Skip to content

World Cup Qualifiers round-up: Serbia and Iceland qualify, Croatia make play-offs

Aleksandar Prijovic scored Serbia's winner
Image: Aleksandar Prijovic scored Serbia's winner

Serbia firmed up automatic qualification for next summer's World Cup with a 1-0 win over Georgia after Aleksandar Prijovic's second-half goal.

With the scores level at half-time, Prijovic turned home Aleksandar Mitrovic's cross to settle the nerves, before his side held on to qualify for Russia. Austria also beat 1-0 Moldova in Group D.

Gylfi Sigurdsson helped Iceland seal qualification for their first World Cup finals by scoring in an emotional 2-0 victory over Kosovo.

The Everton midfielder fired in a first-half opener before Johann Gudmundsson wrapped up victory in the second period to ensure Iceland finished a superb qualifying campaign top of Group I.

Iceland only missed out on the World Cup four years ago after losing to Croatia in the play-offs, but this time the country with a population of 335,000 went one step further.

Iceland's forward Johann Berg Gudmundsson (L) celebrates scoring with his team-mates Iceland's midfielder Birkir Bjarnason (C) and Iceland's midfielder Gyl
Image: Iceland's forward Johann Gudmundsson (L) celebrates scoring

Croatia booked their place in the play-offs by winning 2-0 in Ukraine, cementing second place behind Iceland, while Finland's dead rubber with Turkey ended 2-2.

Elsewhere in Group D, the Republic of Ireland also snatched a play-off spot by edging their winner-takes-all clash with Wales 1-0.

Also See:

Wales only needed a draw in Cardiff to end Irish hopes but James McClean's driven half-volley early in the second period was enough for a dramatic victory.

The first two places in Group G were already settled ahead of Monday's matches but table-toppers Spain ended with a 1-0 victory away to Israel thanks to Asier Illarramendi's second-half strike.

Italy knew they would be heading into the play-offs and the four-time World Cup winners beat Albania 1-0 thanks to Antonio Candreva's goal, while Macedonia hammered bottom-side Liechtenstein 4-0.

Play Super 6
Play Super 6

There's £250k up for grabs in this weekend's Super 6. Enter your predictions for free here.

Around Sky