Sports
Netherlands Cinch Spot at EU Qualifier for 2022 World Cup
The Netherlands has clinched a place in the European qualifying for the 2022 World Cup as late goals from Steven Bergwijn and Memphis Depay. The Netherlands sealed a 2-0 win over Norway on Tuesday, with Turkey and Ukraine also grabbing play-off spots at the 2022 World Cup
The Dutch, with coach Louis van Gaal watching from the stands with an injury, only needed one point to top Group G. The Dutch came through a nervy encounter to finish two points clear of second-placed Turkey.
Netherlands, Tottenham winger Bergwijn smashed Arnaut Danjuma’s cross into the top corner with six minutes left at De Kuip. Bergwijn’s pass sealed the Netherlands a return to the tournament after missing out on Russia in 2018.
The Netherlands now joins Belgium; England; Germany; Denmark; France; Croatia; Switzerland; Spain and Serbia to have qualified at the European qualifying for the 2022 World Cup.
In the play-offs, Turkey is alongside Euro 2020 winners Italy, Portugal, Scotland, Russia, Sweden, Poland, Wales, North Macedonia, Ukraine, the Czech Republic, and Austria, with the draw on November 26 for the games in March.
Elsewhere, in Group E, Wales secured a home game in the playoffs after a 1-1 draw in Cardiff against Belgium without injured captain Gareth Bale.
In Group D, Finland missed out on the play-offs as Karim Benzema and Kylian Mbappe scored in World Cup holders France’s 2-0 win in Helsinki.
The pair became the first France players to score in four successive Les Bleus games since David Trezeguet in 2003.
Ukraine took the play-off spot after beating Bosnia and Herzegovina by the same scoreline thanks to Oleksandr Zinchenko and Artem Dovbyk’s second-half efforts in Zenica.