Friday, September 5 World Cup Qualifying Results
Slovenia 2 – 2 Sweden
Stadion Stozice, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Four of the thirteen most expensive summer transfers (total value $432M) appeared on these team’s rosters.
With Alexander Isak inexplicably benched (probably due to fitness concerns), that left only three to start: Anthony Elanga, Viktor Gyökeres (Sweden) and Benjamin Šeško (Slovenia).
Elanga kicked off the scoring with a drive to the box, give and go combination, then some slick maneuvering through Swedish defenders before smashing it home. Slovenia equalized 35 seconds into the second half when goalkeeper Robin Olsen allowed Sandi Lovric’s long shot to slip through his grasp. Sweden would regain the lead courtesy of Yasin Asari (‘73), but concede the equalizer after substitute Zan Vipotik would strike off the volley in the final minute of regulation time.
Denmark 0 – 0 Scotland
Parken, Copenhagen, Denmark
There are many types of nil-nil draws.
Some are exciting battles in which the goalkeepers are the star players, diving, punching and otherwise performing superhuman feats of goal denial. Others are tactical chess matches, in which players move the ball around, probing for a weakness and not finding many opportunities. Some are one-sided affairs, where one team bashes and beats up on the other, but frustratingly can’t get one in. And then there’s Denmark vs. Scotland.
This was a fixture that had three shots on goal. Total. There were twenty-seven efforts, however. Though both sides suffered from a pathological ability to miss the target, arguably Scotland had the better chances. All the same, earning a point against a strong side in their house shouldn’t be dismissed and Ecosse should hold their chins up.
Faroe Islands 0 – 1 Croatia
The Faroe’s aren’t quite a micro-nation, but they did well to hold Croatia to only a single goal. That in itself is a victory for an archipelago “nation” of under 55,000 people.
Respectable Losses
- Montenegro 0 – 2 Czechia
- The Czechs continue to control in Group L after this win, in which goals were scored in the 3rd and 96th minute.
- Ukraine 0 – 2 France
- France did the business over Ukraine and will look forward to Tuesday’s match against Iceland to regain the top spot in Group D.
The Wipeouts
- Greece 5 – 1 Belarus
- With Denmark and Scotland drawing, this thumping win at home puts Greece in the driver’s seat of Group C.
- Iceland 5 – 0 Azerbaijan
- It’s 6,854km between Baku and Reykjavik, and Azerbaijan definitely suffered from the jet lag.
- Italy 5 – 0 Estonia
- This win can’t erase the stench of disappointment in Italy’s qualification campaign so far. They sit in third with six points, also six points behind Group I leaders Norway.
- Moldova 0 – 4 Israel
- Israel clawed their way into second in Group I after this comfortable win over Moldova.
- Switzerland 4 – 0 Kosovo
- For now, Switzerland are the sole leaders in Group B.
