Jurrien Timber shook off an injury scare to help the Netherlands qualify for the World Cup on Monday, with Jakub Kiwior and Poland forced to settle for a play-off spot.
The Netherlands and Poland were both still mathematically capable of qualifying for the World Cup on Monday night, but it would have taken a very specific set of circumstances for Poland to do so.
The Netherlands began the day on a points total of 17 and a goal difference of +19, whilst Poland were on 14 points and a goal difference of +6.
So for Poland to qualify automatically, they needed to win, they needed the Netherlands to lose, and they needed a goal difference swing of 14 goals (due to the Netherlands also having the far superior goals scored total).
Even so, the two teams had to play things out, and Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber was selected for the starting lineup of the Netherlands’ game against Lithuania.
There was an early injury scare for the Arsenal man, who went down in the 10th minute and received treatment on the pitch. But he came back on and ended up playing until the 64th minute, by which point his team were 4-0 up and making a triple substitution.
With the Netherlands winning so comfortably, Poland’s battling 3-2 win over Malta in the other game was rendered meaningless. Arsenal loanee Jakub Kiwior played the full 90 minutes.
The Netherlands became the seventh European team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, with Germany also making it in on Monday night. Kai Havertz wasn’t involved due to injury, but he’s likely to play a role at the final tournament.
As for Kiwior and Poland, they’ll face a single-elimination play-off semi-final and possible final in March. The draw to determine their opponents will take place on November 20th.