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UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying round-up: Germany win in Northern Ireland, Belgium trounce Scotland

Writer's picture: Andrew ZarbAndrew Zarb

Serge Gnabry celebrates scoring the goal which sealed Germany's 2-0 win away to Northern Ireland.

Results: Group C Estonia 0 Netherlands 4 Northern Ireland 0 Germany 2

Group E Azerbaijan 1 Croatia 1 Hungary 1 Slovakia 2

Group G Latvia 0 North Macedonia 2 Poland 0 Austria 0 Slovenia 3 Israel 2

Group I Russia 1 Kazakhstan 0 San Marino 0 Cyprus 4 Scotland 0 Belgium 4

Round-up: The European qualifiers continued today with action taking place in four different groups. In Group C, Germany put a big dent in Northern Ireland's hopes of automatic qualification, as the 2014 World Champions won 2-0 away from home thanks to goals from Marcel Halstenberg and Serge Gnabry. It means that now Germany have moved level on points with Northern Ireland, although are on top by virtue of having won tonight's clash. In the other match that took place in this group, Netherlands further dented Northern Ireland's hopes of qualifying automatically for Euro 2020 as they recorded a resounding 4-0 win away to Estonia thanks to a Ryan Babel brace which was followed up by goals from Memphis Depay and Georginio Wijnaldum. Currently top of the FIFA World Rankings, Belgium showed absolutely no mercy in dismantling Scotland as they won 4-0 thanks to goals from Romelu Lukaku, Thomas Vermaelen, Toby Alderweireld and Kevin de Bruyne. Belgium will seal automatic qualification for Euro 2020 if they win one more game, and with their next match coming against minnows San Marino in October, it would be against all the odds if they did not finish the job then. Russia, who currently lie second in the group, struggled to break down Kazakhstan and needed a goal from Mario Fernandes in the 89th minute to win the game. Meanwhile, in the other match of this group Cyprus recorded a very comfortable 4-0 win away to whipping boys San Marino. In what was arguably the shock result of the day, 2018 World Cup finalists Croatia were held to a 1-1 draw by Azerbaijan - a result which meant Azerbaijan earned their first point during this qualifying campaign - after Tamkin Khalilzade cancelled out birthday boy Luka Modric's earlier penalty which had put the Croats in front. It was perhaps a good thing for Croatia, therefore, that Hungary, who topped the group going into today by virtue of having beaten Croatia, fell to a 2-1 defeat at home to Slovakia thanks to goals from Robert Mak and Robert Bozenik. After today's results, Croatia lead the group on 10 points, with Slovakia and Hungary both one point behind (Slovakia lie in second ahead of Hungary by virtue of a superior head-to-head record), whilst Wales lie in fourth place on six points but having played a game fewer. There was one more group which saw action, as three matches were played in Group G. Poland, who lie top of the group, were today held to a goalless draw by Austria, thus meaning Poland failed to win either of their two qualifying games during this international break. Slovenia made it back-to-back victories, as they beat Israel 3-2 in a five-goal thriller, and this result has significantly boosted their hopes of qualifying automatically for next year's European Championships, whilst they (Slovenia) have moved into second place in the group. In the other match played in the group, North Macedonia ensured Latvia remain without a point after they won 2-0 away from home.

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