On the same night, Germany, Holland and Croatia confirmed their classification for the Euro 2020. The 'oranje' returns after its failure of 2012 and its absence in 2016. The forms, of course, do not invite optimism, because it ended up stumbling on the finish line to pass with the minimum: a goalless draw against Northern Ireland. Germany and Croatia sweated before clearly winning Belarus (4-0) and Slovakia (3-1), while Belgium, the other 'big one' in liza, thrashed in Russia (1-4) to secure the first place of the group.

It was not an easy match for Germany. Or rather a first part. Those of Joachim Löw hit their heads against an opponent who came out to lock himself up with eight players posted on the front and still saw how he had the best chance against one. Neuer took it out in one of his few interventions and in less than a minute Ginter broke the bolt of a spur. The goal forced Belarus to open and Germany found the facilities it had not had until then.

Kroos was one of the names of the night with a double and an assist for Goretzka, including, of course, somewhat with that pool hit that will go to football memory as 'the classic Kroos goal'. The same booty took Eden Hazard in the Belgian win: he scored two goals and gave a third to his brother.

Croatia, the scare to the Euro

Croatia ended up with a Eurocup ticket one night that came to live on the wire. A goal of Bozenik in the first part raised the unthinkable: on the one hand, that Croatia lost for the first time a qualifying home match for a Eurocup, a streak that already lasts 25 years and 35 nights; on the other, which ended Saturday as a group leader, but did not depend on itself to get into the Euro. In that scenario, and with their eight games played, a victory for Hungary and Slovakia on Tuesday would have left them out.

The runner-up in the world was better but could not beat Dubravka until Vlasic did it with the worst shot of the night. From then on, the Balkans asserted their superiority. Four minutes later, Petkovic headed a good corner from Modric and, with one more, Perisic closed the account and the ticket as the first group.

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  • Luka modric
  • Eden Hazard
  • Croatia National Soccer Team
  • Germany National Soccer Team
  • Netherlands National Soccer Team
  • Russian national football team
  • 2020 Euro Cup
  • sports
  • football
  • Toni Kroos

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