PARIS: Germany and England booked places at the next year’s World Cup in Russia, while Poland were made to wait for qualification despite thrashing Armenia 6-1 on Thursday.

Defending champions Germany never looked like missing out as early goals helped them to beat Northern Ireland 3-1 in Belfast, maintaining their perfect record with nine wins from nine games in Group ‘C’.

England qualified in contrasting fashion, scraping past Slovenia 1-0 thanks to Harry Kane’s injury-time strike in a poor team performance at Wembley Stadium.

Robert Lewandowski scored a hat trick in Yerevan, Armenia, to become Poland’s all-time highest scorer and put his team on the verge of qualification.

A draw later between Montenegro and Denmark would have meant Poland clinched Group ‘E’, but Christian Eriksen gave Denmark a 1-0 win in Podgorica to keep alive their slim hope of topping the group.

Group winners qualify automatically for the finals in Russia.

Northern Ireland hadn’t lost a qualifier in Windsor Park for four years, but they got off to a bad start when Germany’s Sebastian Rudy fired the ball inside the top corner from distance in the second minute.

Sandro Wagner brought a good save from Michael McGovern and hit the post before he finally scored in the 21st to give Germany a comfortable lead.

Joshua Kimmich wrapped it up late, and Josh Magennis got the enthusiastic home fans singing again with the home side’s consolation after a corner in injury time.

Four-time world champions Germany also maintained their proud unbeaten away record in World Cup qualifiers -- a run spanning an incredible 47 matches dating back to 1934.

“We’re off to Russia, to tear it up! We want to successfully defend the World Cup title,” said Bayern Munich midfielder Rudy following his first international goal.

Northern Ireland were already assured of at least second place as they attempt to reach the World Cup for the first time since 1986, but only the top eight runners-up from the nine groups advance to playoffs.

Already out of contention, the Czech Republic defeated Azerbaijan 2-1 in Baku to move to third, and Mohamed “Moi” Elyounoussi scored a hat-trick as Norway routed San Marino 8-0.

Kane secured England’s place in the fourth minute of additional time when he latched onto Kyle Walker’s cross and struck under goalkeeper Jan Oblak for the side’s flattering win over Slovenia in Group ‘F’.

It was a rare highlight on a dreary and subdued night that highlighted the limitations of Gareth Southgate’s Russia-bound team.

It is the sixth time in succession England have qualified for the World Cup, but after making such heavy work of defeating Slovenia, they are unlikely to give the game’s super-powers many sleepless nights.

“It’s not a relief, I always thought we’d achieve the objective [of qualifying],” said Southgate. “Tonight highlighted where we are. We know exactly where we need to improve. We do have players who can score goals. It is a work in progress and when I was given the job the aim was to qualify for the World Cup.”

England could still be joined in Russia next year by neighbours Scotland who kept alive their hopes of reaching the finals for the first time since 1998 after a last-gasp 1-0 victory over 10-man Slovakia in Glasgow.

Martin Skrtel’s own goal, just a minute from the end of normal time in Glasgow, leaves Scotland second in the group, two points ahead of Slovakia and three in front of Slovenia ahead of Sunday’s trip to Ljubljana.

With his third hat-trick in the campaign, Poland striker Lewandowski became the most prolific scorer in a European qualifying campaign with 15, one ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo.

After Kamil Grosicki;s second-minute opener, Lewandowski curled in a brilliant free-kick to draw level with Wlodzimierz Lubanski, who represented Poland from 1963 to 1980, on 48 international goals.

The Bayern Munich star claimed the outright record when he blasted home an indirect free-kick and completed his treble in the second half as Jakub Blaszczykowski and Rafal Wolski also scored for the visitors.

Following Denmark’s win in Montenegro, Poland lead by three points over Denmark, and it need a point from the last-round match on Sunday against Montenegro in Warsaw to automatically qualify as the group winners.

Denmark, who handed Poland their only defeat in the group stage, host Romania in the last round and must win to top the group.

Published in Dawn, October 7th, 2017