World Cup hopes were dashed for two Burnley players last night as we reach crunch time in the qualification process.
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Martin Dubravka had a game to forget as his Slovakia side crashed out at the play-off semi-final stage with a 4-3 defeat to Kosovo.
Ex-Claret stopper Arijanet Muric wasn’t exactly in the best form either, but his Kosovo side came out on top in Bratislava to set up a winner-takes-all decider against Turkey next week.
Elsewhere, Armando Broja’s Albania were knocked out by Poland, suffering a 2-1 defeat in their semi-final encounter. The striker was a 68th minute substitute.
Not all is lost, however, with Axel Tuanzebe and DR Congo in action next Tuesday against Jamaica, who edged past New Caledonia 1-0.
Should the Congolese prove victorious, they will clinch qualification for the first time since 1974, when the country was then known as Zaire.
Vincent Kompany’s old Burnley assistant Craig Bellamy, meanwhile, suffered a heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat as Wales boss at the hands of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Martin Dubravka had a night to forget as Slovakia crashed out against Kosovo (Photo by Joe Klamar / AFP via Getty Images)placeholder image
Martin Dubravka had a night to forget as Slovakia crashed out against Kosovo (Photo by Joe Klamar / AFP via Getty Images)
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While there was no Burnley representation on the night, Connor Roberts was on commentary duty and would have been hopeful of making it to the World Cup this summer should they have made it.
The defender is currently sidelined with an Achilles injury that has kept him out of action for the entirety of the season, but is now back in training and closing in on a return.
While Jacob Bruun Larsen hasn’t been called up on this occasion, Denmark cruised past North Macedonia 4-0 to set up a decider with Czechia. Should the Danes make it through that one, Bruun Larsen will be hoping to earn a late call-up for this summer’s tournament.
The likes of Hannibal (Tunisia) and Lyle Foster (South Africa) have already booked their places at the World Cup.
Shurandy Sambo – currently out on loan with Sparta Rotterdam – is also part of the Curacao side that became the smallest side to ever reach the World Cup.
If Zeki Amdouni can get back to full fitness between now and the end of the season, he’ll also be hoping to earn a late recall to the Switzerland squad.
Quilindschy Hartman also faces an outside chance of getting back in the Netherlands setup now he’s back in the fold with Burnley.
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