Lacklustre England seal top spot with win over Malta in Euro 2024 qualifiers

LONDON (Agencies): England moved closer to a top seeding at Euro 2024 with a laboured 2-0 home victory against Group C makeweights Malta on Friday that will not live long in the memory of an underwhelmed Wembley Stadium crowd. Until the 75th minute all that separated Gareth Southgate’s lacklustre side from 171st-ranked Malta was an early own goal by Enrico Pepe and they endured some anxious moments in between. Captain Harry Kane doubled England’s lead with his 62nd goal for his country after good work by Bukayo Saka before Declan Rice had an effort ruled out for offside. But there was precious little to get enthused about as several England fringe players failed to shine in Southgate’s 90th match in charge.

England had already qualified for the Germany showpiece and victory over Malta ensured they top Group C, regardless of what happens in their match away to North Macedonia on Monday. They have 19 points from seven games, with Italy and Ukraine on 13. A point in North Macedonia should ensure England are amongst the top six seeds for Euro 2024. Southgate, whose first game in charge in 2016 was against Malta, will say the hard work had already been done with impressive home and away wins over European champions Italy. He will also point to midfielder Jude Bellingham not being available because of injury. But there is no getting away from the fact his players should have found it much easier to overcome a gutsy Malta side who had no points and only two goals in the group.

Delaney books Denmark’s Euro 2024 berth in 2-1 win over Slovenia: In Copenhagen: Denmark midfielder Thomas Delaney’s second-half goal ensured his side’s qualification for Euro 2024 as they secured a 2-1 home win over Slovenia on Friday that ensures top spot in Group H. The Danes have 22 points from nine games, three ahead of Slovenia who cannot overtake them even if they beat third-placed Kazakhstan, who have 18 points, in their final game on Monday due to their inferior head-to-head record. Denmark dominated throughout and almost opened the scoring in the 12th minute when Jonas Wind got a towering header on target but Slovenia goalkeeper Jan Oblak made the first of a string of fine saves to deny him. Wing back Joakim Maehle, who had an early effort ruled out for offside, broke the deadlock in the 26th minute as he ghosted in at the far post to score with a superb half-volley from Victor Kristiansen’s cross. That jolted the visitors into life and they quickly levelled as fullback Erik Janza beat keeper Kasper Schmeichel with a tremendous free kick from the edge of the box on the half hour. With the Slovenians struggling to deal with Denmark’s height and power at set pieces, Jannick Vestergaard’s clever headed flick found Delaney on the edge of the six-yard box and he rifled the ball home to send the Copenhagen crowd into ecstasy. Slovenia’s goal proved to be their only effort on target in the game and the Danes, European champions in 1992, continued to dominate possession as they held on comfortably to win the game and book their spot at a 10th Euro finals.

Poland and Czech Republic share spoils in Euro qualifier: In Warsaw, Czech Republic midfielder Tomas Soucek cancelled out a first-half opener by Poland’s Jakub Piotrowski to earn an 1-1 away draw in their Euro 2024 Group E qualifier on Friday, with both the Czechs and Moldova still able to seal qualification. Poland took the lead in the 38th minute through Piotrowski, who netted from close range for his debut goal in his second appearance for the national team. Midfielder Soucek equalized for Czech Republic after the break with a low shot towards the far post, prompting Poland to search for a winner but despite some good chances, the hosts were unable to regain the lead. The Czechs are second on 12 points, two points behind leaders Albania ––– who qualified with a 1-1 draw away to Moldova earlier on Friday ––– and one point ahead of third-placed Poland. They can seal their eighth successive appearance at the Euro finals on Monday when they host Moldova, in fourth on 10 points, needing at least a draw. Poland, who played their final qualifying match in their bid to make a fifth consecutive Euro finals, still have a chance to see their fate decided in the playoffs.