Italy beat Malta – Ronaldo braces for Portugal | free press

by time news

Defending champions Italy have avoided a complete false start to qualifying for the 2024 European Football Championship in Germany.

Three days after losing 2-1 at home to England in the re-run of the 2021 final, coach Roberto Mancini’s side celebrated a lackluster 2-0 (2-0) win at underdogs Malta in Attard. With three points, Italy are second in Group C behind England, who previously beat Ukraine 2-0 (2-0) in London.

Ronaldo brace

Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo’s brace propelled Portugal to the top of Group J. In his 198th appearance for the 2016 European champions, the 38-year-old international world record holder scored the goals to make it 1-0 (9th minute) and 4-0 (31st) in a 6-0 (4-0) win in Luxembourg . The other goals were scored by Joao Felix (15′), Bernado Silva (18′), Otavio (77′) and Rafael Leao (88′). After beating Liechtenstein 4-0 at the start, Portugal are top of Group J.

Denmark had previously experienced an unpleasant surprise. The ex-European champion lost a 2-0 lead against Kazakhstan within 16 minutes and lost 2-3 (2-0) in Nur-Sultan. Rasmus Höjlund (21st and 36th minute) put the favorites ahead with a brace. Bakhtijar Saynutdinov (73′) from the penalty spot, Aschat Taguibergen (86′) and Abat Aimbetov (89′) turned the game around in a turbulent final phase in favor of the hosts, where the winning goalscorer had to leave the field with yellow-red in injury time. (dpa)

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