Harry Kane and Francesco Acerbi in a fight Source: SITA/AP/Kirsty Wigglesworth
BRATISLAVA – England’s footballers fought their way to the European Championship 2024 when they beat Italy 3:1 at Wembley in Tuesday’s C-group match. Captain Harry Kane scored two accurate shots, Marcus Rashford netted the decisive goal in the 57th minute. The English avenged the loss of the EURO 2020 final against the Italians.
The home team started actively, but they did not get anything out of the initial pressure and in the 15th minute they conceded from the first offensive action of the opponent. After Giovanni di Lorenzo’s cross, Gianluca Scamacca got to the ball and sent the Italians into the lead with a shot from five under the crossbar.
Photo gallery (18) Source: SITA/AP/Kirsty Wigglesworth
However, before half an hour had passed, Di Lorenzo fouled Jude Bellingham in the penalty area and the English had the advantage of a penalty kick, which was still approved by VAR. Kane converted it superbly and scored the jubilee 60th goal in Albion’s jersey.
Photo gallery (18) Source: SITA/AP/Kirsty Wigglesworth
In the 57th minute, Bellingham skillfully got rid of an opponent in the middle of the field and penetrated the open Italian defense. He then passed to the left to Rashford, who beat Gianluigi Donnaruma with a sharp shot to the post. In the 77th minute, after a quick counterattack, Kane sealed the victory for the home team.
In the next match of the group, Ukraine won 3:1 in Malta and got to the second place in the table, three points ahead of Italy, but they played one more game.
The Hungarians did not receive certainty
The Hungarians did not take advantage of the chance to secure a spot for the championship in advance, when they drew 2:2 in Lithuania in Group G. After halftime they were losing 0:2.
Photo gallery (18) Source: SITA/AP/Mindaugas Kulbis
The Serbs defeated Montenegro 3:1 in the Balkan derby and are second in the table by a point behind Hungary. Aleksander Mitrovič scored the first two goals, Dušan Tadič added the third.
The Slovenians maintained their position as the leader of Group H, winning over Northern Ireland 1:0 in Belfast. The other Danes also have nineteen points, who succeeded only 2:1 on the ground of the hopelessly last San Marino.
The players of Kazakhstan triumphed in Finland 2:1 and moved to third place with a four-point loss to the leading duo. The Finns led from the 28th minute after a goal by Robert Taylor, but in the final quarter, Bachtjar Zajnutdinov beat Slovakian native Lukáš Hrádecký twice.
Before all Tuesday’s matches, a minute’s silence was held to honor the victims of Monday’s terrorist attack in Brussels, in which two Swedish fans died.
C-group:
England – Italy 3:1 (1:1)
Goals: 32. and 77. Kane (first from 11 m), 57. Rashford – 15. Scamacca
Malta – Ukraine 1:3 (1:2)
Goals: 12. Mbong – 38. Camenzuli (own), 43. Dovbyk, 85. Mudryk
table:
1. England 6 5 1 0 19:3 16*
2. Ukraine 7 4 1 2 11:8 13
3. Italy 6 3 1 2 11:7 10
4. Sev. Macedonia 6 2 1 3 7:14 7
5. Malta 7 0 0 7 2:18 0
*certain progression to ME
G-group:
Serbia – Montenegro 3:1 (1:1)
Goals: 9th and 73rd Mitrovič, 77th Tadič – 36th Jovetič
Lithuania – Hungary 2:2 (2:0)
Goals: 20. Černych, 36. Sirvys – 67. Szoboszlai (from 11 m), 82. Varga
table:
1. Hungary 6 4 2 0 11:4 14
2. Serbia 6 4 1 2 13:7 13
3. Montenegro 6 2 2 2 6:9 8
4. Lithuania 7 1 3 3 8:12 6
5. Bulgaria 6 0 2 4 3:10 2
H-group:
Finland – Kazakhstan 1:2 (1:0)
Goals: 28. Taylor – 76. and 90. Zajnutdinov (first from 11 m)
Northern Ireland – Slovenia 0:1 (0:1)
Goal: 5. Čerin
San Marino – Denmark 1:2 (0:1)
Goals: 61. Golinucci – 43. Hojlund, 70. Poulsen
table:
1. Slovenia 8 6 1 1 17:6 19
2. Denmark 8 6 1 1 17:7 19
3. Kazakhstan 8 5 0 3 12:9 15
4. Finland 8 4 0 4 12:9 12
5. Sev. Ireland 8 2 0 6 7:9 6
6. San Marino 8 0 0 8 1:26 0
Author: © List Source: TASR
2023-10-17 20:46:41
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