19:01
Today’s results so far
Group D
Bosnia and Herzegovina 1-3 Finland (FT)
France v Kazakhstan
Group E
Wales v Belarus
Belgium v Estonia
Group G
Norway 0-0 Latvia (FT)
Turkey 6-0 Gibraltar (FT)
Montenegro v Netherlands (FT)
18:57
FULL TIME: Norway 0-0 Latvia.
FULL TIME: Turkey 6-0 Gibraltar.
No joy for Norway in Oslo. Two dropped points, coupled with Turkey’s rout of Gibraltar, means they slip to third. Turkey leapfrog them into second on goal difference. Both teams are just a point behind the Netherlands, who can now secure qualification tonight if they win in Montenegro.
18:55
Ødegaard whips in a cross from the right. Alexander Sørloth flashes a header, meant for the top-right corner, inches over the har. With 30 seconds remaining, that could be that.
18:51
Norway are currently piling everyone forward in their desperation. Eight minutes of injury time, though. During the first four, Martin Ødegaard nearly squeezes one home from a tight angle on the right, while the luckless Mohamed Elyounoussi has a rasping drive blocked.
18:47
There are two matches going on now. Turkey are beating Gibraltar 5-0 with ten minutes to go, while Norway are being held at home 0-0 by Latvia. If Norway fail to find a goal in the five minutes plus stoppages that are left, Turkey will leapfrog them into second place in Group G. That would seriously dent Norwegian hopes of qualification, given their last match is away to the Netherlands, while Turkey go to Montenegro. It’s tense in Oslo, then, where Mohamed Elyounoussi has had an effort cleared off the line and seen a goal chalked off by VAR for offside.
18:39
There’s already been one result in European qualifying today. Finland have won 3-1 in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a result that puts them second in Group D behind leaders France, who can qualify tonight by beating Kazakhstan. Teemu Pukki missed a 10th-minute penalty, but Marcus Forss put Finland ahead soon after, and Robin Lod made it two on 51 minutes. Luka Menalo pulled one back on 69 minutes, but Daniel O’Shaughnessy restored Finland’s two-goal cushion four minutes later, and that was that. It all sets up a big night on Tuesday, as Finland welcome France while Bosnia-Herzegovina host third-placed Ukraine, who are two points behind the Finns.
18:30
Preamble
You want World Cup qualification drama? We got … well, actually, let’s not oversell the product. The big game from our point of view this evening is Wales versus Belarus, and while there’s some jeopardy for Rob Page’s men – they need to pip the Czech Republic to second spot in Group E if they’re to have any chance of a home draw in the play-off semis – they’ve got a safety net of a guaranteed play-off place by dint of having won their Nations League group last year. So while a win tonight would be mighty handy, there’s no scope for any Zenica-style party or Bodinesque wake. Kick-off in Cardiff is 7.45pm GMT. Mae ymlaen!
Other 7.45pm kick-offs are available. France and Belgium can seal automatic qualification with home victories over Kazakhstan and Estonia respectively, while the Netherlands will also make it should they beat Montenegro and Norway fail to see off Latvia, about which you’ll hear more in a cold minute. Let’s get on with it, then.