Big sigh of relief at Haaland
Ronaldo scores in the 200th game, Lewandowski with an embarrassing bankruptcy
06/20/2023, 11:24 p.m
Of course he also snaps in the anniversary game: Cristiano Ronaldo decides his 200th game in the last minute. While Norway with Erling Haaland and Belgium with Romelu Lukako each have a brace, Poland around star striker Robert Lewandowski surprisingly loses to Moldova.
A big anniversary moment for Cristiano Ronaldo, a victory in turbulent times for Domenico Tedesco’s Belgian and a big sigh of relief for Erling Haaland: the big names have taken important steps on the way to the 2024 European Championship. In his 200th game for Portugal, Ronaldo scored a late goal (89th) for the important 1-0 (0-0) in Iceland. After the fourth win in the fourth qualifying game, the Portuguese are at the top of Group J twelve points still all alone.
Belgium’s selection also put aside the dispute between coach Tedesco and star goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois for at least 90 minutes. Without Courtois, the Red Devils won 3-0 (2-0) in Estonia and moved towards the top of the table. Ralf Rangnick’s Austrians are still in qualifying group F there. Christoph Baumgartner from TSG Hoffenheim scored a late brace (81st/89th) to make it 2-0 (0-0) against Sweden, Austria remains undefeated and in the lead with ten points. However, Belgium (7) has played one game less and can still draw level with it.
Striker Romelu Lukaku (37th/40th), who had also played a role in the Causa Courtois in recent days, scored the first two goals for Belgium. Tedesco had to appoint a substitute for the recent 1-1 draw with Austria due to the absence of injured captain Kevin De Bruyne and opted for Lukaku. Courtois left the national team camp a little later, Tedesco then confirmed media reports that the captain’s choice was the reason. The Real Madrid goalkeeper responded with a lengthy statement on Tuesday, lashing out at Tedesco in the process.
Poland fails against Moldova
However, Ralf Rangnick’s Austrians are still at the top of qualifying group F. Christoph Baumgartner from TSG Hoffenheim scored a late brace (81st/89th) to make it 2-0 (0-0) against Sweden, Austria remains undefeated and in the lead with ten points. However, Belgium (7) has played one game less and can still draw level with it.
Erling Haaland gave Norway new courage and the first win in the current qualification. With a quick brace within five minutes (56′, hand penalty/60′), he shot his team to 3-1 (1-0) against Cyprus. With four points in Group A, the road to the EURO next summer is still rocky. Spain (3) played two games less, the game between leaders Scotland (9) and Georgia (4) ended much later in the evening due to a long rain break.
Poland embarrassed themselves four days after the successful test against Germany. In Moldova, the team around star striker Robert Lewandowski surprisingly lost 2:3 (2:0) and after three games in Group E slipped behind their opponents to the penultimate place.