AMSTERDAM: Netherlands, three-times World Cup runners-up, secured their place  at the top of European Group G and a ticket to the 2026 finals with an easy 4-0 home victory over Lithuania in Amsterdam. They completed the task unbeaten.

Tijjani Reijnders opened the scoring in the 16th minute as he turned sharply to finish off a pass from Frenkie de Jong.

He had been left out of the starting side for the 1-1 draw against Poland in Warsaw on Friday but replacement Justin Kluivert was then injured allowing Reijnders a recall and goal.

Three goals in a four-minute spell started fortuitously in the 58th minute when Gakpo converted a penalty awarded after a VAR check showed Artemijus Tutyskinas touched the ball with his fingertip as he went up in an aerial duel with Matthijs de Ligt.

Simons thrashed home the third goal on the hour mark, escaping two defenders before shooting beyond keeper Edvinas Gertmonas. Two minutes later Malen broke from halfway to complete the scoring.

Poland finished runners-up and secufed a playoffs slot by defeating Malta 3-2 in the Ta’Qali national stadium

Poland broke the deadlock in the 31st minute when Lewandowski leapt up unmarked in the box to meet Zielinski’s cross and headed into the corner.

Malta levelled four minutes later, punishing a failed clearance from goalkeeper Bartłomiej Dragowski as Irvin Cardona reacted quickest in the six-yard box to tap the ball into the net.

Poland regained the lead in the 59th when Kurt Shaw’s tackle on Lewandowski inadvertently redirected the ball into the path of Pawel Wszolek, who swept home his first international goal in almost 10 years.

The visitors appeared to have doubled their advantage when Karol Swiderski finished off a quick counter, but VAR ruled it out due to Jakub Kiwior’s foul on Cardona in the box at the other end.

The goal was overturned and a penalty awarded instead, with Teddy Teuma sending Drągowski the wrong way to bring Malta level again in the 68th minute. Zielinski settled the contest five minutes from time.

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