Scandinavians Held as Italy, Greece and Swiss Win Big

On a busy night of qualifying action across Europe, major powers like Italy, Greece, and Switzerland made strong statements, while Scandinavian giants Sweden and Denmark were held to frustrating draws at home. France also secured a vital victory on the road, and Czechia maintained their position at the top of their group.

Here is a full rundown of the action from Friday, 5 September.

Group B: Swiss Dominate, Sweden Stumble

Switzerland kicked off their FIFA World Cup 26™ qualifying campaign in emphatic fashion, dismantling Kosovo 4-0 at home. Goals from Manuel Akanji, Silvan Widmer, and a first-half brace from Breel Embolo—including a cheeky backheel—showed the team's attacking prowess and put them firmly atop the group.

In the group's other match, Sweden were left frustrated after Slovenia snatched a dramatic 2-2 draw. Anthony Elanga and Yasin Ayari had put the Swedes ahead, but a late equalizer from Zan Vipotnik denied them a winning start and left them in a tie for second place with their opponents.

Group C: Greece Ascends to the Top

Greece made an impressive start to their World Cup quest with a commanding 5-1 victory over Belarus. The team was in outstanding form, storming to a 4-0 lead by halftime. A stunning pirouette and goal from Anastasios Bakasetas was the highlight of the night, as Greece established themselves as the early pace-setters in the group.

The result was made even sweeter by the goalless draw in Copenhagen, where Denmark and Scotland fought to an entertaining 0-0. Denmark dominated the early stages, but Scotland weathered the storm and had a few of their own chances in the second half. The draw leaves both teams tied on one point, while Greece now sits comfortably on top of the group standings.

Group D: France and Iceland Win Big

In a crucial away fixture, France secured a 2-0 victory over Ukraine. Michael Olise scored an early opener, and a classic solo goal from Kylian Mbappe in the second half sealed the result. The goal was a milestone for the 26-year-old, as it was his 51st for France, putting him level with Thierry Henry on the all-time scoring list. Ukraine, despite their efforts, came close to equalizing multiple times but were denied by an alert French defense.

Meanwhile, Iceland started their campaign with an emphatic 5-0 home victory against Azerbaijan, thanks to a second-half brace from Isak Johannesson and goals from three other players.

Group I: Italy Begins a New Era

Under new coach Gennaro Gattuso, Italy enjoyed a perfect start, dispatching a resilient Estonia side 5-0. After a frustrating goalless first half, the Azzurri exploded in the second with goals from Moise Kean, a brace from Mateo Retegui, and strikes from Giacomo Raspadori and Alessandro Bastoni. The victory gives Italy a massive boost of confidence ahead of their crucial upcoming match against Israel.

Speaking of Israel, they maintained pressure on group leaders Norway with a comfortable 4-0 win over Moldova. Goals from Dor Peretz, Manor Solomon, Tai Baribo, and Oscar Gloukh moved them to within three points of first place.

Group L: Czechia Solidifies Their Lead

Czechia solidified their position atop Group L with a hard-fought 2-0 win over Montenegro. A thunderous early volley from Lukas Cerv set the tone, and a late clincher from Vaclav Cerny secured all three points. They now remain six points clear of Montenegro.

In the same group, Croatia maintained their perfect record with a narrow 1-0 victory over the Faroe Islands, thanks to a first-half header from Andrej Kramaric. They sit in second place but have two games in hand on the group leaders.