England, France ease to Euro qualifying wins as Wales stunned

PARIS: England and France cruised to victories over international minnows in Euro 2024 qualifying on Friday, but Wales saw their hopes of reaching next year’s finals in Germany suffer a setback in a 4-2 home defeat by Armenia.

Gareth Southgate’s England scored twice from the penalty spot as they eased to a 4-0 win away to a Malta side ranked 172nd in the world and kept up their perfect record in Group ‘C’.

Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold shined on his first international start for a year. The Liverpool right-back, deployed in a midfield role, scored one and was involved in two other goals before halftime as England cruised in the Ta’ Qali National Stadium.

His raking pass released Bukayo Saka in the eighth minute with his low cross being bundled into his own goal by Malta’s Ferdinando Apap under pressure from Harry Kane.

Alexander-Arnold powered home a right-foot shot for England’s second in the 28th minute and was also involved in the move two minutes later that ended with Kane being tripped for a penalty he dispatched for his 56th England goal.

Malta dug in after halftime and were extremely unlucky to concede a fourth with a ludicrously awarded penalty converted by substitute Callum Wilson after 83 minutes.

England are six points clear of Ukraine, Italy and North Macedonia, albeit having played one match more.

While Italy are currently involved in the Nations League finals, Ukraine got their first points with a stunning comeback to win 3-2 in North Macedonia.

An Enis Bardhi penalty and a brilliant curling strike from Napoli’s Eljif Elmas had North Macedonia — who qualified for Euro 2020 — two goals up.

Bournemouth defender Illia Zabarnyi pulled one back for Ukraine just after the hour mark and they then equalised through Yukhym Konoplia.

North Macedonia, who visit England on Monday, were reduced to 10 men before Viktor Tsygankov headed in a cross from Chelsea’s Mykhailo Mudryk with seven minutes left to complete the comeback.

Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappe put speculation over his future at Paris St-Germain to one side as he captained France and scored in their 3-0 win over Group ‘B’ outsiders Gibraltar in Faro, Portugal.

France took the lead inside three minutes as the country’s leading scorer Oliver Giroud headed home Kingsley Coman’s cross for his 54th international goal.

The AC Milan striker also became France’s third-most capped player equalling Thierry Henry with 123 appearances.

Captain Kylian Mbappe doubled the lead from the penalty spot just before halftime and his pass into the six-yard box in the 78th minute led to an own goal from Aymen Mouelhi to make it 3-0.

The World Cup runners-up are top of Group ‘B’ with a maximum nine points from three games, leaving them three points clear of Greece, who beat the Republic of Ireland 2-1 in Athens.

Captain Tasos Bakasetas gave the hosts the lead from a penalty before Nathan Collins equalised, but Giorgos Masouras got the winner for Greece, who visit France on Monday.

Ireland ended the game with 10 men after Matt Doherty’s late sending-off.

Wales have qualified for the last two European Championships and reached the knockout stages both times, but their chances of making Euro 2024 are in the balance after going down to Armenia in Cardiff.

Daniel James put Wales ahead but Arge­ntina-born Lucas Zelarayan and German-born youngster Grant-Leon Ranos both scored twice for Armenia.

Harry Wilson pulled another one back for Wales, but they had Kieffer Moore sent off towards the end and are currently third in Group ‘D’, two points behind leaders Turkey, who won 3-2 in Latvia.

Elsewhere, Turkiye twice threw away a lead, with Kristers Tobers scoring Latvia’s second goal in the 94th minute. However, Irfan Can Kahveci headed in the winner a minute later.

Denmark edged out Northern Ireland 1-0 in Copenhagen to sit at the top of four teams all on six points in Group ‘H’.

Jonas Wind of Wolfsburg scored the winner, although Callum Marshall was denied an injury-time equaliser for Northern Ireland after a lengthy VAR check discovered an offside.

Kazakhstan and Finland also moved onto six points after beating San Marino (3-0) and Slovenia (2-0) respectively.

Switzerland won 2-1 in Andorra to make it three victories out of three in Group ‘I’.

They are two points above Romania, who drew 0-0 in Kosovo, while Israel scored two late goals to beat Belarus 2-1 in Budapest.