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00:30After 375 days and more than 200 matches, the final quartet of qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup were about
00:38to be settled.
00:40Italy travelled to Bosnia and Herzegovina, looking to consign their recent qualification woes to the history books.
00:47Could Kosovo reach a first ever major finals?
00:50Turkey are stood in their way.
00:52And which pair from Sweden, Poland, Czechia or Denmark would take their place among the world's elite this summer?
01:03We begin with a momentous playoff final in Zenitse.
01:07Bosnia and Herzegovina needed to make home advantage count against the might of Italy.
01:12Fresh in the memory of the Azzurri, painful failures at this stage in 2018 and 2022.
01:19For Gennaro Gattuso and the four-time world champions, a return to football's showpiece event felt long overdue.
01:27The Bosnians had shown their resolve against Wales to make it this far, with a second appearance in the finals
01:33the prize, if they could be the latest to shock the Italians.
01:39Bosnia and Herzegovina had beaten Italy just once in six previous attempts.
01:44A friendly almost 30 years ago.
01:46The stakes were considerably higher this time.
01:50Your commentator is Adam Somerton.
01:55And we are underway on such a huge night.
01:58Both will be desperate to start well.
02:02Covering here is Kolasinac.
02:06Oh, that's a poor kick out.
02:07And they're in trouble here.
02:09It's Moyes-Kenn!
02:11Brilliant finish!
02:13How well did he take that?
02:15But it all came from the error.
02:17From Vasily.
02:19And that was certainly the finish of a striker at the peak of their powers.
02:25Didn't give it a second's thought, did he?
02:28Vasily will have nightmares about that moment.
02:31Quality, though, from Moyes-Kenn.
02:36Muharremovic unmarked.
02:38In his direction, Dzeko beaten in the air.
02:43Played wide by Basic.
02:45Another chance to cross.
02:47And the header is on target.
02:49From Katic, but well saved by Donnarumma.
02:51Just didn't have the required power to get it past the Italian goalkeeper.
03:01Memic racing to get to it.
03:04And brought down by Bastoni.
03:07And it's a red card.
03:11Bastoni's off.
03:13Italy are down to ten.
03:18And you just only had to look at his face there, Bastoni.
03:22He knew immediately what was coming.
03:31Five in the box for the Bosnian.
03:33Skatic with the header!
03:35And Donnarumma was down quickly.
03:38And needed to be.
03:40I suspect there will be many more for Italy to have to deal with in what remains of this game.
03:50Menich.
03:53Moyes-Kenn intercepts.
03:55And he's got the pace to get away here.
03:58It's Ken one-on-one!
03:59Oh, he couldn't hit the target.
04:02What a chance to double their lead.
04:05Glorious opportunity.
04:06And his pace made it.
04:08He just couldn't catch up with him.
04:14Tahirovich.
04:20Ali Begovic.
04:22The ball.
04:23And saved by Donnarumma.
04:25It worked the opportunity for the shot well there.
04:28Tahirovich.
04:29Denied by Donnarumma.
04:31Good work by Ali Begovic.
04:36Can they keep up this defensive effort here, Italy?
04:41So far, so good for them in this second half.
04:43Esposito gets the pass away.
04:45Now Palestra with Tonnale waiting in the box.
04:48Esposito asking for it.
04:49And there was the pass!
04:51It's another chance that comes the way of Italy.
04:55Fresh on Esposito.
04:56He'll be disappointed he's not at least hit the target there.
05:02Katic.
05:04Dedic.
05:06Di Marco in front of him.
05:08Dedic with the cross!
05:09Oh, and it's been squeezed in!
05:14Tabakovic was on the line.
05:16And he's come off the bench.
05:19To get the equalizer.
05:21As we head towards the final ten minutes here.
05:25Italy complain.
05:27But the Bosnians are on terms.
05:33Tanovic beat Tonnale to it.
05:36Thought the shot was on there.
05:39Ali Begovic goes down.
05:41Told to get back to his feet.
05:43Another cross goes in there.
05:44And the head is on target.
05:46And saved by Donnarumma.
05:48How quickly Donnarumma got down.
05:54Spinazzola.
05:56Tonnale could outball that.
06:00That's a fantastic pass as well.
06:03And Palestra got himself in a great position.
06:06Mukherjmovic slid in.
06:08Now, while Italy are asking the question here.
06:11The referee, Clement Turpan,
06:14shows the yellow card.
06:17Italy have got a free kick.
06:18In a good position.
06:22Tonnale for Italy.
06:25Wall did its job.
06:28Spinazzola.
06:31Palestra.
06:32The player who burst through and was caught by Mukherjmovic.
06:37Palestra goes on the outside.
06:38Still numbers in there.
06:40And Esposito saved.
06:42Kept out by Vassilic.
06:45It's a great play all round there.
06:47Wonderful cross.
06:48And Esposito had his header on target.
06:52Superb goalkeeping.
06:58Play to Dedic.
07:02Tahirovich wanted it!
07:04And then put it wide.
07:06He was begging for the ball.
07:08Couldn't hit the target.
07:10And this playoff final will be decided by penalty kicks.
07:16Tahirovich, formerly of Roma,
07:18to take the first.
07:20Up against the giant figure of Donnarumma.
07:23Tahirovich scores.
07:26The perfect start for the Bosnians.
07:31PL Esposito blazes it over.
07:37Advantage, Bosnia-Herzegovina.
07:39Just got right underneath it.
07:42Real focus in the eyes of Tobacovic.
07:46Right-footed.
07:48Scores!
07:48Another step closer.
07:57To Nali for Italy.
08:00Good penalty.
08:01Just what they needed.
08:02They're on the board.
08:05Allai Begovic.
08:10And they maintain their 100% record in this shootout.
08:18Crinistante for Italy.
08:20It's off the bat.
08:21But it's all going wrong for Italy.
08:24They're right on the brink of their worst nightmare.
08:29This, to win it.
08:32To send Bosnia and Herzegovina to the World Cup.
08:38Barak Tarnovic scores!
08:42Bosnia-Herzegovina will play at the World Cup.
08:47Italy, beaten.
08:49Their worst nightmares have come true.
08:54In Pristina, history beckoned for the hosts
08:57as a first-ever World Cup Finals appearance
09:00was within reach for Kosovo.
09:02After an eye-catching qualifying campaign
09:04and astonishing semi-final victory in Slovakia.
09:08Just one more step remained.
09:11But standing in their way were Turkian.
09:14No World Cup appearance for them
09:15since finishing third in 2002.
09:18Could they end their wait while extending Kosovo's?
09:26Only a decade after being officially recognised
09:29by FIFA and UEFA,
09:30Kosovo were a game away from qualifying for a World Cup.
09:34Your commentator is Dave Farah.
09:38Kosovo, 90 minutes away from the World Cup.
09:43Many never believed they'd hear that sentence.
09:46Turkia looking to get back to the big stage.
09:51And here's Kenan Yildiz looking for that little bit of space
09:54and finding it, but cleared away.
09:56Chaladolu!
09:59Blasted in and won by Kenan Yildiz
10:01and deflected and it might have gone anywhere,
10:03but it's behind for a corner.
10:07Turkia a whisker away in the early stages.
10:10Two good blocks there.
10:12And then that little touch of hesitancy.
10:21Kenan Yildiz.
10:24Order couldn't cook, shoot.
10:29Wants to let fly and it fizzes just wide.
10:36It's a really good hit, this, seven in his last 11.
10:41You can see why the technical excellence of the Besiktash man.
10:52It's a strong challenge, but referees allowed things to continue off the crossbar.
10:58And cleared away.
11:02Urgurchen Csakir got a touch there.
11:05It's a wonderful save.
11:07This was Aslany's effort.
11:10Terrific save.
11:12Morishi will be disappointed.
11:13He didn't finish the follow-up, but the closest we've come.
11:24Michael Oliver says, it's a fair challenge.
11:28Long for Kenan Yildiz.
11:31Great burst of acceleration.
11:33Hurdles the challenge.
11:35And they're not able to force it home.
11:39Chalanolu now to let fly.
11:42I tell you what, there's a moment there.
11:45If Kenan Yildiz had gone down, I think he would have won a penalty.
11:50Akhtar Koglu couldn't control.
11:57Who can hold their nerve?
11:59Who can create that moment?
12:04Orkan Kukshu for Kenan Yildiz option centrally here.
12:09Orkan Kukshu!
12:11Now, did Akhtar Koglu touch it in?
12:17He's off celebrating, Turkya lead.
12:21The Kosovans wonder about offside.
12:24I think he's going in anyway.
12:26And Akhtar Koglu steals in to touch it home.
12:29Was he in an offside position here?
12:33Either way, it's a massive moment.
12:35Let's take a look.
12:37And he does surely graze it with his studs, doesn't he?
12:42Goal stands.
12:45Turkya lead.
12:54Here's Chalanolu.
13:13Here's Chalanolu.
13:16Evolved in the goal, but that was the effort saved by Muric.
13:23They've got ten minutes here, Kosovo.
13:25They've got to score.
13:26Or else Turkya are going to the World Cup.
13:29It is as simple as that.
13:33We just need one moment.
13:36It's given away here.
13:38It's driven hard and just wide by Moussliya.
13:42Was that the chance?
13:46It opened up in front of him.
13:48He just couldn't pick out the bottom corner.
13:52Sloppy by Baris Alpi Ilmaz.
13:55The goalkeeper was struggling to get across.
13:58It's not far away, this angle tells us.
14:11Lovely feet from Zhegrove.
14:13There's that touch of genius.
14:17There's the break for Aslani now.
14:21Saved by a good check here.
14:24They're getting closer.
14:27They're still in this.
14:28There's the header back across.
14:32They wondered about a handball.
14:37Oh, it's given away again by Turkya.
14:41But now we reach the sixth.
14:43El Mali.
14:48Turkya have done it.
14:51They've come to Pristina.
14:54And they've broken Kosovo's hearts.
14:58And it's Turkya who make it through to the big show in the summer.
15:05It finishes.
15:08Kosovo 0, Turkya 1.
15:13In nine previous meetings, Slovakia had never beaten Romania.
15:16But they took the lead after just seven minutes in Bratislava, thanks to an own goal from Daniel Birligia.
15:24The Romania striker didn't know too much about it.
15:31And even more confusion in the visitors' box early in the second half led to goal number two.
15:36Substitute keeper, Marian Ioani, made a mess of playing out from the back.
15:40Slovakia's David Strelitz gratefully gobbled up the opportunity.
15:45With ten minutes to go, Patrick Rozovski came close to adding a third.
15:50But two was enough for a comfortable victory.
15:56Wales wanted to take the first steps to recovery from the heartbreak of their penalty shootout defeat against Bosnia and
16:02Herzegovina.
16:03Northern Ireland showed no sympathy.
16:05Jamie Donnelly, at the second attempt, put Michael O'Neill's men in front in Cardiff.
16:10They'd fallen short in a spirited bid to frustrate Italy in the playoff semifinals.
16:14And found the Welsh too hot to handle at the start of a second half, when David Brooks found Sauber
16:20-Thomas.
16:22All square, and in terms of chances, there wasn't much between the sides.
16:27The closest either came to a decisive goal was a firm header from Owen Toll that tested Carl Darlow's reflexes.
16:34A terrific save to keep it 1-1 through to the finish.
16:38Following an uninspiring stalemate with Uruguay last time out,
16:42England were looking to give the Wembley crowd a little more to cheer.
16:46But after starting and finishing a sweeping move,
16:49Karu Mitoma ensured it was the Japanese contingent who were off their seats midway through the first half.
16:56England were reeling from that early blow.
16:59As heads cleared, Elliot Anderson attempted to steady things.
17:03Seeking a first-ever victory over England's senior men's team,
17:07Japan almost extended their lead via Ayasa Ueda.
17:10But with this fifth victory in a row, Japan's World Cup build-up is bubbling along nicely.
17:17Harry Maguire saw a second half-header blocked,
17:19but England failed to find the net for the first time in 22 matches.
17:24In Stuttgart, Germany faced Ghana in a friendly.
17:27The hosts had powered through their qualification campaign for this summer's World Cup,
17:31and coach Julian Nagelsmann had suggested this March squad would be similar to the tournament's selection.
17:37They were awarded a penalty after Angelo Stiller's cross hit Jonas Ojeti's arm.
17:43Kai Havert, cool and clinical from the spot.
17:46The Black Stars had won just eight of their 21 games under coach Otto Addo,
17:51failing to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
17:55But they are preparing for their fifth World Cup, and Abdul Fatawu levelled the scores here.
18:02Nagelsmann sent on Denis Undav, the leading German scorer in the Bundesliga this season,
18:08and his winner condemned Ghana to a fourth successive defeat.
18:11Addo was relieved of his duties after the game,
18:14so the Black Stars will be seeking a new guiding light for this summer.
18:19Still to come, could Sweden complete a remarkable turnaround in form to see off Poland?
18:39The Park B playoff final saw Sweden host Poland in Solna.
18:43Astonishingly, the Swedes had failed to win a single game in World Cup qualifying,
18:47but were making the most of the reprieve of a playoff shot earned by the Nations League.
18:52After Viktor Jorkovic scored a hat-trick in the semis,
18:55they were one win away from this summer's finals.
18:58Poland were no pushovers though.
19:00They had appeared in the last two World Cups,
19:02and knew 2026 might be the last chance for their talisman, Robert Lewandowski.
19:08So for the second time in four years,
19:10Sweden and Poland faced off for a place in the finals.
19:13The Poles prevailed in 2022.
19:15Could the Swedes take revenge?
19:17Chris Wise watched this one.
19:21The nerves have now been activated for most inside the stadium.
19:25Winner takes it all this evening, Ayari Alanga!
19:29It's a gorgeous Sweden goal!
19:33A special moment in Solna, delivered by Anthony Alanga.
19:39And for the first time, the World Cup very much in touching distance for Sweden.
19:45What a brilliant piece of quality this is.
19:48The layoff from Ayari, and the hits from Alanga.
19:53Which is as good as it gets.
19:58And on a night of such high importance.
20:02A goal of the highest order.
20:08Grabara grabbing at thin air.
20:10No goalkeeper would have got close to that.
20:14Sweden lay the first punch of the night then.
20:19Starveld, I'm not sure he wanted it off him from Nortveld like that.
20:23It was a straight pass, and it has led to a problem for Sweden.
20:26Lewandowski, this is Cash.
20:28That's Sviderski!
20:30That's a brilliant save, Nortveld.
20:32How quickly he's reacted to that.
20:3536 years old, Nortveld.
20:37But he got down like a 22-year-old there.
20:41Don't think there's any doubt that Sviderski's shot was heading towards the bottom corner.
20:47Nearly had our second goal of great class tonight.
20:55Poland finding better passages of play now.
21:00Szelewski finding the angle, finding a way to goal.
21:05And Poland pull themselves level.
21:10Couldn't play his part in the semi-final, Nikola Szelewski.
21:15He's certainly playing his part in this play-off final tonight.
21:20The bounce of the ball, perhaps deceiving Nortveld in the Sweden goal.
21:25Who, like everything tonight, has got hands on it, but this time, not firm enough hands.
21:31And given the save that he made, not too long ago, from Karol Sviderski,
21:36I think he'll be disappointed he's been beaten by that one, Krzysztof Nortveld.
21:43Well, there's a small deflection on it as well of Karlström,
21:46which perhaps wasn't visible initially.
21:49Still his goal.
21:50Still a massive goal for Poland.
21:56It's like Fred Narek, who is having to deal with Sweden's front-man.
22:03Langa's giving chase, and he might get there, you know.
22:08It's going to be a free kick.
22:11It was by Nikola Szelewski.
22:15People are perhaps saying something that wasn't appreciated.
22:21And Sweden, with a chance to strike another potentially decisive blow before half-time.
22:29Benjamin Negrin on the free kick.
22:31Gravaro couldn't get there, and Sweden do lead again.
22:35Gustav Lagerbjelka.
22:39A crucial goal right before half-time.
22:44And Sweden back on the brink of the promised land again.
22:49Much uncertainty in the Polish backline.
22:52Only a second-ever goal for his national team, for Gustav Lagerbjelka.
23:00What is noticeable is that Poland's midfield are beginning to run this game now.
23:06Szelewski.
23:07Another beautiful ball.
23:10Cash.
23:11And it's come all the way through.
23:14Szwederski scores.
23:17Poland fight back again in Sona.
23:21Karol Szwederski could not miss.
23:25And there is, I'm pretty sure, no intention at all from Nikola Szelewski to try and locate Szwederski.
23:34He's going for goal here.
23:36Or is he?
23:37Maybe he does, maybe he does just catch Szwederski's eyeline.
23:43Sweden 2, Poland 2.
23:46And this is turning into a rip-roaring playoff final.
23:55Come on by Szwederski and Kent, off the line from Lindelof.
23:59Back in by Lewandowski.
24:02Critical defending from Viktor Lindelof.
24:05Lindelof knee, as it were.
24:08Poland all of a sudden under the pump here.
24:11Svensson.
24:13Lager Bielke.
24:16Lundgren, one of the Sweden substitutes.
24:18Past the tide, Kivior.
24:20Lundgren with the pullback.
24:22That's the chance for Svensson.
24:24Bergbäll!
24:25And then Sinelli off the post.
24:28Jokeres scores!
24:32It's him again!
24:36Viktor Jokeres single-handedly sending Sweden towards the World Cup.
24:45They can barely believe it.
24:48The praise for Lundgren to start this off.
24:51And just when it seemed all hope was lost.
24:53No way through for Bergbäll, for Sinelli.
24:56But then the power and the pure belief of Viktor Jokeres.
25:02And Sweden on the brink of joining football's elite this summer.
25:08The Potter revolution.
25:13Kaminsky with the throw.
25:15Sweden are going to the World Cup.
25:18The charge led by Viktor Jokeres.
25:21The belief reinstated by Graham Potter amongst crushing Polish disappointments.
25:29A brilliant game.
25:30A brilliant playoff final.
25:32And Sweden exacting revenge for four years ago when Poland ended their hopes.
25:38Sweden 3.
25:40Poland 2.
25:43Latvia took a 1-0 advantage into the second leg of this UEFA Nations League C and D playoff against
25:49Gibraltar.
25:49With promotion and relegation on the line.
25:52The visitors gave their hosts a scare by a James Scanlon.
25:58Right on the stroke of half-time, the Latvians thought they'd doubled their aggregate lead through Roberts Vipes.
26:04Only for a handball to be spotted by VAR, which ruled the goal out.
26:14And the Latvians finally cemented their status in League C of the Nations League with a very late winner.
26:20Captain Antonis Czernamordis leading from the front to complete a 2-0 aggregate win.
26:34Luxembourg led Malta 2-0 going into the second leg of their Nations League playoff.
26:39And soon extended that as Vincent Thiel, who opened the scoring into Ali, repeated the trick.
26:45And the home side had the chance to tighten their grip on the tie even more shortly before half-time,
26:50when Joseph Mbong got into a tangle with Leandro Barrera.
26:54From behind the goal, it was easier to see that he'd clipped the midfielder's ankle.
27:02Darnell Czernamordis took the spot kick, only for Henry Bonello to keep Malta's very faint hopes of a fight back
27:07alive.
27:09In truth, though, it never looked likely that Luxembourg would relinquish their League C spot.
27:13The Maltese were on the defensive again after the break, and Czernamordis got the better of his next battle with
27:18Bonello.
27:214-0 on aggregate, 2-0 on a night that would only get more miserable for Malta.
27:25And Mbong hadn't learned his lesson, this time clattering into Sebastian Thiel to collect his second caution and reduce the
27:32League D team to ten men.
27:36Some extra space for substitute Thomas Moreira to exploit.
27:40Two minutes after arriving from the bench, he underlined Luxembourg's supremacy.
27:45Following six straight defeats in World Cup qualifying, back-to-back Nations League wins improved the move.
27:52So neither Gibraltar nor Malta managed to win promotion, with Latvia 2-0 winners on aggregate,
27:58and Luxembourg 5-0 overall, as both retained their League C status.
28:04Ukraine and Albania, both of whose World Cup dreams ended in play-off semi-final defeats last time out,
28:10faced off in a friendly in Valencia.
28:13Alexey Hutsuliak, a substitute against Sweden, showed his worth from the start, netting for the fourth time in six games.
28:20Serhai Rebrov said his men were unable to show their maximum against the Swedes,
28:24but here, again too late, they looked on Son.
28:28Mikula Shaparenko, though, denied by the woodwork.
28:32Both Norway and Switzerland topped their groups on the way to World Cup qualification,
28:37but each side had a point to prove in Oslo, having lost their most recent fixture.
28:41Ruben Vargas had the visitors' best effort in a goal-less first half.
28:48It was just as tight after half-time, few clear-cut chances at either end.
28:54Norway striker Jürgen Strand Larsson went closest to breaking the deadlock,
28:58but neither side could find a winner, and it finished 0-0.
29:07Both reeling from their failure to make it to the 2026 World Cup,
29:10Hungary and Greece locked horns in Budapest.
29:13The vitreos called Belis couldn't quite break the early deadlock.
29:17Then, seven minutes after the half-time break,
29:20Dominic Sovrishlai went searching for a Hungarian breakthrough.
29:23A quite brilliant solo run might have led to a goal for the ages,
29:27instead, it proved one of those, if only, moments.
29:31Just past the hour, Greece could have snatched victory,
29:35but Vangelis Pavlidis ran out of room and mathematical probability,
29:39hitting the post in a game that never quite hit the heights.
29:47In Podgorica, Montenegro's Militinos Maic picked up where he left off.
29:51The forward, who sealed victory over Andorra four days earlier,
29:55made his mark again.
29:57But Slovenia have a striker who's been in excellent form
30:00for his club side, Swansea City,
30:02and Jan Vipotnik demonstrated the instinct
30:04that's put him top of the scoring chart
30:06in English football's second tier.
30:08Under Boscan Cesar, the team's first goal,
30:11but the new coach would need to find words of encouragement at half-time
30:15after seeing Osmejic restore Montenegro's lead.
30:19Cesar's opening match delivered a narrow defeat in Hungary.
30:22This time he got just the reaction he wanted,
30:24with the team back on level terms once more,
30:26just two minutes after the break,
30:28thanks to Daniel Sturm.
30:33And it was Sturm who supplied the pass
30:35that sent Jostir Bancic racing into the area soon after
30:38to pick out Vipotnik.
30:40In the right place at the right time again
30:43to complete Slovenia's comeback victory.
30:49Coach Luis de la Fuente rotated every starter
30:52except Lamin Yamal from Spain's 3-0 victory over Serbia.
30:56Egypt, too, were aiming for a second successive friendly win,
30:59and Omar Marmouche came close to an opener.
31:02With 11 goals in 48 internationals, he's a real threat.
31:06But Spain, who'd won six of their last seven matches,
31:10are an attacking menace whatever the team selection.
31:13Fermín López posing the danger here.
31:16But keeper Mustafa Chaubert was equal to it.
31:20The Spanish had never lost to Egypt,
31:22and the pharaoh's challenge was made yet harder
31:25when Borja Iglesias was brought down by Hamdi Fatih.
31:30The second yellow.
31:33And he was sent off.
31:37Spain's Alejandro Grimaldo took the resultant free kick.
31:43Another save by Chaubert.
31:46Egypt with the first-ever clean sheet against the Spanish,
31:49encouraging signs as they gear up
31:52for a return to the World Cup finals.
31:56Ecuador arrived in the Netherlands,
31:58having conceded just three goals in their last ten matches.
32:01But it took them just three minutes to fall behind.
32:03Cody Gatto's cross diverted into his own net
32:06by Willian Paccio.
32:10A good start for the Dutch,
32:12but they were dealt a serious blow on 12 minutes
32:14when Denzel Dumfries' clumsy attempt to stop Gonzalo Platter
32:18saw him receive a straight red card.
32:24Platter's movement was proving a real problem for the home side.
32:27On 24 minutes, he was at it again.
32:29This time, he was fouled by goalkeeper Mark Flecken
32:32to earn his side a penalty.
32:37Veteran skipper Ena Valencia took the kick
32:39to make it 1-1.
32:41And that's how it finished.
32:47Still to come,
32:48would it be Czechia or Denmark
32:49to take the final qualifying place?
33:00The final play-off spot was up for grabs in Prague,
33:04as Czechia hoped to qualify for this summer's tournament
33:06at Denmark's expense.
33:08The Danes were relative World Cup regulars,
33:11having featured at five of the last seven finals,
33:13and they'd also enjoyed the more comfortable night
33:16in the semis last Thursday.
33:19Czechia fought back from two down
33:20to pimp the Republic of Ireland on penalties.
33:23Could they dig deep again
33:24to make it past this final hurdle
33:26and bring a 20-year World Cup exile to an end?
33:31With a high-stakes prize on the line,
33:34Prague was poised for another thrilling occasion,
33:37as was your commentator, Paul Walker.
33:43Sofels corner.
33:45And there's no-one marked on the edge,
33:47and he's thundered in!
33:48What a hit!
33:49What a hit from Pavel Schultz!
33:53Czechia have lit the fuse in Prague!
33:57This is a nation reawakened!
34:02Pavel Schultz with a thunderbolt!
34:07Sofels corner.
34:08Out it went to Schultz,
34:10who wasn't picked up on the edge of the box.
34:13and he absolutely crashes it beyond Hermansson.
34:25It's Isaacson!
34:26And beaten away by Kovar!
34:29Excellent save!
34:34It was dipping wickedly.
34:36It was dipping wickedly.
34:38The session turned over.
34:40Not the first time that Mailer's made an error.
34:42Schultz.
34:45Oh, what a ball that is.
34:47It's proper!
34:49Hermansson got something on it.
34:51What a stop!
34:52What a stop!
34:55What a sumptuous pass here from Pavel Schultz, though.
34:59Credit Hermansson came sharply off his line.
35:05Damnsgaard with this free kick.
35:08Bloody a pace on it!
35:09Andersen!
35:10Denmark back on terms, back in business.
35:15The dream was beginning to fade.
35:18Now it's alive again.
35:22Joachim Andersen
35:23levels it in Prague.
35:27A giant goal.
35:29A towering header from Joachim Andersen.
35:34Damnsgaard juggles it into Hulman.
35:36Hoyland.
35:38Thunder gold by Mailer.
35:41Just off target.
35:42Didn't seem by much at first glance.
35:46This run ever so kindly for him.
35:50Plenty of tower on it.
35:56Around 900 Danish fans here.
35:59All holding their breath right now
36:01because Vladimir Sofa
36:04is about to hurl in this long throw.
36:10Sofa again, it's a teasing ball.
36:13Sochak.
36:14Krejci!
36:15It's in!
36:17Checking a lead again!
36:19They were boys the last time
36:22their country walked among giants.
36:24Tonight, these could be the men
36:27to take them back.
36:31Sofa al lifted in there.
36:35Krejci sensed an opportunity
36:37and took it
36:39via the boots
36:41of Alexander Bar.
36:43The pandemonium in Prague.
36:45The pandemonium in Prague.
36:45Thank you!
36:50Now, Dreyer's on the move.
36:53He's the furthest man forward.
36:55Anders Dreyer, Ericsson getting in there.
36:57now it's Hoy-Bierre
37:02with the instep and wide
37:05went for placement
37:06trying to guide it into the corner
37:10strut themselves in for another 15 minutes
37:13of drama
37:17Dreyer delivers
37:18Hurgsheadler, it's in
37:21Kasper Hurg
37:23with the first international goal
37:28it's back in the balance in Prague
37:31it's up for grabs again
37:33what a moment for Kasper Hurg
37:37talk about timing
37:41a man who has starred for Buda Glimp this season
37:45moving away from goal
37:47and there was simply nothing
37:50nothing that Kovar could do
37:52and it will need spot kicks to decide
37:55which one of Czechia or Denmark
37:58is going to the FIFA World Cup this summer
38:04Oiland against Matej Kovar
38:07and he's hit the bar
38:12advantage Czechia already
38:17Tomáš Horí looking to give Czechia the lead in the shootout
38:23and he scores, he squeezes it in
38:28Hermansson got something on it but not enough
38:30Christian Eriksson scores and scores with ease
38:39coolly taken
38:41Tomáš Sočák to face his club mate Mads Hermansson
38:52and Sočák wins the duel
38:55two out of two
38:57fabulous penalty
38:59Anders Dreyer
39:04against the backdrop of whistles and jeers
39:07and it's saved by Kovar
39:11he's at it again
39:15Vladislav Krejci the captain
39:19scored in the shootout on Thursday
39:22saved by Hermansson
39:25right when they needed him
39:28Hermansson comes up with the goods
39:32Matthijs Jensen
39:33who's hardly seen any international football
39:36in the last couple of years
39:37can he hold his nerve
39:40oh he's ballooned it over
39:43a moment that could well haunt Matthijs Jensen
39:47for years to come
39:52if this goes in
39:54Czechia
39:55are on their way
39:57to the FIFA World Cup
39:59Michal Cedilik
40:03history
40:06Czechia
40:07are going to the World Cup
40:08the wait is over
40:10the silence is broken
40:13the world will hear them again
40:18Czechia
40:19are off to the World Cup
40:21Denmark are not
40:23Czechia win 3-1 on penalties
40:26after a 2-2 draw
40:28after extra time
40:32the finals line-up is complete
40:34a Fab 4 of Bosnia and Herzegovina
40:37Czechia
40:38Sweden
40:38and Turkey
40:39all hit the right notes
40:40and will take their place
40:42alongside the 12 group winners
40:43on the biggest stage of all
40:45this summer
40:48North Macedonia's World Cup bid
40:49was ended emphatically
40:51by Denmark
40:51in Dublin
40:53Gwivin Kelleher kept them at bay
40:54falling in
40:55Espaddy
40:56as the Republic of Ireland
40:57also sought a morale boost
40:58following their playoff defeat
40:59by Czechia
41:00Troy Parrott's hat-trick
41:02for the Irish in Hungary
41:03was an unforgettable highlight
41:05of their qualifying campaign
41:06this time around
41:08the striker had a first half effort
41:09ruled out for offside
41:10and hit the post
41:11in a second half
41:12which drifted along
41:13until the home side
41:14conjured up one final opportunity
41:16deep into stoppage time
41:19Adamida's improvisation
41:20teed up Johnny Kenny
41:21but Stola Dimitrievski
41:23stood firm
41:23as the contest
41:25ended in stalemate
41:29a first ever meeting
41:31between Austria
41:31and Korea Republic
41:33the visitors came
41:34to this friendly
41:35off a heavy defeat
41:36to Cote d'Ivoire
41:37while the hosts
41:38beat Ghana 5-1
41:39Marcel Sabitzer
41:41had opened the scoring then
41:42and did so again here
41:43his 25th international goal
41:47Oh Young Yoo
41:48who'd netted four
41:49in his last six games
41:51for his country
41:51forced Patrick Pence
41:53into a fine save
41:54no one could get past
41:56the Austrian keeper
41:57on the night
41:571-0 it ended
42:01Serbia and Saudi Arabia
42:03were looking to
42:04quickly rectify issues
42:05laid bare by defeats
42:06last time out
42:07but the hosts
42:07made the worst possible start
42:09a defensive misunderstanding
42:11gifting Abdullah Al Hamdan
42:13with a chance
42:14to take full advantage
42:15just eight minutes in
42:17but in this first ever meeting
42:19between the sides
42:20the Serbians were to mount
42:22a spirited second half comeback
42:23via experienced sources
42:25first Strahinja Pavlovich
42:28sublimely finished
42:30on 66 minutes
42:31impressive technique
42:32from a defender
42:35then just four minutes later
42:37victory was completed
42:38for the hosts
42:39Alexander Mitrovich
42:41extending his record
42:42as all-time leading
42:43Serbian scorer
42:44with a 64th goal
42:46for his country
42:47Saudi Arabia
42:48with some work to do
42:49before the big summer
42:50Shropers
42:53Lithuania and Georgia
42:54met in Kaunas
42:55where the visitor's star man
42:56Vycha Clarence Skellier
42:58went closest
42:59in a goalless first half
43:01in the second period
43:02George Mikotadze
43:03was a constant menace
43:04to the Lithuania defense
43:05he earned his team
43:07a penalty
43:07for 70 minutes
43:10and got up to take it himself
43:131-0 to Georgia
43:16with six minutes
43:17of normal time left
43:18it was 2-0
43:20Nikogagnitsa
43:21with the assist
43:22Mikotadze
43:23unmarked
43:24as he scored his second
43:28Lithuania
43:28had been hoping
43:29to make it
43:30back-to-back wins
43:31after victory
43:31over Moldova
43:32last time out
43:33Gvidis Gnaitis
43:35scored in that one
43:36it was a different story
43:37this time though
43:38as he was shown
43:39a red card
43:40for a second
43:40bookable offense
43:45Azerbaijan swept aside
43:46St Lucia
43:476-1
43:48before this encounter
43:49but couldn't keep
43:50Sierra Leone down
43:51for long
43:51the determined
43:52Idris Kanu
43:53setting up his namesake
43:54Daniel
43:55who got off the mark
43:56for his country
43:59the Africans
44:00protected that advantage
44:01successfully
44:02until 12 minutes
44:03from the end
44:03when a wayward
44:04defensive header
44:05was punished
44:06brilliantly
44:06by Rahil Mamadov
44:07the central defender's
44:09first goal
44:09in any competition
44:10for five years
44:11took this FIFA series
44:13friendly
44:13into a long
44:14penalty shootout
44:15after Badawi
44:17Husanoff
44:17made it 9-8
44:18to Azerbaijan
44:19Alfred Toure
44:20stepped up
44:22and put his kick
44:24too close
44:25to Idin Byramov
44:26celebrations
44:27for the home team
44:28for the second time
44:29in three days
44:32Cyprus and Moldova
44:33had only met
44:34twice before
44:35both occasions
44:36like this
44:36were friendlies
44:37and both finished
44:383-2 to the home side
44:40Rigoris Castanos
44:42gave the Cypriots
44:43an early lead
44:44they were 2-2
44:45the good soon after
44:45when the ball
44:46was directed
44:47fortuitously
44:48into the path
44:49of Haralampos
44:50Haralampos
44:50the 23-year-old
44:52didn't hesitate
44:52his fourth
44:53international goal
44:54involved a little
44:55more showmanship
44:56Cyprus
44:573-0 up
44:58and seemingly certain
45:00of a first win
45:00since October
45:01but the second half
45:03saw Moldova
45:04fight back
45:04Petru Popescu
45:06finishing off
45:06a neat move
45:07to lessen
45:08the deficit
45:08to 2
45:09and then
45:10Victor Steiner's
45:11free kick
45:11bypassed everyone
45:13to find the net
45:14but Moldova's
45:15fight back
45:16ended there
45:17now 13
45:18without a win
45:20a first international
45:21appearance
45:22for Komoros
45:22goalkeeper
45:23Syed Makhindra
45:24in Kazakhstan
45:24this was not
45:25the start he wanted
45:26the game
45:27just 4 minutes old
45:28when his error
45:29allowed Kazakhstan
45:30to take the lead
45:31through Ramazan Orozov
45:35the debutant keeper
45:36made amends
45:37in the second half
45:37when he pitched
45:38an effort
45:39from Maxim Samodorov
45:40onto the post
45:41but that one goal
45:42was enough
45:43for Kazakhstan
45:43to record
45:44a second straight victory
45:48four months on
45:49from their
45:50nine goal
45:50humbling
45:50by Portugal
45:51Armenia returned
45:52for a friendly
45:53with Belarus
45:53but it didn't
45:54start well
45:55Yevgeny Jablonski's
45:57header
45:57giving the hosts
45:58another headache
45:598 minutes in
46:01the Armenians
46:02rallied for a time
46:04but it was eventually
46:04to get worse for them
46:05Joman Borkovski's
46:07effort helped
46:07on its way in
46:08by Nertik Nizian
46:10stung by that
46:11the home side
46:12pushed for
46:13a quick response
46:14and very nearly
46:15got their reward
46:16Gaur Manvelyan
46:17frustrated by the
46:18woodwork
46:19then with time
46:20running out
46:21Armenia were given
46:22a late lifeline
46:23Manvelyan's
46:24attempted cross
46:25judged to have
46:26struck the arm
46:27of Max Ebon
46:28penalty given
46:29duly converted
46:30by Bahan Bichakian
46:32and though
46:32too little too late
46:33it was still
46:34a useful exercise
46:35for both teams
46:36looking to this
46:37autumn's nation's
46:38goal
46:39San Marino
46:40had lost all four
46:41of their previous
46:41games against Andorra
46:43by an aggregate
46:43scoreline of 9-0
46:45their visitors
46:46though hadn't
46:46found the net
46:47in their last
46:47three outings
46:48but just before
46:50half time
46:50Eduardo Colombo
46:51had to be at his
46:52best to deny
46:53Albert Rosas
46:54at the other end
46:56it took a desperate
46:56goal line clearance
46:57from Ian Olivera
46:59to prevent
47:00San Marino's
47:01Nicola Nani
47:01from scoring
47:02what would have
47:03been only his
47:03second goal
47:04since 2024
47:06he had another
47:07opportunity in the
47:08second half
47:09when the ball
47:10hit Max Llovera's
47:11arm
47:11and San Marino
47:13were awarded
47:13a penalty
47:14Nani prepared
47:15himself
47:17it wasn't to be
47:19but this
47:19goalless draw
47:20ended San Marino's
47:2211-game losing streak
47:26so the European
47:28line-up for the
47:28World Cup
47:29is complete
47:31Bosnia
47:31and Herzegovina
47:32are on their way
47:33which means
47:33Italy
47:34for the third
47:35time in a row
47:35must watch
47:36from afar
47:38as Kosovo's dream
47:40of a debut
47:40at the finals
47:41was dashed
47:42Turkey
47:42were jumping
47:43for joy
47:45Sweden
47:46left it late
47:47to beat Poland
47:47Viktor Yerkeres
47:49their playoff hero
47:50once again
47:52while Czechia
47:53held their nerve
47:54to eventually
47:55see off Denmark
47:56and set up
47:57a summer
47:57to save
47:58them
48:05more evening
48:08in wisdom
48:08as your
48:08as you
48:12can return
48:12as you
48:12will
48:13see
48:13the end
48:15in
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