France and Portugal claimed the final two automatic berths in the 2018 World Cup on Tuesday, while three teams know they’ll need a playoff to go to Russia.
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Netherlands 2-0 Sweden
The Dutch needed to win and erase a big goal difference on Sweden, and only managed the latter through a pair of Arjen Robben goals. The first was a chipped penalty that nearly failed to find the net.
France 2-1 Belarus
Antoine Griezmann and Olivier Giroud helped Les Bleus build a 2-0 lead, and the French held on for a spot in Russia against visiting Belarus.
France is rolling now!
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) October 10, 2017
Giroud puts Les Bleus up 2-0 on Belarus. https://t.co/8u8KWZSJKo
Portugal 2-0 Switzerland
It took an own goal to break this one open, as Johan Djourou of Antalyaspor had the ill fortune of putting the Swiss behind the 8-ball before Andre Silva scored a second despite a mistouch at the back post.
The loss was the only one of Switzerland’s qualifying campaign, as Portugal advanced on superior goal differential. The Swiss beat Portugal 2-0 in Sweden.
Hey, whatever it takes! An own goal from Djourou has Portugal en route to Russia, as it stands. #PORSUI https://t.co/MF2eFYf6Np
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) October 10, 2017
Greece 4-0 Gibraltar
This was supposed to be much easier for Greece, which needed a win to earn a playoff spot and was expected to dominate the minnows. Bologna’s Vasilis Torosidis scored the lone goal of the first half, and it took until after the hour mark for Kostas Mitroglou to salt away the result with 61st and 63rd minute goals.
Estonia 1-2 Bosnia and Herzegovina
Werder Bremen’s Izet Hajrovic scored twice for the visitors, whose form dipped precipitously over the final five matches to miss the World Cup.
Elsewhere
Luxembourg 1-1 Bulgaria
Hungary 1-0 Faroe Islands
Latvia 4-0 Andorra
Belgium 3-0 Cyprus