—- Joshua Kimmich scored twice to power Germany to a 4-0 home win over Luxembourg in a World Cup qualifier on Friday where the visitors went down to 10 men in the first half and the hosts moved top of the standings in a tight Group A.

Germany were playing catch-up after losing their opening game 2-0 in Slovakia, their first away defeat in a World Cup qualifier. After a 3-1 win over Northern Ireland, Julian Nagelsmann’s side continued their revival against Luxembourg.

The win combined with Slovakia’s 2-0 defeat in Northern Ireland puts the Germans top on goal difference, with the Irish second and the Slovaks dropping to third, with all three teams on six points. Luxembourg are bottom without a point.

Swedish gloom

Sweden’s hopes of qualifying for next year’s World Cup are hanging by a thread after Switzerland captain Granit Xhaka scored from the spot to help the visitors win 2-0 in their Group B clash.

More than 50,000 fans turned up on a chilly October night and many booed Sweden’s Danish coach Jon Dahl Tomasson before the game, with a banner unveiled after the loss to the Swiss calling for him to resign.

Switzerland top the group with a perfect nine points from their opening three games, with Kosovo second on four points and Slovenia third on two after those two teams played out a 0-0 draw in Pristina. The Swedes are bottom with one point.

France close in

Kylian Mbappe played saviour as France closed in on qualification for next year’s World Cup with a lacklustre 3-0 home win over Azerbaijan in their Group D qualifier on Friday, before coming off late with a painful ankle knock.

The 26-year-old opened the scoring on the stroke of halftime and set up Adrien Rabiot for the second, with substitute Florian Thauvin adding a third to put Les Bleus on nine points from three games and give Didier Deschamps’ side a chance to secure qualification on Monday when they travel to Iceland.

North Macedonia put on a defensive masterclass to hold Belgium to a 0-0 draw away in their World Cup qualifier on Friday and stay one point ahead in Group J.

The visitors kept out everything Belgium could throw at them in a near 90-minute siege and lead with 12 points from six games, one ahead of Belgium who have a game in hand.

— Estevao and Rodrygo each scored twice as visitors Brazil cruised to a 5-0 victory over South Korea in a friendly in Seoul.

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