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Denmark had to come from behind to grab a 2-2 draw with Belarus on Saturday, missing a golden opportunity to put themselves in the driving seat in World Cup qualifying Group C as second-placed Scotland lost 3-2 in Greece, Reuters reported. 

The Danes top the group on 11 points and travel to Glasgow to meet the Scots, who are one point behind, on Tuesday after a shaky performance in front of their home crowd, who booed at the final whistle as their team threw away two points in a game they should have won comfortably.

Denmark got off to a superb start when winger Mikkel Damsgaard gave them the lead with a dipping shot that bounced into the far corner, and for long stretches it looked like Belarus, who lost 6-0 at home to Denmark, might suffer another hiding, according to Reuters.

Scotland are one home win away from securing a place in next year's World Cup despite suffering a 3-2 defeat by Greece on Saturday, with Denmark's 2-2 draw with Belarus in the other Group C game offering a lifeline and setting up a blockbuster clash with the Danes on Tuesday, Reuters reported.

Denmark top the group with 11 points after five games. Scotland, who could not find an equaliser even though they clawed back from three goals down, are second with 10 points after suffering their first defeat of the campaign.

While a first-place finish clinches an automatic spot in next year's finals in the United States, Mexico and Canada, Saturday's result guaranteed Scotland at least a qualifying playoff spot, according to Reuters.

Ireland stunned Portugal 2-0 on Thursday to keep their narrow path to next year's World Cup open and make the Nations League winners wait to book an automatic spot on a night where their captain Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off, Reuters reported. 

Ireland, who have not qualified for a major tournament in a decade and last reached a World Cup in 2002, needed at least a draw to keep their qualification hopes alive and a first half Troy Parrott double capped their best performance in years.

"I think it's probably the best night that I've ever had in my whole life," player of the match Parrott said in a pitchside interview, according to Reuters.

Late goals from Gianluca Mancini and Francesco Pio Esposito helped Italy to a 2-0 win away against Moldova on Thursday, keeping alive their faint hopes of automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup with their sixth consecutive victory, Reuters reported.

The result lifted Italy to 18 points, three behind group leaders Norway, who earlier beat Estonia 4-1, with the two sides meeting on the final qualifying matchday on Sunday. The Azzurri now face what looks an impossible task, needing to win and overturn Norway's goal difference of 17.

"I saw an Italy that played well, we were out there and (Moldova) never shot on goal," Italy manager Gennaro Gattuso told Rai. "I am very satisfied, we did what we had to do and gave some of the lads some playing time."