54 European squads – a record total – began their qualifying campaigns in UEFA on SUN 04-TUE 06 SEP 2016 amidst rainouts and stoppage time goals.

• Slovakia 00-01 England: Meeting for the second time in three months after a goalless draw at Euro 2016, Slovakia and England appeared to be headed for the same result. But deep into stoppage time, Adam LALLANA struck to give the Three Lions a winning start in Group F.
• Czech Rep 00-00 Northern Ireland: N Ireland withstood late pressure from the hosts and came away with a point in Group C.
• Wales 04-00 Moldova: Two goals from Gareth BALE earned the win for Euro 2016 semifinalists Wales, who join Austria atop Group D.
• Finland 01-01 Kosovo: In their first match in an official competition, Kosovo picked up an away point. Valon BERISHA scored on a second half penalty to neutralise Paulus ARAJUURI’s goal...
• Ukraine 01-01 Iceland: ...as Ukraine and Iceland also shared the points. With all three matches ending at 1-1, there is no separating any of the sides in Group I.
• Albania 02-01 Macedonia FYR: Armando SADIKU put the home side ahead early in the first half, and Egzijan ALIOSKI equalised early in the second before a heavy storm interrupted play in the 77th minute. The match was abandoned and resumed the next day, with Albania claiming the three points in the 89th minute from Bekim BALAJ. The result makes Albania joint leaders of Group G along with Spain and Italy.
• Belarus 00-00 France: Les Bleus were held to a goalless draw in Barysaŭ. Olivier GIROUD headed off the crossbar, one of France’s 23 shot attempts...
• Bulgaria 04-03 Luxembourg: ...leaving both sides trailing Bulgaria in Group A. Luxembourg, however, gave the hosts a scare, leading 2-1 at one point on a brace by Aurélien JOACHIM. Bulgaria reclaimed the lead in the 79th minute, only to concede an equaliser to Florian BOHNERT in stoppage time. But one minute later, Alexander TONEV scored at the other end to reclaim all three points.
• Switzerland 02-00 Portugal: The European champions fell in their first competitive match since the final in France. Goals from Breel EMBOLO and Admir MEHMEDI led the Swiss to a joint lead in Group B along with Latvia.
• Gibraltar 01-04 Greece: Liam WALKER gave Gibraltar their first goal in a Men’s World Cup qualifier and levelled the scoreline. But Greece’s three goals at the end of the first half ended the contest. They, along with Bosnia-Herzegovina and Belgium, lead Group H.