Portugal on Sunday booked their ticket to next year’s FIFA World Cup with a 9-1 victory over Armenia, while an Erling Haaland brace rubber-stamped Norway’s place in the global showpiece as they romped to a 4-1 win in Italy.
After being held by Hungary and then stunned by the Republic of Ireland last time out, Portugal sealed top spot in Group F at the third time of asking with a resounding win over Armenia.
In the absence of suspended Cristiano Ronaldo, star midfielders Bruno Fernandes and Joao Neves both scored hat-tricks as Portugal ran riot in Porto.
Photo: AFP
Renato Veiga, Goncalo Ramos and Francisco Conceicao were also on the score sheet.
“The most important thing was qualifying for the World Cup,” Paris Saint-Germain lynchpin Neves told RTP. “For me, as I always say, the team always comes before the individual. I’m very happy to have scored my first goal for the national team, and my second and third as well.”
Portugal are to compete in a seventh consecutive edition of the World Cup, a tournament which the Euro 2016 champions are yet to win.
Photo: AFP
Ronaldo could miss the start of the tournament depending on whether FIFA extend his suspension beyond the mandatory one-match ban he served against Armenia.
Ireland sewed up the playoff place in the group thanks to Troy Parrott’s 96th-minute hat-trick goal handing them a 3-2 win over third-placed Hungary.
Daniel Lukacs gave the hosts the lead in Hungary after four minutes, before Parrott leveled from the penalty spot shortly afterward.
Photo: EPA
Barnabas Varga’s 37th-minute goal looked to have been enough for Hungary to seal second spot until 23-year-old Parrott notched his fourth and fifth international goals this week.
Parrott was the hero with his brace in Thursday last week’s 2-0 defeat of Portugal and he struck to equalize again for Ireland with 10 minutes remaining in Budapest.
The AZ forward then sparked wild Irish celebrations as he prodded home Liam Scales’ knockdown deep in stoppage-time to send Heimir Hallgrimsson’s side into the playoffs.
Italy needed a miracle in Milan to pip Norway to first place in Group I due to the visitors’ gargantuan goal-difference advantage.
Pio Esposito scored early at the San Siro to give the hosts the faintest of hopes, but they were unable to again break down stubborn Norway defending as Stale Solbakken’s side held firm.
Antonio Nusa leveled just after the hour before Haaland, inevitably, netted twice in 60 seconds to turn the tie on its head.
Jorgen Strand Larsen then put gloss on the result in stoppage-time as Norway romped to an eighth win from eight outings.
It will be Norway’s first appearance at the World Cup since 1998.
“I’m happy, but more relieved. There’s a lot of pressure and stuff, and I feel it, but it’s fun,” Haaland, who netted 16 goals across the campaign, told TV 2.
“It’s indescribable. Absolutely insane. The way we did it is absolutely incredible. It’s huge,” Martin Odegaard said.
Israel defeated Moldova 4-1, but finished six points adrift of second-placed Italy, who go into the playoffs.
France booked their place in next year’s tournament in North America with a win over Ukraine earlier in the week and a much-changed side concluded their campaign with a 3-1 win in Azerbaijan.
Ukraine saw off Iceland 2-0 thanks to two strikes inside the final 10 minutes from Oleksandr Zubkov and Oleksii Hutsuliak to claim second place in Group D.
Thomas Tuchel’s England completed a perfect group-stage performance as they won 2-0 against Albania to finish their campaign with a 100 percent record, featuring 22 goals scored and zero conceded — a European record for a team playing at least six qualifying matches.
“I think it’s as good [a squad] as we’ve ever had,” Harry Kane, who scored both England goals, told ITV. “I think when you look at the starting 11, you look at the players coming off the bench, we’re going to go into the tournament as one of the favorites.”
With Albania already assured of second place, Serbia beat Latvia 2-1 in a dead rubber in Group K’s other match.
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