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First Team

Ake's Netherlands miss out on World Cup qualification

Nathan Ake started in the Netherlands' win over Sweden, but the result wasn't enough to stop his nation from exiting World Cup qualification.

The 22-year-old collected his third international cap in Amsterdam as the Dutch raced into a two-goal lead thanks to strikes from Arjen Robben.

However, with the Netherlands needing fully seven goals to hop above the Swedes in their qualification group, their 2-0 win was not enough to confirm the country's unlikely route to qualification.

Asmir Begovic's Bosnia and Herzegovina and their progress to what would be second World Cup appearance always looked unlikely, needing to win away in Estonia while also relying on an unlikely favour from Gibraltar, playing away at second-placed Greece.

Begovic played the full match with Werder Bremen winger Izet Hajrovic scoring twice for the Bosnians in Tallinn in a 2-1 win. However, Greece's 4-0 home win ensured Bosnia finished qualification outside of the qualification places in third.

Lewis Cook came on in the 76th minute of England under-21s' win away in Andorra, the Three Lions staying top of their group ahead of Scotland after Everton's Tom Davies scored the only goal of the game.