Former World Cup winners Spain have qualified for next year’s FIFA World Cup in Russia after they defeated Albania 3-0 in Alicante in Group G.
Valencia forward Rodrigo, Isco and Thiago Alcantara got the goals for the 2010 winners.The match also saw fans jeer controversial Barcelona defender Gerard Pique for his support for Catalan Independence Referendum.
Pique was substituted on the hour mark in Alicante with Real Madrid defender Nacho coming on in his place.
Still in Group G, 4-time World Cup winners Italy missed out on top spot after they were held by visiting Macedonia in disappointing fashion. They took the lead through Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini, who recently returned from injury.
The team failed to build on that opening goal and they were rightly stunned by Alex Trazkowski with 13 minutes left on the clock.
Group D:
Austria 3-2 Serbia
Georgia 0-1 Wales
Republic of Ireland 2-0 Moldova
Standings:
- Serbia 18 points
- Wales 17 points
- Republic of Ireland 16 points
- Austria 12 points
- Georgia 5 points
- Moldova 2 points
Group G:
Italy 1-1 Macedonia
Spain 3-0 Albania
Liechtenstein 0-1 Israel
Standings:
- Spain 25 points
- Italy 20 points
- Albania 13 points
- Israel 12 points
- Macedonia 8 points
- Liechtenstein 0 point
Group I:
Croatia 1-1 Finland
Turkey 0-3 Iceland
Kosovo 0-2 Ukraine
Standings:
- Iceland 19 points
- Croatia 17 points
- Ukraine 17 points
- Turkey 14 points
- Finland 8 points
- Kosovo 1 point
Qualified Teams in Europe: Russia (hosts), Belgium, Germany, England and Spain
