England, Portugal and Norway closing in on 2026 World Cup
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England manager Thomas Tuchel during training ahead of his side's friendly match against Wales.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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PARIS – England and Portugal are in pole position to win their respective 2026 World Cup qualifying groups with two games to spare, with several other European nations also hoping to secure berths at the Finals in the upcoming games.
And Norway may be only one victory away from reaching the tournament for the first time since 1998, which could leave Italy staring at a third successive World Cup watching from the sidelines.
Thomas Tuchel’s England laid down a marker in September with an impressive 5-0 thrashing of Serbia
They are not in Group K action until Oct 14, when a victory over Latvia in Riga would secure a place at the 2026 Finals in the United States, Mexico and Canada, if Serbia do not beat Albania on Oct 11.
The Three Lions boast a seven-point lead over Albania with three matches to play, with Serbia a point further back but with a game in hand.
Several players who were not previously considered first choices starred in Serbia, leading Tuchel to leave out big names Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish from his latest squad.
“Keep on pushing,” Tuchel, whose side play Wales in a friendly on Oct 9, said as his message to those missing out.
“It is a decision for this camp, it was the best camp (in September) in terms of team spirit and team work, this was the best camp so far. We decided to invite the same group of players to make more stable what we built on.”
Serbia’s clash with Albania could prove crucial in deciding which team finish second and go into the play-offs.
Meanwhile, Portugal racked up eight goals in their first two qualifiers in September and will likely need just two more wins over this international break to wrap up top spot in Group F.
Roberto Martinez’s side will qualify with victories against the Republic of Ireland on Oct 11 and Hungary on Oct 14, unless Armenia beat both those same opponents.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored three goals in September, including a penalty in a tense 3-2 success against Hungary in Budapest, sealed by a late Joao Cancelo goal.
Portugal are targeting a seventh successive World Cup appearance.
Norway have enjoyed a dream start to qualifying, scoring 24 goals in five successive wins to move to the brink of the Finals.
Erling Haaland, who is yet to play at a major tournament, already has a remarkable nine goals in their group, after netting five in the 11-1 thumping of Moldova last time out.
Norway host Israel on Oct 11, knowing that victory would end their 28-year absence from the World Cup if Italy fail to beat either Estonia or Israel in Group I.
But the Scandinavians will be without skipper Martin Odegaard after he suffered a knee injury playing for Arsenal
“We lost our captain and we have to live with that,” said coach Stale Solbakken.
“Of course you get angry and upset and those kinds of feelings, but then you quickly get into a mode where you have to think constructively.”
Four-time world champions Italy will be desperate to avoid the play-offs, after losing at that stage in qualifying for both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Sweden and North Macedonia respectively.
France, the 2018 World Cup winners and runners-up three years ago, could also qualify with victories against Azerbaijan and Iceland in Group D, if Iceland draw with Ukraine.
European champions Spain too have an opportunity to book a ticket to North and Central America if they defeat both Georgia and Bulgaria, but only if multiple other results go their way in Group E.
Croatia and Switzerland could also go through in the coming week.
Germany, though, have little margin for error in Group A after a shock defeat by Slovakia
Julian Nagelsmann’s side face Luxembourg on Oct 10 before heading to Windsor Park to take on Northern Ireland three days later. AFP
