Paris, September 26 (BNA) Croatia and the Netherlands finished preparations for the World Cup in a distinctive style today, Sunday, by winning their last matches in the Nations League to qualify for the fourth tournament next year.
Croatia topped Group A1 with a 3-1 win in Austria to relegate the host nation to the second tier of the Nations League, while the undefeated Dutchman beat Belgium 1-0 and won Group A4 with 16 points – six ahead of second-placed Belgium, AP reports.
Defending Nations League and World Cup champion France lost 2-0 in Denmark but avoided relegation due to the defeat of Austria.
The last match of the teams heading to the World Cup finals before the tournament kicks off in Qatar on November 20, Qatar is part of the Netherlands group in the World Cup along with Ecuador and Senegal.
The French and Danes will meet again in Qatar with Tunisia and Australia also in their group.
The World Cup could be the last international tournament for 37-year-old Croatia midfielder Luka Modric, who is in great shape. The Croats took the lead after six minutes in Vienna when their veteran captain was left unchecked inside the penalty area and fired into the net.
Austria equalized three minutes later through midfielder Christoph Baumgartner’s header, but second-half goals from striker Marco Levaga and defender Dejan Lovren secured an unforgettable victory for Croatia, whose group in the World Cup finals includes Belgium, Canada and Morocco.
Denmark finished second with 12 points, one point behind Croatia, after beating France 2-0 at home.
Striker Kasper Dolberg put the Danes ahead in the 34th minute and midfielder Andreas Skov Olsen scored 2-0 soon after as France’s inexperienced defense failed to tackle a corner kick and was revealed by No. 3 goalkeeper Alphonse Areola.
France woke up in the second half but star striker Kylian Mbappe missed a single chance against goalkeeper Kaspel Schmeichel – Dolberg’s Nice team-mate – and saved two more attempts in quick succession.
Les Bleus finished third, one point behind the Austrians, but Didier Deschamps’ side won only one of their six matches and scored just five goals – the lowest in the group.
The Belgians needed to win three goals away from home against the Netherlands and lost 1-0, while Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk scored the only goal after 73 minutes.
Poland won 1-0 in Wales in another Group A4 match as prolific Robert Lewandowski switched to attacking partner Karol Schwederski about an hour later. Wales relegated last place.
Gareth Bale returned to the starting line-up to win his 108th cup trophy and captain Wales head the bar in injury time. It was Wales’ last game before their World Cup debut for 64 years, with their opening match in Qatar against the United States on November 21.
In the Nations League, the four group winners of Division A advance to the Final Four.
Hungary hosts Italy on Monday and the two teams are vying for the top spot in Group A3. Hungary only needs a tie to progress. Portugal and Spain play each other on Tuesday in Group A2 with Portugal ahead if they avoid defeat.
AUSTRALIA BEATS NZ
Australia ended their World Cup friendlies on Sunday with a 2-0 win over New Zealand to claim their second win over the Whites in a week.
On an emotional day for the hosts as they bid farewell to captain Winston Reid in front of more than 35,000 spectators at Eden Park, Socairs striker Mitchell Duke headed home in the 54th minute.
Substitute striker Jason Cummings converted a penalty in the 80th minute after an eye-catching run from 18-year-old Garang Cole.
Cole, who has been targeted by Premier League club Newcastle, was the youngest debutant in Australia since Harry Kewell in 1996.
The match marked the end of Reid’s All Whites career with the captain retiring from international football. The defender was famous for his late goal to secure a 1-1 draw against Slovakia in New Zealand’s opening match at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.