VILNIUS, Lithuania (AP) Switzerland set up a World Cup qualifying showdown game with Italy by beating Lithuania 4-0 on Tuesday.The win lifted Switzerland level on points with Italy ahead of the last two rounds next month starting with their meeting in Rome on Nov. 12.Italy is top because its goal difference is two better than the Swiss, who got their biggest win in qualifying Tuesday to close the gap. Only the group winner advances directly to the World Cup in Qatar, and the runner-up enters a 12-nation playoffs in March.Switzerland forward Breel Embolo scored twice either side of Renato Steffen’s lobbed shot in a 14-minute spell just before halftime in Lithuania. Substitute Mario Gavranovic got the fourth goal deep in second-half stoppage time.European champion Italy aims to return to the World Cup after failing to qualify for the 2018 edition.Italy hosts the Swiss before traveling to Northern Ireland three days later. Switzerland completes its program at home to Bulgaria which
Both Northern Ireland and Bulgaria will be keen to get back in the groove after suffering defeats in their respective FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualifiers at.