Teams | October 8, 2017 at 05:03 PM
International round-up: Everything decided. Almost.
International round-up: Everything decided. Almost.
Next year’s FIFA World Cup will take place without Karim Reiki (Holland), Peter Pekarik and Ondrej Duda (Slovakia). Marvin Plattenhardt can look forward to fighting for his place in the Germany team, while Mathew Leckie faces another round of qualification to book his seat on the plane to Russia with Australia.
Berlin- It was already unlikely, but Tuesday night confirmed the inevitable. For several Hertha players, the World Cup dream is over. Karim Rekik, Peter Pekarik and Ondrej Duda had their places at home next summer secured by last night’s results in the final round of internationals. They join Vedad Ibisevic (Bosnia), Valentino Lazaro (Austria), Rune Jarstein (Norway) and Vladimir Darida (Czech Republic) as missing out on Russia 2018.
It was always going to be a tall order, and so it proved for Karim Rekik and the Netherlands. Requiring a 7-0 win against Sweden to steal the final play-off spot from their opponents, Dick Advocaat’s team fell well short of the mark despite winning 2-0 on the night. Captain Arjen Robben scored both goals before retiring from international competition at full time. Vedad Ibisevic captained his country Bosnia-Herzegovenia in their meaningless final qualifier against Estonia – which Bosnia won 2-1. A win would not have been enough given their position as the worst second-placed team, but Greece’s win over Gibraltar was enough to give the Euro 2004 champions a place in the playoffs.
Greece’s win moved them to 19 points, which meant Peter Pekarik and Ondrej Duda’s Slovakia finished with the worst record of all the teams to finish second, meaning they lose their spot in next month’s playoffs.
Mathew Leckie and Australia moved a step closer to realizing their World Cup ambitions with a 2-1 (3-2 agg) win over Syria. The Hertha forwards provided the cross for the opening goal, as Socceroos captain Tim Cahill scored both goals – the second in extra time. They will now face Honduras in the intercontinental play-off in November to decide who will play in the tournament beginning next June.
Florian Baak and Arne Maier are hoping to play in a major competition of their own next year as Germany under-19s chase qualification the 2018 European championships in Finland. Both of the Hertha youngsters were involved in Germany’s 2-0 win over Poland, with Maier getting on the scoresheet on Tuesday night. The win was team’s third in a row and means they have qualified for the second round of group matches starting in March of next year.
Florian Baak and Arne Maier are hoping to play in a major competition of their own next year as Germany under-19s chase qualification the 2018 European championships in Finland. Both of the Hertha youngsters were involved in Germany’s 2-0 win over Poland, with Maier getting on the scoresheet on Tuesday night. The win was team’s third in a row and means they have qualified for the second round of group matches starting in March of next year. | Date | Time CEST | Player | Match | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04.10.2017 | 12:00 | Florian Baak | Arne Maier | Germany U19s - Belarus | 5-1 |
| 05.10.2017 | 14:30 | Mathew Leckie | Syria - Australia | 1-1 | |
| 17:00 | Jordan Torunarigha | Netherlands - Germany U20s | 1-0 | ||
| 18:00 | Vladimir Darida | Azerbaijan - Czech Republic | 2-1 | ||
| 20:45 | Peter Pekarik | Ondrej Duda | Scotland - Slovakia | 0-1 | |
| 20:45 | Rune Jarstein | San Marino - Norway | 8-0 | ||
| 20:45 | Marvin Plattenhardt | Northern Ireland - Germany | 3-1 | ||
| 06.10.2017 | 12:20 | Genki Haraguchi | Japan - New Zealand | 2-1 | |
| 20:45 | Valentino Lazaro | Austria - Serbia | 3-2 | ||
| 21:00 | Salomon Kalou | Mali - Ivory Coast | 0-0 | ||
| 07.10.2017 | 12:00 | Florian Baak | Arne Maier | Germany U19s - Northern Ireland | 7-1 |
| 18:00 | Vedad Ibisevic | Bosnia & Herzegovina - Belgium | 3-4 | ||
| 20:45 | Karim Rekik | Belarus - Netherlands | 3-1 | ||
| 08.10.2017 | 18:00 | Peter Pekarik | Ondrej Duda | Slovakia - Malta | 3-0 |
| 20:45 | Marvin Plattenhardt | Germany - Azerbaijan | 5-1 | ||
| 20:45 | Rune Jarstein | Norway - Northern Ireland | 1-0 | ||
| 20:45 | Vladimir Darida | Czech Republic - San Marino | 5-0 | ||
| 09.10.2017 | 18:00 | Jordan Torunarigha | Germany U20s - Switzerland | 2-1 | |
| 20:45 | Valentino Lazaro | Moldova - Austria | 1-0 | ||
| 10.10.2017 | 11:00 | Mathew Leckie | Australia - Syria | 2-1 (3-2 agg) | |
| 12:30 | Genki Haraguchi | Japan - Haiti | 3-3 | ||
| 18:00 | Florian Baak | Arne Maier | Poland - Germany U19s | 2-0 | |
| 20:45 | Vedad Ibisevic | Estonia - Bosnia & Herzegovina | 2-1 | ||
| 20:45 | Karim Rekik | Netherlands - Sweden | 2-0 |