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De Ligt returns to XI as Netherlands qualify

Matthijs de Ligt returned to the starting line-up, as the Netherlands successfully booked their place at the 2026 World Cup with a 4-0 victory over Lithuania.

The Dutch, with a three-point and 13-goal advantage over Poland, were all-but assured of qualification prior to kick-off in Amsterdam, but still had to rubberstamp their spot for next summer's finals.

De Ligt, who has been one of Manchester United's top performers this term, had played just one minute during the Dutch campaign, but Ronald Koeman named him as a centre-back in a side that contained nine Premier League players.

It was our no.4's first international start since last November and he helped the Oranje keep a clean sheet on a comfortable night at the Johan Cruyff Arena.

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Manchester City's Tijjani Reijnders lashed the hosts into a first-half lead, before Cody Gakpo doubled the tally on 58 minutes by converting a penalty, after De Ligt's header glanced the arm of Artemijus Tutyskinas in the visitors' area.

That sparked a scoring onslaught from the three-time World Cup finalists, as Xavi Simons and Donyell Malen also got in on the act.

De Ligt completed the full 90 minutes alongside Virgil van Dijk and will now be looking forward to representing his country at a fourth major tournament next summer.

Elsewhere, James Scanlon and Gibraltar completed their campaign in the Czech Republic.

Scanlon started in attack but was powerless to prevent the hosts from racing into a five-goal half-time lead, through five different scorers including former West Ham defender Vladimir Coufal.

Robin Hranac added a sixth early in the second period and, while the Czechs will advance to the European play-offs in the spring, Gibraltar end the qualifiers without a point.

Tickets for upcoming United matches - including December's meeting with Bournemouth - are now available.

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