European World Cup Qualifiers: Kosovo Shocks Sweden as Italy Edge Israel in Nine-Goal Thriller
Kosovo stunned Sweden with a 2-0 victory, while Italy triumphed in a remarkable 5-4 clash against Israel In an action-packed night of UEFA European Qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The results highlighted the fierce competition as teams vie for qualification ahead of next year’s tournament.
Kosovo 2-0 Sweden
Kosovo celebrated a historic win over Sweden, marking their first victory against the Scandinavian side. The match in Pristina saw Elvis Rexhbecaj score the opening goal after a swift counterattack, with his shot rebounding in after being initially saved by Swedish goalkeeper Robin Olsen. Kosovo’s all-time top scorer, Vedat Muriqi, doubled the lead before halftime with a precise finish on a two-on-one break. The hosts defended resolutely in the second half to secure a vital three points, moving them into second place in Group B.
Croatia 4-0 Montenegro
Croatia continued their impressive qualifying run with a comfortable 4-0 victory over Montenegro. The match saw Kristijan Jakić score his first international goal, putting Croatia ahead early. With Luka Modrić orchestrating play, Andrej Kramarić added a second after the break, followed by goals from Ivan Perišić and an own goal to seal a dominant performance. This victory marked Croatia’s fourth consecutive win in the qualifiers.
Italy 5-4 Israel
In one of the most thrilling matches of the qualifiers, Italy edged a high-scoring 5-4 win against Israel. Gennaro Gattuso’s side showcased their attacking prowess, coming back twice from behind. The drama reached its peak when Sandro Tonali scored the decisive goal in the 91st minute, securing a memorable victory for the Azzurri.
Denmark 3-0 Greece
Denmark earned their first win in Group C with a convincing 3-0 victory over Greece. Mikkel Damsgaard and Andreas Christensen were on target, while Rasmus Højlund capped off the performance with a late goal, signaling Denmark’s intent in the qualifiers.
Türkiye 0-6 Spain
Spain delivered a masterclass in attacking football, thrashing Türkiye 6-0 in Konya. The European champions dominated from start to finish, with Pedri, Mikel Merino, and Ferran Torres all finding the net. Merino’s hat-trick highlighted Spain’s offensive might, maintaining their perfect qualifying record.
Germany 3-1 Northern Ireland
Germany bounced back from an early setback to secure a 3-1 victory over Northern Ireland. After falling behind, they rallied with goals from Nadiem Amiri and Florian Wirtz, ensuring their first win of the qualifying campaign.
