Euro 2024: England beat Italy to qualify for Euro 2024
- Published
- comments
England have qualified for Euro 2024 after beating defending European champions Italy 3-1 on Tuesday.
They haven't lost a match yet so far during qualifiers, with five wins and one draw.
The team are currently at the top of Group C with two games still left to play.
Tuesday did not bring about the result fellow home nation Northern Ireland had hoped for. They lost 1-0 to Slovenia, meaning they've now lost six out of eight qualifying games.
England
Despite falling behind by a goal early on in their game against Italy, England captain Harry Kane scored an equaliser from the penalty spot before half-time.
A goal from Marcus Rashford in the second half and another goal from Kane helped England seal the win.
England have only lost once in a qualifier game in 24 years - when they were beaten 2-1 by Czech Republic in 2019.
With the Three Lions in a strong position, manager Gareth Southgate believes his side still has a lot more to offer.
"We need to make sure we are one of the top seeds next month," he said. "We need to win our next two games. We want to be in control of that.
"We need to keep building. There is more to come from this team. This was the toughest qualifying group, with the seedings.
"People have criticised us for not beating the top teams enough. But we have performed really well."
England play Malta and North Macedonia next month.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland went into Tuesday's match knowing that any hopes of qualifying for next summer's finals in Germany were long gone, but boosted by their victory over San Marino on Saturday and were determined to finish the group strongly.
However, the result wasn't what Northern Ireland had hoped for.
Slovenia's Adam Cerin's early free-kick won the game for the Group H leaders.
Northern Ireland midfielder Shea Charles was sent off just before the hour and substitute George Saville had two good chances saved in the final 20 minutes as struggling NI fell to their sixth defeat in eight qualifying games.
It means the team go into their final two matches in the group with their only points having come against the world's lowest-ranked side.
Scotland
Scotland qualified for Euro 2024 with two games to spare after Spain beat Norway 1-0.
The result means Scotland are second in the group, trailing Spain on goal difference, but Norway who sit third in the group are five points adrift with just one game remaining, so cannot catch either side.
It means Scotland are guaranteed a top-two finish in Group A.
Erling Haaland's Norway can now only potentially qualify through play-offs.
Scotland have two matches left, away to Georgia and at home to Norway next month.
Wales
Wales gave their Euro 2024 qualification hopes a huge boost by beating Croatia at the Cardiff City Stadium on Sunday night.
Harry Wilson marked his 50th Wales appearance as he scored both goals in their 2-1 win over the World Cup semi-finalists.
Wales are now second in Group D and must beat Armenia and Turkey in their final two qualifiers in November to secure their place at next summer's tournament.