COPENHAGEN: Denmark captain Simon Kjaer says they “can go a long way” after qualifying for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar with a win over Austria in Copenhagen.

The Danes maintained their 100pc record in Group F thanks to Joakim Maehle’s second-half goal and followed the qualifying example of Germany on Monday night.

They will also travel to the Middle East having impressed at Euro 2020 where they reached the semi-finals.

Kjaer told Danish TV: “We have come a long way already but we have only become hungrier. We built up a crew and a mentality that is incredibly healthy and we have been eager to improve all the time. We share the best with each other and adding that to the quality we have, we can go a long way.”

Maehle’s goal was no more than the Danes deserved, as he swept a low effort into the bottom corner following Thomas Delaney’s superb run.

Their eighth consecutive victory leaves them seven points clear of second-placed Scotland with two matches remaining.

Coupled with Scotland securing a late win in the Faroe Islands, the result means that Austria’s hopes of reaching the finals are now reliant upon last year’s Nations League performance taking them into the play-offs.

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