Jurrien Timber shook off an harm scare to assist the Netherlands qualify for the World Cup on Monday, with Jakub Kiwior and Poland compelled to accept a play-off spot.
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The Netherlands and Poland have been each nonetheless mathematically able to qualifying for the World Cup on Monday evening, however it could have taken a really particular set of circumstances for Poland to take action.
The Netherlands started the day on a factors whole of 17 and a purpose distinction of +19, while Poland have been on 14 factors and a purpose distinction of +6.
So for Poland to qualify mechanically, they wanted to win, they wanted the Netherlands to lose, they usually wanted a purpose distinction swing of 14 objectives (as a result of Netherlands additionally having the far superior objectives scored whole).
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Even so, the 2 groups needed to play issues out, and Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber was chosen for the beginning lineup of the Netherlands’ sport towards Lithuania.
There was an early harm scare for the Arsenal man, who went down within the tenth minute and acquired therapy on the pitch. However he got here again on and ended up taking part in till the sixty fourth minute, by which level his crew have been 4-0 up and making a triple substitution.
With the Netherlands successful so comfortably, Poland’s battling 3-2 win over Malta within the different sport was rendered meaningless. Arsenal loanee Jakub Kiwior performed the total 90 minutes.
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The Netherlands turned the seventh European team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, with Germany additionally making it in on Monday evening. Kai Havertz wasn’t concerned resulting from harm, however he’s prone to play a job on the closing event.
As for Kiwior and Poland, they’ll face a single-elimination play-off semi-final and attainable closing in March. The draw to find out their opponents will happen on November twentieth.
