Submit your Article

Turkey beat Bulgaria 2-0 in a World Cup qualifier on Saturday to confirm second place in Group E and a spot in the playoffs for next year's finals, Reuters reported.

Captain Hakan Calhanoglu put Turkey ahead in the 18th minute from the penalty spot after a handball. The hosts doubled their lead in the 83rd minute when Bulgarian defender Chernev turned the ball into his own net attempting to clear a low cross.

Turkey dominated possession and territory, and rarely looked troubled by Bulgaria who remained bottom of the group without a point, according to Reuters.

In-form striker Mikel Oyarzabal scored twice as Spain thrashed Georgia 4-0 away on Saturday to set a national record and all but guarantee their place in next year's World Cup finals, Reuters reported.

Spain's romp in Tbilisi, in which Martin Zubimendi and Ferran Torres also scored, put them on a maximum 15 points from five Group E games with 19 goals scored and none conceded.

Second-placed Turkey, who beat Bulgaria 2-0 on Saturday, would have to beat Spain 7-0 in Seville on Tuesday to finish as group winners and take the automatic qualification spot, according to Reuters.

Kosovo kept their dreams of a World Cup debut alive on Saturday with a 2-0 win over Slovenia that guaranteed them at least a playoff spot to qualify for next year's tournament in Mexico, Canada and the United States, Reuters reported.

Fisnik Asllani opened the scoring for the visitors in the sixth minute when he latched on to a through ball from Mergim Vojvoda and fired past Slovenian keeper Jan Oblak. Kosovo doubled their lead in the 64th minute when Slovenia's Zan Karnicnik turned a cross past his own keeper.

Slovenia's job was made tougher when second-half substitute Petar Stojanovic was sent off for picking up two yellow cards within 10 minutes of the restart, according to Reuters.

Switzerland secured a 4-1 victory over Sweden on Friday that all but sealed their spot at next year's World Cup, leaving them top of the group with a considerable goal difference advantage over second-placed Kosovo, Reuters reported.

The Swiss top Group B on 13 points, three ahead of Kosovo, who beat Slovenia 2-0 away. They host the Swiss in their final qualifier on Tuesday, but with Switzerland boasting a goal difference of 12 compared to Kosovo's one, they will likely have to be content with the runners-up spot in the group.

The Swiss got off to a flying start when Breel Embolo opened the scoring with a superb first-time finish in the 13th minute. However, in the 33rd minute Benjamin Nygren equalised for the Swedes, who put in a strong finish to their first half of football under new coach Graham Potter, according to Reuters.