A 1-0 defeat to Serbia in Dublin has all but destroyed the Republic of Ireland’s World Cup dream following a dire 1-1 draw with Georgia on Saturday — it's safe to say it's been a disastrous week of qualifying for the Boys in Green. For Serbia, Aleksandar Kolarov’s 55th-minute strike has put them in firm control of securing automatic qualification from UEFA’s Group D with two matches to play.
Syria needed a win or a tie Tuesday against Iran to keep its World Cup hopes alive. Down 2-1 going into stoppage time, it looked like the dream was dead.
And then it wasn't.
Absolute scenes. 93rd minute equaliser to keep Syria's World Cup dream alive. Pitch invasion. The works pic.twitter.com/Uk4hIlZebh
— Chris Deeley (@ThatChris1209) September 5, 2017
This past Saturday, Spain hosted Italy in a World Cup qualifier at the Bernabeu in Madrid. Both sides have won the competition in the post-millennial age and can justifiably feel bitter about being drawn in the same group. Italy, who have a well-established tradition of being utterly awful in the qualifying rounds of international tournaments yet miraculously not losing, are now at risk of finishing second in the group.
Belgium's latest qualifier was against Gibraltar (whose record now reads played seven, lost seven, conceded 33), so many are claiming that right back Thomas Meunier is the beneficiary of coming up against the worst international left back of all time. Still, any match in which a defender records a hat trick of both goals and assists should be roundly applauded.
August was a kind month for Manchester United and France midfielder Paul Pogba. United currently sit atop the Premier League table after trouncing West Ham, Swansea and Leicester by a combined scoreline of 10-0, with Pogba scoring two goals and registering an assist in three dominating individual displays.
He was duly awarded the club’s Player of the Month award, and with Nemanja Matic now anchoring the midfield alongside him, the Frenchman used August as a showcase of things to come.
What a moment this was: Philippe Coutinho, plagued by a back injury that, according to Brazil national team doctor Michael Simoni, “was something emotional” and simply required “a pep talk” to resolve, turned out for Brazil after missing Liverpool’s opening five competitive fixtures and scored a goal 16 minutes after coming on! Warrior.
Before Argentina and Uruguay kicked off Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez joined together in makeshift jerseys combining to display 2030, the year the two nations would like to co-host the World Cup. The two countries then played some brother-in-law offense as they scrapped to a 0-0 draw in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying on Thursday evening in Montevideo, Uruguay.
Luis Suárez and Lionel Messi wearing no. 20 and 30 shirts tonight to promote Uruguay and Argentina's joint 2030 World Cup bid.
France steamrolled the Netherlands 4-0 in Paris on Thursday night, climbing to the top of UEFA Qualifying Group A in the process. A brace from Thomas Lemar and additional goals from Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappe marked a famous victory for the French, but this Dutch side is a shell of the one that finished third at the 2014 World Cup.
He may be suspended in La Liga, but Cristiano Ronaldo is still torching opponents. On Thursday the Portuguese star ravaged poor Faroe Islands with three goals, including one incredible scissor kick that would make even Lionel Messi blush.
Portugal won 5-1, not an unexpected result. Portugal is ranked No. 6 in the world; Faroe Islands is ranked 89th. The Portuguese need all the points they can get as they’re still three points behind Group B leader Switzerland, which also won Thursday.
Solomon Islands has 900 islands, about half a million people and was home to one of the more famous battles in World War II in the South Pacific. And it’s a couple wins away from actually making it to the World Cup.
Solomon Islands faces New Zealand in a two-legged affair Friday (3:35 a.m. EST) and Tuesday. The winner of the home-and-home series wins Oceania’s half of a World Cup bid and the right to face the fifth-place team from South America for one of the final World Cup berths.