Right at the start of the European Championship qualifiers, England’s national football team set a major step towards winning the group. In the new edition of the European Championship final, the “Three Lions” defeated European champions Italy in the end with stomach ache 2:1 (2:0). In Group J, Portugal around world record holder Cristiano Ronaldo and Bosnia and Herzegovina started the qualification, which runs until November 21, with thumping victories against Liechtenstein (4-0) and Iceland (3-0).
Denmark started Pool H with a 3-1 win over Finland. Former Sturm Graz striker Rasmus Höjlund was the outstanding man with his first three goals for the senior team (21st, 82nd, 93rd). Slovenia wrote fully in Kazakhstan (2:1). North Macedonia also won in Italy Group C (2-1 against Malta).
In addition to the already qualified host Germany, 20 other teams get the ticket via the regular qualification. The first two of the seven groups are qualified. The last three EM participants will be determined in March 2024 via the play-offs.
Italy started ambitiously in front of a full house in Naples, but the thread broke completely after the first setback. Declan Rice was successful with the margin after a corner kick (13th). Harry Kane’s shot had been blocked before that. Kane made it 2-0 before the break (44th). The star striker converted a penalty after VAR intervention to his 54th international goal, making him the sole number one ahead of Wayne Rooney.
With nine European Championship finalists in the starting XI, the English initially presented themselves as a more solid team against an Italy in upheaval. But because Jack Grealish missed the “seater” to make it 3-0 (45+1), it got exciting again. Debutant Mateo Retegui scored the connecting goal after an ideal pass from Lorenzo Pellegrini (56th). The 23-year-old “Argentinian”, who had not previously played a competitive game on Italian soil, had been called up by Italy’s team boss Roberto Mancini in a completely surprising way. A maternal grandfather from Sicily made the use of the Argentine top scorer possible in the first place.
The 2-1 draw brought back the crowd at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona – and suddenly England faltered. The finish belongs to the Azzurri and turned into a British defensive battle at the latest after Luke Shaw was booked and red (78′, 80′). But it was not enough for the locals to win a point.
Portugal didn’t fall over on the debut of team boss Roberto Martinez, the 4-0 win against Liechtenstein was entirely according to Cristiano Ronaldo’s script. The national icon only set a world record with his 197th international appearance and expanded that for the most international goals to 120 with a brace (51st/penalty, 63rd). Joao Cancelo (8th) and Bernardo Silva (47th) gave the outsider, who was temporarily looked after by Styrian Rene Pauritsch, the first two goals.
Portugal’s toughest group opponents are likely to be Bosnia and Herzegovina, who beat Iceland 3-0 thanks to Salzburg’s Amar Dedic’s first international goal (63′). Dedic worked the right flank, Sturm Graz legionnaire Jusuf Gazibegovic the left flank. Rade Krunic tied a brace (14th, 40th).