In the final round of qualifiers, Germany and the Netherlands booked their tickets for the 2023 Women’s World Cup, joining Sweden, who had already qualified for the tournament in Australia and New Zealand. Iceland, however, will have to go through the play-offs, while Poland and Slovenia missed out on qualification.
Germany cruise in Bulgaria
Germany eased past Turkey 3-0, with Felicitas Rauch, Klara Bühl and Lea Schüller scoring the goals. The next match was a dead rubber, but that did not stop the Germans from thrashing Bulgaria 8-0 away, with former She-Wolf Almuth Schult keeping a clean sheet.
Late win for the Dutch
Esmee Brugts scored in added time to give the Netherlands – featuring Dominique Janssen, Jill Roord and Lynn Wilms – a 1-0 over Iceland in Utrecht. The three points catapulted them ahead of their opponents, into top spot and through to the World Cup. Sveindis Jonsdottir and her Icelandic team-mates will now have to go through the play-offs if they are to qualify.
Pajor on the mark
Sweden, who had already qualified, won 5-0 away in Finland, with Rebecka Blomqvist scoring eight minutes after coming on as a substitute.
Poland won 2-1 in Albania and 7-0 at home to Kosovo. VfL goal-getter Ewa Pajor scored five times across the two matches, but it was not enough to get her team any higher than third in the group. Slovenia – with Sara Agrez in their ranks - were similarly disappointed, their goalless draw in Wales not enough to get them through to the World Cup.
