Denmark secure World Cup spot after defeating Austria

 

Denmark continued their perfect run in Group F as they claimed an eighth win in as many games to confirm their place at the World Cup.

Denmark became just the second team to qualify for the 2022 World Cup after defeating Austria 1-0 in Group F.

Joakim Maehle's second-half strike proved enough to edge past Franco Foda's side on Tuesday and claim an unassailable seven-point lead over Scotland with two matches left to play.

The narrow win meant Kasper Hjulmand's team also maintain their perfect record in 2022 World Cup qualifying matches, having won all eight games without conceding a single goal.

Denmark, while remaining resolute at the back, have mustered 27 unanswered goals, with thrashings of Moldova, Israel and Austria in the reverse fixture capping a perfect campaign for the Scandinavian outfit.

Hjulmand's men head to Qatar in 13 months' time with major tournament experience under their belt after making it to the semi-finals of Euro 2020 before suffering extra-time heartbreak against England earlier this year.

Indeed, Denmark – who dealt with the hospitalisation of Christian Eriksen during the opening stages of the competition – started with consecutive losses but defied the odds to reach the last four.

They became just the fifth side in the history of the World Cup and European Championships to both win three games and lose three games in the same edition.

Denmark will look to use that experience at their sixth World Cup after exiting at the last-16 stage in the previous edition in 2018.

Aside from Denmark, Germany are the only other team to have earned qualification so far to join hosts Qatar at the tournament.