Euro 2024 Qualifiers: Magnificent England hit seven as Mbappé earns France win
Bukayo Saka struck a hat-trick as England impressed in Manchester, while Kylian Mbappé’s 54th goal of 2022/23 was enough for France.
Both teams made it four wins from four in the EURO 2024 qualifying games in contrasting styles, but Switzerland lost their 100% record after a sensational comeback by Romania.
Here is a round up of the Matchday 4 fixtures on the road to the finals in Germany.
Bukayo Saka struck a brilliant hat-trick as Gareth Southgate’s men extended their winning Group C run with an impressive showing at Old Trafford. Harry Kane broke the visitors’ resistance on the half-hour mark, before Saka’s powerful finish from a tight angle and Marcus Rashford’s effort extended the hosts’ advantage.
Arsenal winger Saka added another shortly after half-time with a stunning half-volley before slotting in from Kane’s through ball four minutes later. There was still time remaining for sub Kalvin Phillips to tap in his first international goal from close range and Kane to convert an emphatic penalty to add to the Three Lions’ tally and condemn North Macedonia to their heaviest ever defeat.
Two late goals from Valentin Mihăilă earned Romania an unlikely point from a game in Lucerne. Zeki Amdouni’s double before the break – taking the Basel forward to five goals in as many international outings – put Switzerland firmly in control and they could have had a third after the restart but Xherdan Shaqiri put a close-range chance wide.
After a penalty awarded to Renato Steffen was overturned by VAR, the visitors hit back. Mihăilă volleyed in a minute from the end before providing another low finish deep into added time to secure a share of the spoils. Switzerland stay top of Group I, two points clear of Monday’s opponents.
Kylian Mbappé’s retaken penalty maintained Les Bleus’ perfect record in Group B. Didier Deschamps’ side often struggled to find a route through their compact opponents, and finally got their chance eight minutes after the interval when Konstantinos Mavropanos conceded a penalty for a challenge on Antoine Griezmann.
Odysseas Vlachodimos saved Mbappé’s first effort but there was encroachment, and the France captain’s retaken effort produced his 40th international goal. Mavropanos’ foul on a goalbound Randal Kolo Muani 20 minutes from time saw the centre-back sent off for second-placed Greece, who now lie six points behind France although they do have a game in hand.
Vålerenga winger Daniel Håkans, 22, scored a ten-minute hat-trick as Finland beat San Marino 6-0, their biggest win since 2010.
Rasmus Højlund maintained his lead in the top scorer rankings with Denmark’s equaliser in Slovenia, his sixth goal of the campaign.
Türkiye struck twice in the last 18 minutes to see off a Wales side that played over half the game with ten men.
