2023-11-18 01:00:44
By Le Figaro with AFP
Published yesterday at 10:43 p.m., Updated now
The joy of the Italians, winners of North Macedonia on Friday evening (4-2). FILIPPO MONTEFORTE / AFP
Victorious over North Macedonia (5-2), Italy is still alive in qualifying for Euro 2024. Snagged by the Czech Republic (1-1), Poland will have to go through the play-offs in March.
Italy dominated North Macedonia 5-2 on Friday in Rome, but must still pocket at least one point on Monday against Ukraine to validate their ticket for Euro-2024.
The reigning European champions won thanks in particular to a double from Federico Chiesa (41 and 45 + 2nd), not without experiencing a scare when Jani Atanasov (52 and 74th) reduced the score to 3-2. Italy now has 13 points, like Ukraine, but has moved back to 2nd place in Group C, qualifying for the German Euro, thanks to its better goal difference (+7 against +3).
England beat Malta without shining
England, already qualified, dominated without shining the modest selection of Malta 2-0, during the seventh day of the Euro-2024 qualifiers, Friday at Wembley. Still undefeated after seven matches and assured of finishing in first place in Group C, the English showed little inspiration in overcoming the Maltese who have only known defeat during this campaign.
Harry Kane still went there with his achievement a quarter of an hour from time, the 62nd in the jersey of the “Three Lions”, after the opening score of the unfortunate Malte defender Pepe, author of a goal against his side (9th).
It was necessary for the English to open the score, they who went through the first act without ever finding the target, a first since 2017. England, finalist of the last Euro, will close this qualifying phase on Monday in Skopje on the lawn of North Macedonia.
Denmark qualified
Hanging on Friday at home by the Czech Republic (1-1), Robert Lewandowski’s Poland, which has not missed a major competition since 2014, is now on borrowed time, its last hope of competing in the Euro passing through possible dams.
The Czechs, for their part, wasted a qualifying round by not winning, but they remain in a favorable position: they will just have to not lose against Moldova on Monday in Olomouc.
Denmark qualified thanks to their 2-1 victory against Slovenia on Friday in Copenhagen, and are even guaranteed to finish at the top of Group H.
The Danes won thanks to goals from Mæhle and Delaney and will return to a competition where they reached the semi-finals during the last edition, in 2021.
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