PARIS: The Netherlands are back in control of their World Cup qualifying group but hardly in convincing style.

A 1-0 win over Latvia with a fine volley from Davy Klaassen lacked the swagger from last month’s 6-1 dismantling of Turkey. Still, it was enough to build a two-point lead at the top of Europe Group ‘G’ as second-placed Norway, missing injured striker Erling Haaland, drew with Turkey 1-1.

Other big teams had to work for their wins, too. Germany were a goal down before recovering to beat Romania 2-1. The 2018 World Cup runners-up, Croatia, had only a one-goal lead over Cyprus with 11 minutes to go before pulling away to win 3-0.

Only the group winners directly qualify for the World Cup. Second-placed finishers face a playoff.

The Netherlands’ win over Latvia, sealed by midfielder Klassen’s eighth international goal after 19 minutes in Riga, stretched the Dutch lead at the top of the group to close in on a return to the World Cup after failing to qualify in 2018.

Kerem Akturkoglu gave the Turks, coached for the first time by Stefan Kuntz, a sixth-minute lead in Istanbul.

However, his maiden international goal was cancelled out by Kristian Thorstvedt four minutes before the interval.

Former German international Kuntz was brought in to replace Senol Gunes who was axed after Turkey were thumped by the Netherlands last month.

Norway are two points clear of Turkey, who have won just one of their last seven competitive games, and that was against tiny Gibraltar. Montenegro won at Gibraltar 3-0.

Four-time world champions Germany made it four wins from four games under new coach Hansi Flick with victory over Romania and now have a six-point lead in Group ‘J’, but didn’t have it all their own way in Hamburg.

Romania took a shock ninth minute lead when Rangers winger Ianis Hagi ghosted through the defence and fired past Germany goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, a late replacement for injured Manuel Neuer.

Serge Gnabry finally got the Germans level with a powerful shot early in the second half — his fifth goal in seven games in the qualifying group — and Thomas Mueller scored a second at a corner in the 81st for his 40th international goal.

“It was annoying to concede the early goal, but the team fought, never gave up and played with confidence,” said Flick. “In the end, the win is more than deserved as we dominated for long stretches.”

The result extends Germany’s lead at the top ahead of Monday’s next qualifier away to North Macedonia.

A win in Skopje would put the Germans on the brink of punching their World Cup ticket.

North Macedonia moved up from fourth place to second with a 4-0 win over Liechtenstein, and Armenia drew with Iceland 1-1.

In Group ‘E’, Aaron Ramsey and Daniel James inspired Wales to a 2-2 draw with the Czech Republic in Prague.

Both teams have eight points in the fight for the second spot, trailing runaway leaders Belgium with 16, but Wales have a game in hand.

Ramsey, skippering the team in the absence of the injured Gareth Bale, opened the scoring on 36 minutes following a Neco Williams cross.

The Czechs were level a minute later when goalkeeper Danny Ward cleared a half-shot, half-pass from Filip Novak and Jakub Pesek was ready with a rebound.

The hosts went ahead with a farcical own goal on 49 minutes as Ramsey back-passed, but Ward was not ready and the ball rolled over his foot and slid in at the lefthand post.

James equalised for Wales on 69 minutes as he blasted the ball past goalkeeper Tomas Vaclik following a superb pass from second-half substitute Harry Wilson.

“I thought the lads were outstanding, we’ve created enough to win four games of football,” said Wales coach Rob Page who backed Ward to recover from his own-goal howler. “Danny Ward has been superb for me. I’m fortunate to have three outstanding goalkeepers, but Ward will absolutely bounce back.”

Estonia beat Belarus 2-0.

Croatia and Russia stayed neck and neck at the top of Group ‘H’ in one of the closest battles in the competition.

Croatia had to wait until first-half stoppage time to take the lead through Ivan Perisic’s goal, even if the final score of 3-0 with goals in the last 10 minutes from Josko Gvardiol and Marko Livaja suggested a more comfortable result against last-placed Cyprus.

Russia’s new coach, Valery Karpin, made it four games unbeaten with a 1-0 win over Slovakia but needed an own goal in Kazan from Slovakian defender Milan Skriniar.

Russia have yet to concede a goal since Karpin took charge after the European Championship, but that’s only because Slovakia missed a string of good chances to score. Slovenia beat Malta 4-0 to move up to third in the group.

Published in Dawn, October 10th, 2021