Friday's gutsy draw in Denmark was hard-earned but would have mattered little if Steve Clarke's side had then failed to beat Group C's lowest-ranked side. However, they got the job done comfortably enough, thanks to a goal from Che Adams who then helped force an own goal from Zakhar Volkov after the break. With the game played in an empty stadium in Hungary because of Belarus' support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the match was a throwback to Covid times with no crackling atmosphere to help it come to life. The inclusion of Bournemouth winger Ben Gannon Doak was one of four changes made by Clarke, and he was the player who often produced the excitement with his willingness to take players on. Yet it was the trusted midfield combination of John McGinn and Scott McTominay who teed up Adams for the opener, the latter heading the former's cross into the striker's path and he finished neatly. Torino striker Adams then turned provider after the break as his brilliant chipped pass found Billy Gilmour, whose header across goal hit Volkov and flew into the net. From there, victory was a formality against the mostly blunt Belarus attack. Denmark's surprise 3-0 win in Athens means Group C is wide open, with Scotland and the Danes both on four points and Greece one point behind.

Israel led 1-0 and 2-1 in a remarkable tie, before Italy moved 4-2 ahead and looked on course for a vital three points. However, Israel scored in the 87th and 89th minutes to make it 4-4, before Tonali curled in a low shot from 20 yards through a crowded penalty area and into the bottom corner for the winner in the 91st minute. It was a vital recovery for an Italian side that were in danger of losing for the second time in four Group I matches after they began their campaign with a 3-0 loss to table toppers Norway, who have a 100 per cent record with four wins from four. Italy failed to qualify for both the 2018 World Cup in Russia and then again in Qatar four years later, although they did win the European Championship, beating England in the final on penalties at Wembley, in 2021. The match against Israel was held in Debrecen, Hungary and an own goal from Manuel Locatelli saw Italy go a goal behind in the 16th minute. Former Everton striker Moise Kean equalised just before half-time, only for Dor Peretz to restore Israel's lead early in the second half. But the advantage only lasted two minutes before Kean grabbed his second before Matteo Politano put Italy ahead for the first time, with Giacomo Raspadori's goal stretching the lead to 4-2 in the 81st minute. Another Italian own goal, this time from Alessandro Bastoni, gave Israel hope in the 87th minute and two minutes later Peretz thought he had snatched a point for his side with his second goal in the 89th minute. But Tonali grabbed the dramatic winner in what could be a vital three points for Italy. Only the group winners are certain to qualify for next summer's tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States, with the runners-up entering the play-offs. Italy play Estonia away on 11 October, entertain Israel on 14 October and then play in Moldova on 13 November before a potential group decider at home against Norway on 16 November.

The Arsenal midfielder's third in the 57th minute was the pick of his goals as he collected a pass from Lamine Yamal and curled home from over 20 yards out. The 29-year-old has scored six goals in six games for Spain in 2025, having netted just twice in his first 31 caps. Pedri scored twice and his Barcelona team-mate Ferran Torres claimed the other in Konya. Mikel Oyarzabal had set up Merino's two first-half efforts - and assisted three goals in total as the hosts were stunned. Spain have won their opening two World Cup qualifiers in Group E, while Turkey and Georgia are on three points.

The under-pressure hosts were given a seventh-minute lead through Serge Gnabry but, on a nervy night in Cologne, Isaac Price's volleyed finish 11 minutes before half-time pegged back Julian Nagelsmann's side. Northern Ireland held out until the 69th minute when Nadiem Amiri capitalised on some rare confusion at the back for the visitors before a curling free-kick from Liverpool's Florian Wirtz made it 3-1. Coming in off the back of three defeats, the most recent of was Thursday's 2-0 loss in Slovakia to open their Group A campaign, Germany could not have hoped for a better start.

New Wolves striker Tolu Arokodare proved to be the match-winner for the Super Eagles, volleying in from two yards out six minutes into the second half. The West Africans leapfrog the Rwandans and go third in Group C, six points behind leaders South Africa - who they face in Bloemfontein in a crunch game on Tuesday (16:00 GMT). With three rounds of fixtures remaining and only the group winners assured of a place at the finals next year, Nigeria must realistically win that game to stay in contention for top spot and avoid missing a second successive edition of the World Cup. However, their hopes could be boosted if South Africa are docked three points for fielding an ineligible player in their victory over Lesotho in March. World governing body Fifa is yet to rule on that case. Should Nigeria fail to overhaul Bafana Bafana, they could yet reach African play-offs as one of four best second-placed sides, with one nation then progressing to a final intercontinental qualifier.