A Luka Modric goal set Croatia on their way to a convincing 4-1 win over Greece and allowed his side to plant one foot in World Cup 2018. Switzerland can also start thinking of Russia after winning in Northern Ireland.
A scintillating first half display gave Croatia a commanding first leg advantage in the battle of the playoff specialists. Home captain Luka Modric gave his side the lead from the spot early on, after Greek goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis took a heavy touch on a backpass before chopping down Nikola Kalinic.
The Croats, who have won all four of their past qualifying playoffs for major tournaments, looked confident and were rewarded just six minutes later when Kalinic flicked in a low left wing cross after some lovely build up play.
Greece's reply came through their own skipper, when Borussia Dortmund's Sokratis looped a header over the Croatian keeper from a corner against the run of play. But Croatia soon restored their lead with another slick team move that ended with Ivan Perisic nodding home at the back post from a right wing cross.
The momentum they'd regained stayed with Croatia after the break as more shambolic Greek defending led to a fourth. Augsburg's Kostas Stafylidis attempted to chest back to Karnezis but left it well short, allowing Sime Vrslajko to nip in and intecept before Hoffenheim's Andrej Kramaric stabbed home.
Croatia had chances to put the tie out of reach, Perisic blazing over after a sublime Modric through ball but, based on Thursday's showing, they should have more than enough to qualify for a fifth straight World Cup.
Northern Ireland 0-1 Switzerland
(Rodriguez 58')
Switzerland's players celebrate the penalty scored by Ricardo Rodriguez (13) Image: Reuters/J. Cairnduff
An altogether more forgettable affair was settled by a moment of controversy.
The Swiss were dominant in the first half, but despite a couple of presentable chances for Haris Seferović, had nothing to show for it as Northern Ireland's defense - which kept seven clean sheets in 10 qualifying matches - held firm.
In fact, it took a highly dubious call from the referee to breach them, when Corry Evans was adjudged to have handled the ball with his back to it and Ricardo Rodriguez stroked the penalty home.
Depsite the point of contention, the hosts were unable to rouse themselves in an attacking sense, with Josh Magennis spurning their only decent chance, and have plenty of work to do on Sunday against a Swiss side who won nine of their ten qualifying matches.
World Cup 2018: Gianluigi Buffon and Christian Pulisic among those missing out
As World Cup qualifying approaches its end, DW tooks a look at who will be watching rather than featuring on TV next summer. A veteran goalkeeper, a US prospect and a Bundesliga favorite are among those who'll miss out.
Image: picture alliance/empics/N. Carson
Gianluigi Buffon, Italy
Gianluigi Buffon's 175th Italy cap will be his last. The 39-year-old goalkeeper kept a clean sheet in his side's playoff second leg draw with Sweden but it wasn't enough, as Italy missed out on the World Cup for the first time since 1958 thanks to a first leg loss. Buffon, who won the World Cup in 2006 and will now retire from international football, broke down in tears after the match.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/M. Medina
Christian Pulisic, USA
On one of the most disastrous nights in American footall history, Bruce Arena's USA team lost 2-1 to Trinidad & Tobago to end up second bottom in the CONCACAF Hexagonal. The result means Borussia Dortmund star Christian Pulisic will have to wait at least another four years to make his World Cup debut. In a double blow for the Bundesliga, Hamburg striker Bobby Wood also misses out.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/A. Estrella
Arjen Robben, Netherlands
The Bayern Munich winger is missing out on a second successive international tournament after the Netherlands failed to beat Sweden by the seven goals required to avoid elimination from Group A. “It is not realistic to think we can beat Sweden with a big score,” Robben said pre-match. “People had best leave their calculators at home." He was right and has now retired from international football.
Image: imago/VI Images/M. van Steen
David Alaba, Austria
Bayern Munich's David Alaba is another Bundesliga star who can put his feet up next summer after Austria failed to overcome Serbia and the Republic of Ireland in UEFA qualifying group D. Wales finished above an Austria team that hasn't qualified for a World Cup since 1998.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/SvenSimon
Andriy Yarmolenko, Ukraine
New Borussia Dortmund signing Andriy Yarmolenko won't be in Russia next summer after Ukraine finished third in their qualifying group behind Croatia and Iceland. Despite making an impressive start to his BVB career, the Ukrainian striker, who has scored 32 goals in 73 appearances for his county, couldn't help as his team lost 2-0 to Croatia (pictured) to seal their fate.
Image: Imago/ZumaPress
Alexis Sanchez, Chile
Despite winning two consecutive Copa Americas, Chile have missed out on qualification for the World Cup - leaving Alexis Sanchez at home (along with Arturo Vidal, who retired after Chile failed to qualify). Chile's fate was sealed after a 3-0 defeat to group winners Brazil, who will joined in 2018 by Uruguay, Argentina and Colombia. Is this the end for Chile's golden generation?
Image: Reuters/C. Recine
Salomon Kalou, Ivory Coast
"If we don't make it, we'll only have ourselves to blame," Kalou told DW ahead of the Ivory Coast's key game against Morocco. Defeat would be a "catastrophe" the Hertha Berlin attacker said - and so it proved. In Group C of African qualifying the Ivory Coast lost 2-0 and finished in second (with eight points) behind the Moroccans.
Image: picture-alliance/abaca/H. Szwarc
Gareth Bale, Wales
The Real Madrid forward scored three goals as Wales surged to the semifinals of Euro 2016 and is the country’s second highest scorer of all time with 26 goals - but he will not be in Russia next year. With Serbia winning group D, Wales’ match against Republic of Ireland was a must-win - but Ireland's 1-0 victory ended Bale's chances of leading Wales to a World Cup for the first time since 1958.
Image: imago/Sportimage/S. Bellis
Sead Kolasinac, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia's hopes of making the World Cup ended despite a 2-1 win against Estonia in the final Group H game. Bosnia finished two points behind second-placed Greece, who also missed out after losing to Croatia in the playoff. Kolasinac, Dzeko and Co. weren't able to repeat their heroic World Cup qualification of 2014 when they topped their qualifying group and finished third in Group F in Brazil.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/Fotostand
Naby Keita, Guinea
RB Leipzig's Keita won't feature on the biggest stage next summer, which may please his new club Liverpool. Tunisia topped Group A, narrowly beating out the DR Congo by one point. Guinea though, finished last with three points. Not even one of the Bundesliga's brightest stars could guide Guinea to a World Cup berth.
Image: picture-alliance/ZUMAPRESS/M.Chenguang
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Gabon
Perhaps the least surprising entry on this list not because of any lack of ability but purely because of Gabon's standing in world football. The African nation won just one game in qualifying and are already out of contention, leaving the Borussia Dortmund man twiddling his thumbs this summer.
Image: imago/PanoramiC
Will Grigg, Northern Ireland
Although not considered a star, Northern Ireland's Will Grigg became one of the biggest names at Euro 2016 when a song about him rang was sung by his own fans and others alike. Northern Ireland's narrow defeat to Switzerland means Grigg and the famous Northern Irish fans won't be making an appearance in Russia this summer, but perhaps the song will still be heard.
