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Poland end England's winning streak

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8th September, 2021
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Damian Szymanski has headed in a stoppage time equaliser as Poland drew 1-1 with England to end the visitors’ perfect record in World Cup qualifying Group I.

Harry Kane had fired England ahead with a swerving strike in the 72nd minute as Gareth Southgate’s side looked set for a sixth straight win.

But in the second minute of time added on, substitute Szymanski rose above Luke Shaw to nod in a floated cross from Robert Lewandowski as Poland boosted their hopes of qualification for Qatar 2022.

“An amazing feeling. I’m glad we managed to score that goal in the last minutes. I’m happy,” Symanszki said.

Albania hammered minnows San Marino 5-0 while Hungary defeated Andorra 2-1 to maintain their qualification hopes.

England have 16 points from six games with Albania second on 12 points, Poland on 11 and Hungary on 10 points.

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The top team in UEFA qualifying group secures a spot at next year’s World Cup with the second place team heading into the playoffs.

Goals from Pablo Fornals and Ferran Torres earned Spain a 2-0 victory away to Kosovo in Group B and dragged them back into automatic qualification contention.

Fornals produced a fine near-post finish from the angle on 32 minutes before Torres sealed the win in the 90th minute from a counter-attack.

Luis Enrique’s side moved clear at the top of the group on 13 points – four ahead of Sweden who lost 2-1 away in Greece, who are third on six points but like their opponents have two games in hand on Spain.

Italy recorded their first win since being crowned European champions as strikers Moise Kean and Giacomo Raspadori inspired a crushing 5-0 win over Lithuania to strengthen the Azzurri’s grip on top spot in Group C.

The two 21-year-olds impressed their coach by lighting up the first half, as Kean netted twice either side of an Edgaras Utkus own goal and Raspadori, making his first start for his country, also scored.

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“Everything is in their heads and their feet. If they are committed and work seriously, they have great futures. But it is up to them,” Italy boss Roberto Mancini told RAI.

Giovanni Di Lorenzo inadvertently added a fifth when his second half cross-shot nestled in the bottom corner, as Italy comfortably extended their record international unbeaten run to 37 matches.

Italy top the standings with 14 points, six ahead of second-placed Switzerland who drew 0-0 away to Northern Ireland.

Dennis Praet’s first-half goal secured a 1-0 away win for Belgium over Belarus in Kazan to move them closer to World Cup qualification.

Belgium are on 16 points in Group E, nine clear of the Czech Republic, who have played one game fewer, and Wales, who were held to a goalless draw by Estonia and have two games in hand over Belgium.

Winger Leroy Sane scored one goal and created another as Germany made it three in Group J wins in a row with a resounding 4-0 victory over hosts Iceland.

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Serge Gnabry and Antonio Rudiger netted in the first half before Sane and Timo Werner scored after the long break.

Germany top the group on 15 points, four ahead of Armenia, who surprisingly could only manage a 1-1 draw with Liechtenstein – who grabbed their first point.

Romania are third on 10 points after they drew 0-0 with fourth-placed North Macedonia.

© AAP

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