The European qualifiers were completed while many countries
across the globe were battling for places in the 2018 Russia World Cup. Hungary
who had narrowly missed out on automatic qualification became the first team to
claim a spot in the 2016 European Championships in Paris through the play-offs
after a stunning 1-0 win in Norway which they followed up with a 2-1 victory on
home soil. Sweden took a 2-1 lead to Denmark where an Ibrahimovic double gave
them a 2-2 draw taking to Paris together with Ukraine and the Irish Republic
who got the better of Slovenia and Bosnia & Herzegovina respectively in
other play-off matches.
Meanwhile in World Cup qualifiers South American champions
Chile moved down in the rankings after drawing 1-1 at home to Colombia and
suffering a 3-0 loss in Uruguay while the Colombians were upset 1-0 at home to
Argentina and Bolivia enjoyed a 4-2 home win over Venezuela.
In Asia, Saudi Arabia could only manage a 0-0 draw against
Palestine in Jordan but annihilated East Timor 10-0 in Dili while Jordan were
stunned 1-0 in Kyrgyzstan and Oman fell 2-1 in Turkmenistan. In Africa, Rwanda
suffered a shocking exit at the hands of Libya losing 1-0 in Tunisia before
being swept away 3-1 on home soil while Egypt were stunned 1-0 in Chad but
bounced back with 4 goals in their home match. Cape Verde lost 1-0 in Kenya but
struck twice in their return match while Cameroon cruised to a 3-0 win in Niger
but were held to a goalless draw at home and Algeria who drew 2-2 in Tanzania
hit their visitors for 7 without reply to progress into the next round. Gabon
were shocked 1-0 in Mozambique but scraped through on penalties while Ghana who
were held to a goalless draw in Comoros also made it to the group stage as
expected. Burundi earned a 2-2 draw in DR Congo but were eliminated having lost
3-2 at home while South Africa eased past Angola on the strength of their 3-1
away win and Tunisia defeated Mauritania 2-1 home and away. A 1-0 home victory
for Equatorial Guinea against Morocco was not enough but a 2-0 home win for
Burkina Faso saw them scrape through against Benin while Mali lost 2-1 in
Botswana but struck twice without reply in their return match. There were 1-0
away wins for Zambia, Guinea and Uganda against Sudan, Namibia and Togo
respectively with all 3 making sure of progress in their home matches while
Senegal who were held to a 2-2 draw in Madagascar also sailed through after a
home win.
In the CONCOCAF section Panama won 2-0 in Jamaica but lost 2-1
at home to Costa Rica while the Jamaicans enjoyed a 1-0 victory in Haiti in
group B and Guatemala travelled to St Vincent and the Grenadines to thump their
hosts 4-0 in group C.
Among friendly matches Estonia defeated Georgia 3-0 in
Tallinn and Russia lost 3-1 at home to Croatia while Austria fell 2-1 at home
to neighbours Switzerland and Lebanon won 1-0 in Macedonia who had earlier battered
Montenegro 4-1 on the same ground. A single goal gave New Zealand a win in Oman
and Greece lost 1-0 in Luxembourg while Albania drew 2-2 in Kosovo.