek, Buksa, Kozlowski, Bereszynski, Dragowski.
Netherlands (4-3-3): Verbruggen; Geertruida, Timber, Van Dijk, Van de Ven; Gravenberch, De Jong, Malen; Kluivert, Gakpo, Depay. Substitutes: Flekken, Valente, Quinten Timber, Lang, Reijnders, Schouten, Roefs, Van Hecke, Emegha, Simons, Ake, De Ligt.
Referee: Maurizio Mariani (Italy)
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Updated at 14.22 EST
Teemu Pukki came off the bench for Finland on 78mins – plenty of the Malta players would have seen him play many times on the telly. But Malta held on for their win.
Finland’s Teemu Pukki contemplates defeat by Malta. Photograph: Lehtikuva/ReutersShare
Updated at 14.30 EST
“The Maltese are celebrating, as they should, while the Finns look shell-shocked,” writes Kári Tulinius, watching events unfold in Helsinki.
“I’d say the post-match commentary on Finnish TV was funereal, but it was more like a group of people discussing whether they should stage an intervention. At one point, there was discussion whether this was rock bottom or not.”
Things can always get worse, that’s my motto. Thanks for the update as always, Kári.
Malta joy, Finland woe. Photograph: Heikki Saukkomaa/APShare
Updated at 14.07 EST
Malta are ranked 166th in the world, Finland are 72nd. That’s a bona fide giant-killing.
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Finland have just lost 1-0 at home to Malta, which is a turn-up for the books in Group G. Jake Grech’s goal on 81min won it for the visitors. That’s Malta’s first win in seven games in this campaign, to go with two draws. Dancing in the streets of Valletta tonight?
Malta. Winners! Photograph: Pirjo Tuominen/EPAShare
Luxembourg v Germany teams
Luxembourg: Moris, Jans, Korac, Carlson, Bohnert, Olivier Thill, Martins Pereira, Olesen, Barreiro, Sinani, Dardari. Substitutes: Djabi Embalo, Curci, Avdusinovic, Muratovic, Pereira Cardoso, Veiga, Selimovic, Dzogovic, Sebastien Thill, Martins, Fox, Moreira.
Germany: Baumann, Baku, Anton, Tah, Raum, Pavlovic, Goretzka, Sane, Wirtz, Gnabry, Woltemade. Substitutes: Thiaw, Kimmich, Leweling, Ouedraogo, Burkardt, Nubel, Nmecha, El Mala, Schlotterbeck, Schade, Brown, Dahmen.
Referee: John Brooks (England)
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Gibraltar v Montenegro teams
Gibraltar: Hankins, Jolley, Ronan, Lopes, Jessop, Torrilla, Annesley, Mauro, Pozo, Borge, James Scanlon. Substitutes: Banda, Del Rio, Morgan, Richards, Lopez, Bent, Perera, Olivero, McCafferty, Vinet, Mouelhi, Bartolo.
Montenegro: Nikic, Marusic, Tuci, Sipcic, Radunovic, Jankovic, Adzic, Bulatovic, Milan Vukotic, Osmajic, Krstovic. Substitutes: Popovic, Petkovic, Milic, Simun, Rubezic, Vesovic, Brnovic, Perovic, Djukanovic, Kostic, Loncar, Camaj.
Referee: Anastasios Papapetrou (Greece)
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Can the Netherlands do it on a cold night in Warsaw? We’ll be focusing mostly on the match at the top of Group G. If Poland can win, they’d draw level on points with their opponents at the top of the group, although the Dutch goal difference is vastly superior: before kick-off it’s +19 to Poland’s +6. On Monday Poland are away in Malta while the Netherlands host Lithuania. Barring a shock the Netherlands will win the group regardless.
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Preamble
Netherlands v Poland, Luxembourg v Germany, Slovakia v Northern Ireland and Croatia v Faroe Islands are just some of the top football matches occurring this evening on the road to the 2026 Fifa World Cup. Gibraltar v Montenegro is also a football match, whether it counts as top, I will leave others to decide.
Germany need to tread carefully in Group A after losing their opener to Slovakia, while the Dutch and the Poles are duking it out for top spot in Group G. Northern Ireland are also in with a shot in Group A, but an away assignment in Slovakia won’t be easy.
For all your permutations, consult Ed Aarons’ definitive group-by-group breakdown below. I’ll also bring you some permutations musings shortly, plus team news and other stuff. You can always “>send me an email with your thoughts, too. Let’s get it on.
Kick-offs: 7.45pm UK time
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