Thomas Mueller scored twice and set up another goal as Germany beat Scotland 3-2 on Monday to move to the brink of qualifying for Euro 2016 after all but securing a top-two finish in Group D with two games left.
The world champions now have 19 points while Poland, 8-1 winners over Gibraltar, are on 17.
Ireland, who beat Georgia 1-0 and next face Germany in October, are third with 15 points. Scotland have 11 following their second defeat in four days.
The top two automatically reach the finals in France.
Mueller underlined his fine form by netting in the 18th minute with a deflected effort.
The red-hot forward added his second with a close-range header after Scotland had levelled with a Mats Hummels own goal.
Mueller, who was also on target in Friday's 3-1 victory over Poland, then rode to the rescue again after the home team had levelled once more with a shot from James McArthur before halftime.
The 25-year-old Mueller set up the winner, cutting the ball back for Ilkay Guendogan to fire in off the post in the 54th minute.
Last-gasp Veloso gives Portugal 1-0 win at Albania
A stoppage time header by defender Miguel Veloso gave Portugal a 1-0 win in Albania and allowed them to extend their lead on top of Euro 2016 qualifying Group I on Monday.
The Portuguese have 15 points from six games, ahead of Denmark who have 12 from seven after a 0-0 draw in Armenia.
Third-placed Albania have 11 points from six games and despite the setback are assured of at least a play-off berth.
Portugal avenged their shock defeat by the Albanians in the reverse fixture at home after Veloso rescued them from a series of misses by Cristiano Ronaldo in Elbasan.
The Real Madrid hitman skewed an inviting cross wide from almost point blank range in the 13th minute, shortly after forcing a good save from keeper Etrit Berisha.
He glanced a header wide on the half hour and it looked like Albania would hang on until Veloso rose above his marker to head home a Ricardo Quaresma corner.
Portugal are at home to Denmark and then away to eliminated Serbia in their last two qualifiers, while Albania are at home to Serbia before they visit out-of-contention Armenia.
Ireland beat Georgia to move in on Euro 2016 playoff spot
Ireland eventually got the better of Georgia in their Euro 2016 qualifier at the Aviva Stadium on Monday with a 1-0 win to push them further ahead of rivals Scotland in the battle for a third place playoff spot in Group D.
Georgia's surprise 1-0 victory over the Scots on Friday gave Ireland's flagging qualification chances a major boost and Martin O'Neil's side looked like they might not take advantage until Jonathan Walters second half strike.
The win put Ireland four points clear in third place after Germany's 3-2 victory in Glasgow and they will not need a result against the group leading Germans or Poland if Scotland fail to get at least a draw against the Poles and a win over Gibraltar.
Romania held by Greece, miss chance to go top
Unbeaten Romania were held to a 0-0 draw at home by lacklustre Greece in a Euro 2016 qualifier on Monday but remained on track to secure a place at next year's finals in France.
Anghel Iordanescu’s men, who have conceded only one goal in their eight games, moved up to 16 points, a point behind Group F leaders Northern Ireland and three ahead of third-placed Hungary.
Winless Greece, looking a shadow of the team that won the Euro 2004 title, remained bottom, three points behind fifth-placed Faroe Islands.
A scrappy encounter occasionally burst into life with the Romanians enjoying the better chances but failing to take any of them to the frustration of the National Arena crowd.
It was the third goalless draw in a row in the qualifying campaign for Romania, who were booed by their fans off the field.
Romania host Finland on October 8 before visiting Faroe Islands in their final qualifier three days later. Greece are away to Northern Ireland and play Hungary at home in their last two games.
Late Lafferty strike keeps Northern Ireland on track for finals
Northern Ireland failed to clinch place at Euro 2016 on Monday but were relieved to snatch a 1-1 draw at home to Hungary with a last-gasp Kyle Lafferty goal that kept them in control of Group F.
Hungary looked to have breathed life into their qualifying campaign with a late Richard Guzmics goal after a goalkeeping howler by Ireland's Michael McGovern before Lafferty struck.
The Irish striker rifled the ball home in the third minute of added time to salvage a point after Hungary stopper Gabor Kiraly spilled Niall McGinn's shot following a corner.
The draw puts Northern Ireland on 17 points ahead of Romania, who have 16 after a 0-0 draw with bottom side Greece on Monday, and Hungary on 13 with two games left to play.
Northern Ireland face Greece and Finland in their last two games while Hungary take on the Faroe Islands and the Greeks.
A win in one of their final two fixtures would see the Irish reach their first finals since the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.
Lewandowski double helps Poland destroy Gibraltar
Robert Lewandowski, Kamil Grosicki and Arek Milik all scored twice as Poland bounced back from last week's defeat by Germany to flatten Gibraltar 8-1 in a one-sided Euro 2016 qualifier on Monday.
The Poles are now second in Group D on 17 points, two behind leaders Germany with two matches remaining.
Ireland are third on 15 points with Scotland fourth on 11. The top two progress to next year's finals in France.
Grosicki struck twice in the opening 15 minutes before another quickfire double from Lewandowski put the Poles 4-0 up by halftime.
Milik was on target twice in the second half while Jakub Blaszczykowski added a penalty and Bartosz Kapustka also netted.
Gibraltar, UEFA's newest international team, fielded just one professional player -- Jake Gosling of Bristol Rovers -- and he scored a consolation goal in the 87th minute.
It was only their second goal in the qualifying campaign but it did little to lift their spirits as they stayed rooted to the foot of the table with zero points from eight games.
