Germany, Portugal near Euro 2016 qualification

BERLIN — Germany and Portugal closed in on European Championship qualification on Monday, while Northern Ireland missed the chance to book its place at next year’s tournament in France.

Thomas Mueller scored twice and set up the other for Germany to defeat Scotland 3-2 in Glasgow and move within touching distance of automatic qualification.

The world champions are assured of at least a playoff place but one point from their remaining two games — Ireland away or Georgia at home — will secure their place in France.

Portugal also needs just one more point after Miguel Veloso scored in injury time to snatch a 1-0 win at Albania.

The top two finishers from the nine groups qualify automatically for Euro 2016. The best third-place team also qualifies automatically, and the eight remaining third-place teams go to a playoff to contest the last four qualifying places.

Also Monday, Poland routed Gibraltar 8-1 to stay on course for a top-two finish, while John Walters’ 69th-minute goal was enough for Ireland to boost its hopes of a playoff with a 1-0 win over Georgia in Dublin.

Ireland, which next plays Germany at home then Poland away, has a five-point lead over Scotland, which plays Poland at home, then Gibraltar away.

In Group F, Northern Ireland needed an injury-time goal from Kyle Lafferty to draw 1-1 at home against Hungary after going down to 10 men. A win would have ensured automatic qualification, but the draw leaves the team still top of the group.

Hungary looked like closing to within a point of the leaders when Richard Guzmics volleyed in from close range in the 74th minute after goalkeeper Michael McGovern spilled a free kick. Chris Baird was then sent off for Northern Ireland, but Hungary couldn’t hold out and stayed four points back in third.

Romania drew 0-0 at home to last-place Greece and remained second, a point behind Northern Ireland. Also, Finland beat Faeroe Islands 1-0.