Last Tuesday, Spain and Belgium defeated Cyprus (6-0) and Estonia (5-0) respectively, while Italy, the reigning champions, defeated Ukraine (2-1) in Euro2024 football qualifiers.
Current European champions Italy secured an important victory at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in Milan, as they ‘took’ Ukraine into second place in Group C, which also includes North Macedonia, all with seven points, six behind leaders England.
The triumph for the Azzurri team came about thanks to a double by Davide Fratesi (12th and 29th minute), which was responded to in the first half through the feet of Yarmolenko (41st). Benfica goalkeeper Trubin did not leave the Ukrainian bench.
In the other match, North Macedonia confirmed their favoritism against Malta (2-0), also with a result that was achieved in the first half.
In Brussels, Belgium, leader of ‘group’ F, organized one of the defeats of the evening, against Estonia (5-0), which already lost by two goals at half time, scored by former Benfica player Vertonghen (04) and Trossard (18), before Lukaku (56 and 58) scored twice and De Ketelaere (88) left the bench after halftime to end the count.
Thanks to goals from Gregoritsch (53) and Arnautovic (56 and 69), the latter from a penalty, Austria, which shares first place with the Belgians, both by 13 points, won 3-1 against Sweden, in a match in which Sporting player Gyokeres started for the hosts, who scored through substitute Holm (90).
For the attention of sports enthusiasts:
Viktor Gyokeres was the + shooter and above all the + fighter (24 matches played, 11 won, 0 fouls committed) but “race” is not enough… art and goals were missing, for the Swede and his teammates who fell at home #SWEAUT #EURO2024… pic.twitter.com/MRxH83U13D
– Goal (@_Goalpoint) September 12, 2023
In Group A, where Scotland are comfortably in the lead, as a result of five wins in as many challenges, chasing Spain defeated the lowly Cypriot team in Granada with goals from Gavi (18), Merino (33), Joselu (70), Ferran Torres (73 and 83) and Baena (77), while accurate shots from Haaland (25) and Odegaard (35) gave Norway the victory over Georgia (2-1) in third place.
In the Scandinavian team, which still ended Zivzivadze’s goal (90+1), Benfica’s Aursnes was in the starting line-up.
Furthermore, leader Switzerland defeated Andorra (3-0), thanks to goals from Cedric Itten (49), Xhaka (84) and Shaqiri (90+3), for Group I, in which the challenge of Romania-Kosovo (2-0) was the 18th minute featured a stoppage due to messages and chants from Romanian fans.
The hosts, in second place, ultimately played much of the match with numerical superiority, with the two goals of the match coming in the last part of the challenge, by Stanciu (83), who redeemed himself from the wasted penalty. and by Mihaila (90+3).
From the same ‘pool’ the outcome between Israel and Belarus seemed ‘zero’ (0-0), but in extra time Gabi Kanichowsky (90+3) gave the victory to the Israelis, who remain three Swiss points .
Source: DN
