Netherlands took another step towards qualification for the 2026 World Cup with a 4-0 away win over Malta.
A pair of penalties from Cody Gakpo put the Orange in command, with the Liverpool forward seeing a hat-trick goal chalked off 11 minutes into the second half for offside.
Gakpo teed up Tijjani Reijnders to make it 3-0 a minute later, and a header from Memphis Depay, Netherlands’ record goalscorer whose link-up with the team was delayed after his passport was stolen in Brazil, rounded off the win in injury time.
The Group G leaders are three points ahead of both Poland and Finland after the latter beat Lithuania 2-1.
Ronald Koeman’s men will be sure of at least a play-off spot if they defeat Finland, who have played a game more, on Sunday. A win and a shock defeat for Poland against Lithuania would all but guarantee Netherlands’ place at the 2026 finals.
Belarus 0-6 Denmark
Denmark remain top of Group C after hammering Belarus.
Victor Froholdt opened the scoring for the Danes, and braces from Rasmus Hojlund and Anders Dreyer, along with a goal for Patrick Dorgu, completed an emphatic victory.
Brian Riemer’s men are ahead of Scotland on goal difference, Steve Clarke’s side having boosted their qualification hopes by coming from behind to beat Greece 3-1.
Denmark face Greece on Sunday, when Scotland host Belarus. They will each be sure of at least a play-off spot with a victory.
Austria 10-0 San Marino
Austria gained a lot of fans with their football at Euro 2024, and the Group H leaders turned on the style against San Marino.
Ralf Rangnick’s side claimed the biggest win in their history thanks to four goals from Marko Arnautovic and a brace from Stefan Posch. Romano Schmid started the rout, while Michael Gregoritsch, Konrad Laimer and Nikolaus Wurmbrand also got on the scoresheet.
They have a two-point lead over Bosnia-Herzegovina, who were held to a 2-2 draw by Cyprus.
Bosnia led 2-0 before Konstantinos Laifis pulled a goal back for already eliminated Cyprus in first-half stoppage time.
The visitors looked set to hold on, but Ioannis Pittas’ 97th-minute penalty dealt Bosnia a damaging blow in their pursuit of automatic qualification.
Croatia hold the edge in Group L after their 0-0 draw with Czechia. The result keeps both teams level on 13 points, however, Croatia have a vastly superior goal difference while Czechia have played a game more.
Faroe Islands are four points behind that pair after stunning Montenegro 4-0 in Torshavn.
The result ties the biggest win in Faroe Islands’ history, with both of their other four-goal wins coming against Liechtenstein.
