International Magpies: Elanga and Wissa seal World Cup places | OneFootball

Anthony Elanga

Graham Potter's Sweden side advanced into the 2026 World Cup qualifying play-off final following a 3-1 win against Ukraine at the Estadi Ciutat de València on Thursday evening, with Elanga starting the last-four tie before being withdrawn in stoppage-time.

And on Tuesday night, a fine left-footed finish from the Magpies winger opened the scoring in their crucial 3-2 win over Poland at the Strawberry Arena in Stockholm, which made sure of their place at this summer's finals. He was later withdrawn with just over 20 minutes remaining, with the score at 2-2.

Sweden, who were finalists in 1958, have now reached the tournament for just the second time in their last five attempts.

Yoane Wissa

Wissa will join Elanga in the USA, Canada and Mexico in the summer after his DR Congo side booked their place at the finals for the first time since 1974.

A 1-0 win over Jamaica at Estadio Akron in Mexico was enough to book their place in Group K of the upcoming finals, which contains Portugal, Uzbekistan and Colombia, with Wissa replaced in stoppage time at the end of the contest.

DR Congo had recorded a 2-0 friendly win against Bermuda on Wednesday in their preparations for that play-off final, with Wissa doubling his country's lead from the penalty spot six minutes after the restart.

Sandro Tonali

Tonali's Italy booked their place in their own play-off final with Bosnia and Herzegovina after claiming a 2-0 win against the Green and White Army - managed by former Magpies midfielder Michael O'Neill - on Thursday night. After a goalless first half in Bergamo, the United midfielder opened the scoring with a wonderful strike from the edge of the box before Moise Kean's effort secured the victory, with Tonali providing an assist before being substituted in the 84th minute.

But Gennaro Gattuso's men were then undone by Bosnia and Herzegovina in Tuesday night's play-off final at the Bilino Polje Stadium in Zenica, with the sides level at 1-1 after 120 minutes.

Tonali stepped up and converted his penalty in the ensuing shoot-out, but the Azzurri were beaten 4-1 by the hosts, meaning the four-time World champions - who last won the trophy in 2006 - missed out on reaching their first World Cup finals since 2014.

Lewis Hall, Dan Burn, Tino Livramento, Anthony Gordon, Aaron Ramsdale and Harvey Barnes

Barnes made his first international appearance since 2020 as England were held to a 1-1 draw by Uruguay on Friday night.

Barnes came off the bench alongside Lewis Hall with just over 20 minutes remaining at Wembley, joining Livramento - who played the full 90 minutes - as the Three Lions sought a breakthrough.

They got one through Ben White, but Federico Valverde's last-gasp penalty pegged them back.

Barnes - who had last appeared for his country in a friendly with Wales six years ago - was one of six United players named in Thomas Tuchel's squad, with goalkeeper Ramsdale an unused substitute against Marcelo Bielsa's men.

Gordon then started England's 1-0 defeat to Japan at Wembley on Tuesday, with Burn, Livramento and Hall all making second half substitute appearances as Tuchel's men slipped to a disappointing defeat.

William Osula

Osula was named in the Denmark squad ahead of their World Cup Path D qualifier against North Macedonia on Thursday 26 March.

Brian Riemer's side drawn at home to North Macedonia in the semi-finals after finishing in second place of their Group C qualifying campaign and recorded an emphatic 4-0 win at Parken Stadium on Thursday night.

Osula, who is targeting his senior international debut, was an unused substitute in that game and then watched on from the sidelines again as the Danes lost 3-1 on penalties to the Czech Republic in their play-off final to miss out on the tournament this summer.

Alex Murphy

Murphy has been named in the Republic of Ireland Under-21s squad ahead of their European Under-21 Championship qualifying double header against Moldova and Kazakhstan.

Jim Crawford's youngsters were held to a 1-1 draw against Moldova at the Tallaght Stadium on Thursday evening, playing the full 90 minutes in Dublin.

The Boys in Green travel to the Turkestan-Arena to face Kazakhstan on Tuesday, 31st March (kick-off 3pm BST) as Murphy, who has made five appearances for Eddie Howe's first team squad so far this season, aims to add to his 11 caps accrued at under-21 level.

Nick Woltemade and Malick Thiaw

Four-time world champions Germany beat Switzerland 4-3 at St. Jakob-Park, home of FC Basel, on Friday night, with Woltemade entering the fray just after the hour and Thiaw remaining on the bench.

Julian Nagelsmann's side sealed a 2-1 friendly win against Ghana on Monday night, with Woltemade starting the match at the MHPArena in Stuttgart before being replaced in the 78th minute. Thiaw was an unused substitute.