The Euro 2024 qualifiers continued tonight (Friday), with Belgium recovering from the World Cup with an impressive 0:3 victory over Sweden thanks to Lukaku’s hat trick. Poland was surprised in the Czech Republic with a 3:1 loss and Serbia had no difficulty with an easy 0:2 victory against Lithuania.
Sweden – Belgium 3:0
After the disappointment in the last World Cup, the Red Devils started the campaign on the right foot with the debut of the Italian coach, Domenico Tedesco, on the lines. Control belonged to the Belgians as it eventually translated into a goal in the first half from Romelu Lukaku’s header. Even in the second half, Tedesco’s apprentices continued to dominate and at the start of the second half, Lukaku found the net again from close range and doubled the advantage. Inter’s striker did not stop, completed a great hat-trick and sealed the result of the game. The Yellows, along with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, did not look good and will hope to improve in the future in order to advance to a major tournament after not taking part in the last World Cup.
36th minute, a goal! Belgium went up to 0:1: A lift into the box found the head of Lukaku who from close range hit hard into the left corner to give the Belgians the lead.
49th minute, a goal! Belgium went up to 0:2: Dodi Lukaku broke great into the box from the right wing and found Lukaku who was pushed by the goal line and completed a brace.
81st minute, a goal! Belgium went up to 0:3: It’s Lukaku’s day. A great ball from Bakayoko found the Inter striker who was facing an empty net and completed a great hat-trick.
Czech Republic – Poland 1:3
This is not how Fernando Santos hoped to open his debut on the lines in the Polish national team. The Czechs opened the game with a storm with two goals after only three minutes and stunned the guest. After the elimination to the French team in the round of 16 of the World Cup, the Poles looked bad and were unable to threaten the Czechs who took advantage of the weak Polish defense when Kocheta scored the third. Towards the end Damian Szymanski managed to shrink, but it was already too late. For her part, the host started the campaign on the right foot with impressive ability and hopes to continue like this on the way to the Euros.
1 minute, a goal! Czech Republic went up to 0:1: After less than a minute, an outside ball into the box found the head of Krejci who tapped home from close range.
Minute 3, a goal! Czech Republic went up to 0:2: What an opening by the Czechs. Tomas Cvanchara received a cross into the box and doubled the advantage with a nice touch.
62nd minute, a goal! Czech Republic went up to 0:3: Kochetta received an excellent cross and from close range rolled the ball into the net after the Polish defense had been dreaming.
87th minute, a goal! Poland leads to 3:1: A corner kick created a mess in the Czechs box and in the end Szymanski pushed over from close range.
Serbia – Lithuania 0:2
After failing to pass the group stage of the World Cup in Qatar, the Serbs started on the right foot in front of the home crowd and took three points. Kiryat Shmona’s goalkeeper, Dziugas Bartkos, was unable to help his team stop Dusan Tadic who found the net first and then made the second one for Dusan Vlahovic. The host will hope to continue their good performance in order to qualify for the first European Championship since they became an independent team.
17th minute, a goal! Serbia went up to 0:1: Kostic delivered an excellent pass to the center of the box, where Tadic was waiting from five meters out with an accurate kick and gave the advantage to the Serbs.
52nd minute, a goal! Serbia went up to 0:2: Tadic found Vlahovic in the box, the striker with one touch kicked hard to the center and found the net.
Additional results:
Austria – Azerbaijan 1:4
Gibraltar – Greece 3:0
Moldova – Faroe Islands 1:1 (Yon Nicolasco from Beitar Jerusalem, started in the lineup, completed 90 minutes and scored the equalizing goal from the penalty spot.)