European World Cup qualifying: Spain reigns, Tuchel’s England emerges and Mbappé keeps France steady
GENEVA: Spain still looks the best team in Europe, England finally put on a show in World Cup qualifying, and France got back-to-back wins while almost dropping points despite Kylian Mbappé’s goals. Every European team have now begun their qualifying group, and it was a good week for 40-year-old greats Cristiano Ronaldo, in Portugal’s fast start, and Luka Modrić, with Croatia leading its group. Erling Haaland’s five-goal haul in Norway’s 11-1 beating of Moldova pushed Italy closer to the playoffs in a group where goal difference could be decisive. Italy had perhaps the strangest week in their quest to avoid missing a third straight World Cup. The four-time champion earned six points and scored 10 goals yet ended with new coach Gennaro Gattuso filmed aiming expletives at an Israel player on the field after a wild 5-4 win. Germany also could risk ending up in the playoffs next March after stumbling to an opening 2-0 loss at Slovakia. It was a first-ever German loss on the road in World Cup qualifying. Slovakia might yet regret winning only 1-0 at Luxembourg from a 90th-minute goal.