Iceland, Italy, Spain win World Cup qualifiers as Wales falters
Only the nine group winners in Europe qualify directly for the tournament in Russia. The best eight group runner-ups advance to a playoff.
Group D
Perhaps unsurprisingly for the Welsh, it was Georgia dealing the blow.
The Georgians haven’t lost to Wales in four meetings now after they recovered from conceding a 10th-minute goal to Bale to draw 1–1 against the Euro 2016 semifinalists. The first three matches between the countries all ended as wins for Georgia.
• Dele Alli, Daniel Sturridge lead England past Malta in World Cup qualifier
Group G
Italy kept Spain from opening a significant advantage atop the group by scoring two late goals and salvaging a 3–2 win at Macedonia.
Group I
Croatia stayed atop the group with a 1–0 win at Finland.
Fresh off a hat trick against Kosovo, the Croatia star scored the only goal of the game in Finland with a simple finish from point-blank range.
Meanwhile, it’s been a tough life on the road for new FIFA member Kosovo.
The loss to Ukraine in a game staged in Poland meant the Kosovans have conceded nine goals this week at neutral venues.
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