November 18, 2025 | 11:12 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Several final matches of the 2026 World Cup qualification in the European zone in the early hours of Tuesday, November 18, 2025, provided certainty for several major countries. Germany and the Netherlands secured convincing victories as well as automatic qualification, while Croatia and Poland closed the group stage with positive results.
Germany 6-0 Slovakia
Playing at Red Bull Arena, Leipzig, Germany dominated from the start and thrashed Slovakia 6-0. Nick Woltemade opened the scoring in the 18th minute before Serge Gnabry doubled the lead. Leroy Sane scored two goals before halftime, ensuring a four-goal lead for Germany in the first half.
In the second half, Ridle Baku and Assan Ouedraogo completed the goal fest for the team led by Julian Nagelsmann. This victory placed Germany as the Group A champion with 15 points from six matches. Slovakia, despite the heavy defeat, finished as the runner-up and dropped to the play-off path to compete for a spot in the final round.
Netherlands 4-0 Lithuania
The Netherlands secured their spot in the 2026 World Cup after defeating Lithuania 4-0 at the Johan Cruijff ArenA in Amsterdam. Tijjani Reijnders broke the deadlock before Cody Gakpo doubled the lead with a penalty in the second half. Two minutes later, Xavi Simons scored the third goal, and Donyell Malen sealed the victory with an individual effort.
The Netherlands closed Group G with 20 points and finished at the top of the table. Lithuania finished at the bottom with only three points throughout the qualification.
Montenegro 2-3 Croatia
Drama unfolded in Podgorica as Croatia came from behind by two goals to defeat Montenegro 3-2. The hosts took the lead through Milutin Osmajic and Nikola Krstovic, but Croatia showed the resilience of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup finalists. Ivan Perisic reduced the deficit before Kristijan Jakic and Nikola Vlasic secured the three points.
Croatia had already secured their qualification before this match. The victory saw them finish Group L with 22 points.
Meanwhile, Poland ended the group stage with a narrow victory over Malta. Robert Lewandowski opened the scoring before Malta equalized. Two subsequent goals from Pawel Wszolek and Piotr Zielinski maintained Poland's lead, as they now prepare to face the play-off stage as Group G runners-up.
The Czech Republic clinched a resounding 6-0 victory over Gibraltar, while Northern Ireland secured a 1-0 win over Luxembourg.
Recap of the 2026 World Cup Qualification Results in the European Zone in the early hours of Tuesday, November 18, 2025
Malta 2-3 Poland
Czech Republic 6-0 Gibraltar
Netherlands 4-0 Lithuania
Germany 6-0 Slovakia
Northern Ireland 1-0 Luxembourg
Montenegro 2-3 Croatia
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