It doesn’t stop Englandwho leads the group with full points of Italy in the Euro2024 qualifiers: Kane (37′) e Of (39′) sign the 2-0 against the Ukraine. Great performance also for the Portugallone leader of group J after the 6-0 in Luxembourg: brace for Cr7in gol Leao (who also misses a penalty). Score two goals Højlundma la Denmark was defeated in a comeback by Kazakhistan (3-2). Hits for Slovenia, Iceland, Finland and Slovakia.
GROUP C
In Italy’s group, England didn’t have to struggle too much to defeat Ukraine. After a very blocked first half hour, with the guests defending themselves against English outbursts, Harry Kane unlocks it. The best scorer in the history of the Three Lions (55 goals) starts the action, launching Saka, follows it and finishes on the net in the 37th minute for the English lead. Two minutes go by, and Southgate rejoices for the double: Bukayo Saka signs it himself, with an amazing shot that goes into the top corner. In the second half England just had to control the poor reaction of the opponents, with a decidedly colorless Mudryk, and play with a calm pace to waste as little energy as possible. The 2-0 is worth the lead of group C with full points, in the group that sees North Macedonia rest after the victory over Malta.
H GROUP
Surprise result in group H, where another super-performance by Rasmus Højlund was not enough for Denmark, defeated 3-2 by Kazakhstan in a comeback. The first half is a Danish monologue. Only one goal was played and Maehle nearly scored in the 16th minute, on Højlund’s cue. All Atalanta action didn’t lead to the net, but the young striker found it in the 21st minute: Kjær’s deep throw and perfect movement behind the defence, finished with a lob over Shatskiy. In the 35th minute they doubled their lead, almost with an empty net after a lucky rebound. Højlund thus reaches five goals in two games in the Euro2024 qualifiers, all goals from Denmark, which already feels victorious and is disunited. Kazakhstan loses courage, shortens with Zaynutdinov (73′) from a penalty and equalizes surprisingly with Tagybergen’s shot from distance in the 86th minute. It’s not over yet, because Aymbetov (replaced in the 78th minute) blows up the Astana crowd with the 3-2 in the 89th minute. Goal, exultation by taking off his shirt and yellow for the attacker, who turns red in the 94th minute for a second yellow card.
However, Kazakhstan rejoices, performing the feat and redeeming the knockout on their debut against Slovenia, victorious 2-0 over San Marino (under the eyes of Ceferin) and leading the group with 6 points. The resistance of the boys from the Titano, saved for the entire first half by the parades of a sumptuous Benedictine monks, collapsed in the most unexpected way. In fact, Šeško’s goal came after a rebound and a lucky shoulder touch from the Salzburg striker, betrothed to RB Leipzig. After the lead in the 56th minute, a downhill match for Slovenia, which doubles with an own goal from Roberto Di Maio, a defender born in 1982 (seen in Serie B with Nocerina) who made his debut at the age of forty against Northern Ireland . Only Benedettini’s saves prevented the 3-0, with Lovric very close to the net. Of note is Jaka Bijol’s injury, who went out with a muscle problem in the first half.
Northern Ireland does not respond to the leaders, who are defeated 1-0 by Finland within the friendly walls of Windsor Park. Michael O’Neill’s boys dominated at the start, with a very inspired Bradley and a few too many mistakes in the construction phase, without being able to break through. On the other hand, Finland succeeds and passes in the 27th minute: Ballard misses the closing and Källman takes advantage of it, who scores what will turn out to be the winning goal with a nice insertion. Northern Ireland’s forcing resumed immediately, but the hosts slammed Hrádecký and their own scoring difficulties. In addition, in the second half they see the goal scored by Dion Charles canceled for a touch with the arm. The final forcing is useless, the Scandinavians win and the result is a crazy ranking: behind Slovenia (6), there are four teams with 3 points (Denmark, Kazakhstan, Finland, Northern Ireland).
J GROUP
He wins 6-0 and walks Portugal, who overwhelms Luxembourg away. The match starts immediately well for the Lusitanians, who bring down the Luxembourg wall in the 9th minute: Nuno Mendes supports Cristiano Ronaldo, who just has to push into the net. The hosts effectively leave the match, without ever returning, and suffer a lethal one-two punch: Joao Felix (15′) and Bernardo Silva (18′) pierce Moris, goalkeeper of the Belgian fairy tale Union Saint-Gilloise, with as many shots head. Before the break there was also time for poker, signed by Cr7: the star of Portugal scored his personal double using Bruno Fernandes’s through ball. Thus, Ronaldo’s goals in 199 appearances for the national team rise to 124, and he is replaced (snorting) in the 68th minute with the match largely on ice. Portugal controls and also finds the fifth goal, built entirely on substitutions: Leao serves the assist and Otavio headers, despite a modest stature, in the middle of the rival defence. The Milan player then went it alone in the 88th minute, for the final 6-0.
Roberto Martinez’s Portugal thus leads group J alone with 6 points (and zero goals conceded), because Bosnia falls to Slovakia. The formation of Francesco Calzona, the Italian coach who was criticized after the draw against Luxembourg, won 2-0 and avoided the negative judgments. Mak opens the scoring in the 11th minute, former Serie A player Haraslin closes in the 40th minute: both strike from outside the area and leave no way out for an inattentive Sehic. Bosnia, despite the entry of Dzeko, does not have the desired reaction and goes ko, being hooked by Slovakia and Iceland at three odds.
The Scandinavians, overwhelmed by the Bosnians on their debut, redeemed themselves by defeating Liechtenstein 7-0 in a one-way match. The home side limited themselves to defending, kicking on target for the first time in the 60th minute, and were immediately punished: full-back Ólafsson broke the deadlock in the 3rd minute, thanks to a deflection. He pushed Iceland to score as many goals as possible and doubled their lead in the 37th minute, with great movement and a turn from Haraldsson, who had his brace canceled two minutes later. In the final half Buchel saves him twice, only to capitulate in the second half. The star performer is captain Aron Gunnarsson, who scores a hat-trick: two header goals in the 48th and 68th minutes, plus the 5-0 penalty in the 71st minute. In the final Iceland spreads, finding two more goals with the son of art Andri Gudjohnsen (84 ‘) and the mezzala Ellertsson (86’), militant in Venice. Overwhelmed Liechtenstein, who lost 7-0 at home and gave the first three points to Iceland.
