The Daily Bee (October 6th, 2017): WCQ Fallout

• World Cup qualifiers - Europe

Congratulations to Germany and England. Yesterday both teams won their qualifying games to join Belgium and secure a spot in the World Cup next year.

Germany, the reigning World Cup champions, easily won 3-1 in Northern Ireland and kept their spotless record of 9 victories in 9 games. Northern Ireland will have to go through the playoffs if they want to qualify for Russia next year.

Meanwhile the Three Lions secured their spot with a narrow 1-0 win over Slovenia at home. The race for the second spot in that group is a bit tighter with Scotland, Slovenia and Slovakia all still able to finish in second place depending on the results on the final matchday.

Group E also played out matchday 9 but so far no team has been able to pull away and punch their ticket for the World Cup next year. Poland is leading the group with 22 points but it is still possible for Denmark to knock them off first place. On the final matchday Poland will take on Montenegro at home and Denmark will play Romania.

• World Cup qualifiers - South America

This one is just a mess.

Brazil and Uruguay are both already qualified. (It’s still mathematically possible for Uruguay to be knocked down to the playoff spot but the results on the last matchday would have to be very specific and quite unrealistic in order to get there.)

The interesting story is obviously Argentina on the brink of missing out on the World Cup after reaching the final in the last one. Lionel Messi & Co. are currently in 6th place which wouldn’t even allow them to qualify via the playoffs. La Albiceleste still has a chance but they absolutely have to win their last game in Ecuador and hope that the results in the other games go their way.

Daily Buzz: The USMNT will take on Panama today in a crucial game for them, any predictions?