2023-09-11 20:59:37
Even without Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal continues to perform flawlessly in the European Championship qualification. Without the yellow-banned veteran star, the 2016 European champions celebrated a 9-0 (4-0) win over Luxembourg on Monday and comfortably lead Group J with 18 points and a goal difference of 24-0. Croatia also took another step towards the finals in Germany, taking back the lead from Turkey in Group D thanks to a 1-0 (1-0) win in Armenia.
Andrej Kramaric secured the victory for the World Cup third place in Yerevan, the 32-year-old scored the decisive goal in the 14th minute. The Croatians are level on points with Turkey in one game less (10 each), with Armenia and Wales another three points behind (7 each). The Welsh beat Latvia, who had no points, in Riga thanks to a penalty converted by Aaron Ramsey (29th) and a goal by David Brooks (96th) 2-0 (1-0).
Portugal nipped the small hopes of Austria Vienna legionnaire Marvin Martins and Co. in the bud in Faro. The 22-year-old Goncalo Inacio (12th, 45th + 4) with his first team goals, further double packs from Goncalo Ramos (28th, 34th) and Diogo Jota (57th, 77th) as well as Ricardo Horta (67th), Bruno Fernandes (83′) and Joao Felix (88′) ensured that the underdogs were sent to bed with an even bigger pack than in the first leg in Luxembourg (0:6). However, the Grand Duchy’s selection team can still dream of qualifying for the European Championship for the first time. Luxembourg is in third place, three points behind Slovakia.
The Slovaks only treated Liechtenstein mercilessly at the beginning. David Hancko following nine seconds, Ondrej Duda (3rd) and Robert Mak (6th) overpowered the guests in Bratislava with an initial offensive, but then, despite 80 percent possession of the ball, no further goals were scored.
Iceland kept its slim chance of qualifying for the second European Championship in Reykjavik alive with a 1-0 last-minute home win over Bosnia and Herzegovina. Like the Bosnians around Amar Dedic from Salzburg and striker Jusuf Gazibegovic, they are four points behind third-placed Luxembourg.
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