European Championship Qualifiers 2016: Winners and Losers from Monday Games
Qualification for Euro 2016 continued Monday with eight matches across the continent.
In a thrilling match at Hampden Park in Glasgow, Thomas Muller starred as Germany defeated hosts Scotland 3-2. At Windsor Park in Belfast, 10-man Northern Ireland scored a late equalizer to deny Hungary at the last moment. And in Dublin, the Republic of Ireland kept their hopes alive with a narrow 1-0 victory over Georgia.
Here, B/R selects winners and losers from Monday's matches.
Winner: Thomas Muller
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Thomas Muller wasn't the only German player to perform well against Scotland, but he was certainly the most conspicuous. The 25-year-old Bayern Munich forward scored his side's first two goals and set up the winner for Ilkay Gundogan. In doing so, he underlined his outstanding scoring form at both the club and international level.
According to Squawka, Muller has scored six goals in his last four Euro 2016 qualifiers. Per WhoScored.com, he has netted eight times in his last five games for club and country. And Opta, calling him "irreplaceable," noted that the striker has scored or assisted 16 goals in 16 matches for Germany since the start of the 2014 World Cup.
The goals were Muller's seventh and eight of the current qualifying campaign. Though he benefited from a fortuitous deflection on the first, the second showcased his uncanny ability to put himself in the right place at the right time to score.
Finally, in assisting Gundogan for the winner, Muller reminded us that his game is not just positioning and goal-poaching. He also has an incisive eye for picking out the perfect pass, and in this game, it led to the winning goal.
"Think Thomas Muller might be the most intelligent player I've ever seen," tweeted B/R's Matt Jones. "Instincts are razor sharp in the attacking third."
Loser: Manuel Neuer
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Germany's Manuel Neuer is without doubt one of the world's best goalkeepers, perhaps even the best. Even the best are human, though, and on Monday, Neuer made a mistake that cost his team a goal.
In the 28th minute, Scotland's Shaun Maloney whipped in a free kick from the edge of the box, bouncing the ball directly in front of Neuer in the middle of the goal. Usually sure-handed, Neuer could only push the ball toward the unsuspecting Mats Hummels, who bundled it over the line for an own goal.
It was a shocking error, and it gave Scotland a route back into the game after Germany had taken the lead. The mistake did not result in dropped points, but Neuer will feel he should have done better.
Winner: Robert Lewandowski
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Robert Lewandowski scored twice more as Poland eased to an 8-1 victory at home to minnows Gibraltar. The goals were Lewandowski's ninth and 10th goals in qualification, the most of any single player.
The first was a superb long-range blast that befuddled Gibraltar's goalkeeper. The second was a typically lethal poacher's strike from close range. In addition, the Bayern man helped set up another goal and drew a penalty for Poland in the second half.
Few defenses can contain a player of Lewandowski's ability, and in truth, Gibraltar had little chance of doing so. Assuming Poland qualify, many an opposing defender will have nightmares preparing for Poland's deadly frontman next summer.
After Monday's win, qualification is looking more secure. The Poles finish with games against Scotland and the Republic of Ireland, and four points would guarantee a spot at Euro 2016.
(Heroic) Loser: Scotland
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Twice Scotland fell behind against the world champions brave, and twice Scotland equalized. But in the end, Gordon Strachan's side lost again. And in the end, it's another costly defeat, no matter how heroic it was.
"To stand up, after going behind to the world champions [twice] and to keep coming back, keep plugging away—they can be proud of their performances," Strachan said, per BBC Sport.
He's not wrong, of course. Scotland can be proud of their performance on the night. But after back-to-back defeats—including a shocker at Georgia last week—qualification is now a long shot for Strachan's men.
In the chase for third place in Group D and a spot in the playoffs, Scotland trail the Republic of Ireland by four points with two matches to go.
The good news is that Ireland's two games are against Germany (home) and Poland (away), the first- and second-place teams in the group. But to have any chance, Scotland will have to beat Gibraltar, draw with Poland and hope Ireland lose both of their remaining matches.
Winner: Kyle Lafferty
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It was a bittersweet result for player and country, though the sweet probably outweighed the bitter. As Kyle Lafferty wheeled away in celebration following his late, equalizing goal, the joy on his face was evident for all to see.
And yet it was only a point for Northern Ireland, at home to Hungary in a match that could have yielded direct qualification. Victory would have sent the hosts to Euro 2016, but Norn Iron needed the late drama just to salvage a point. Worse, Lafferty will miss the next qualifier through yellow-card suspension.
Disaster struck in the 74th minute, when goalkeeper Michael McGovern spilled a free kick in his box, allowing Hungary's Richard Guzmics to poke in the opening goal. The situation worsened seven minutes later as Chris Baird was controversially sent off after receiving two yellow cards within moments.
But the hosts weren't quite finished. Staring down the prospect of defeat, Lafferty slammed in from close range in stoppage time to rescue his side in the most dramatic fashion.
The Norwich City forward has now been involved in eight of Northern Ireland's 12 goals in qualifying, per Opta. But after drawing a yellow card against Hungary, Lafferty won't be available next time out, against Greece.
Victory in that game or at Finland on the final matchday would be enough to seal Northern Ireland's place at Euro 2016.
"We have two games left, and we need one more push," Lafferty said, via BBC Sport. "The fans came here for a party, but the champagne is on ice. The squad are willing to fight to the end. This team doesn't know when to stop working."
Loser: Denmark
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It wasn't the result Denmark were looking for when they traveled all the way to Armenia. The scoreless draw, Denmark's second in as many matches, left Morten Olsen's side in a dangerous position in Group I.
With just one match left, Denmark hold just a one-point advantage over third-placed Albania. The top two teams in each group qualify automatically.
Albania have two matches left. Their two opponents, Armenia and Serbia, are currently propping up the table. Denmark, on the other hand, must travel to Portugal.
The Danes had a chance to put some distance between themselves and Albania on the last two matchdays. Instead, the gap only became more precarious.
