A last-gasp goal from debutant Tomas Bobcek shattered Northern Ireland's hopes of automatic qualification from World Cup 2026 qualifying Group A, handing Slovakia a dramatic 1-0 victory in Kosice.
Heartbreak in Stoppage Time
With the match seemingly headed for a draw, substitute Tomas Bobcek, who had been on the pitch for merely three minutes, became an instant hero for the home side. He fired home from Laszlo Benes' corner in the first of eight added minutes, sparking wild celebrations.
The goal was awarded despite vehement Northern Irish appeals for a foul after defender Dan Ballard went down in the buildup. Slovakia had already seen second-half strikes from Lukas Haraslin and David Strelec disallowed, but Bobcek's decisive effort stood.
Playoff Consolation for Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland's frustrating night was compounded when Dan Ballard received a second yellow card in the dying moments. However, there was a significant consolation prize for the visitors. Thanks to Croatia's 3-1 win over the Faroe Islands, Northern Ireland's position in the playoffs for March was mathematically secured, having won their Nations League group.
This means their World Cup dream remains alive, albeit through the more precarious playoff route.
Group A Showdown in Leipzig
The result sets up a thrilling final group matchday. Slovakia now travel to Leipzig to face Germany with the top spot in Group A on the line. The two nations are level on points, but Germany holds first place on goal difference following their 2-0 victory over Luxembourg.
Newcastle striker Nick Woltemade was the German hero, scoring both goals in the 49th and 69th minutes. A win or a draw against Slovakia will be enough for Germany to qualify automatically for the World Cup. For Slovakia, only a victory will see them leapfrog their rivals and claim the group's top spot.
Elsewhere in European Qualifying
Croatia officially booked their ticket to the 2026 World Cup with a 3-1 comeback win against the Faroe Islands. With 19 points in Group L, they are now uncatchable by the Czech Republic.
In Group G, the Netherlands took a giant step towards qualification by fighting back to secure a 1-1 draw away to Poland. Memphis Depay cancelled out Jakub Kaminski's opener, taking his international tally to 55 goals. The Dutch need only a draw at home to bottom-side Lithuania on Monday to confirm their place at the finals, holding a significant goal difference advantage over Poland.
