Poland 1-1 Netherlands: Depay all but guarantees World Cup berth
Although the Netherlands failed to book their spot at the 2026 World Cup, they took a big step toward doing so after a 1-1 draw with Poland.
The Netherlands edged closer to securing their spot at the 2026 World Cup, after a 1-1 draw against Poland in Warsaw.
Memphis Depay cancelled out Jakub Kaminski's opener as Ronald Koeman's side remain three points ahead of their counterparts heading into their final qualification match, and with a 13-goal advantage.
Poland almost went ahead after just 70 seconds when Matty Cash picked out Nicola Zalewski with a brilliant cross, but the Atalanta wing-back failed to hit the target from inside the six-yard area.
However, he looked to have been bailed out by Kaminski moments before half-time after the 23-year-old finished through the legs of Bart Verbruggen after a give-and-go with Robert Lewandowski.
The visitors responded quickly after the break, with Depay poking past Kamil Grabara from close range after the goalkeeper pulled off a brilliant initial save to deny Donyell Malen's point-blank header.
Lewandowski almost immediately restored Poland's lead after connecting with Cash's cross, but the striker was denied by Verbruggen, as both sides failed to test either goalkeeper in the final stages at Stadion Narodowy.
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Unless Poland produce an unlikely 13-goal swing in their final group game, they will have to settle for a play-off place in Group G.
Zalewski will be replaying his miss in the second minute over and over again, with Poland producing 1.56 expected goals (xG) from 12 shots to the Netherlands' 0.74 from eight attempts.
Depay's goal was his eighth of this World Cup qualifying campaign, with only Erling Haaland scoring more often (14), as the Dutchman has now netted in his each of his last four such games.
