Poland, coached by Fernando Santos, added this Monday’s first victory in football’s Euro2024 qualifying stage in reception to Albania, while France had to suffer to beat the Republic of Ireland, in Dublin.
The Poles, who are part of Group E, played under pressure at home following the first round defeat in the Czech Republic (3-1), in a game in which the score of the former Portuguese coach’s captains clearly beat the performance.
It was worth the goal of striker Karol Swiderski, who plays in the North American Football League (MLS), scoring in the 41st minute, a goal that Fernando Santos’ team had to defend against Albania’s reaction in the second half in an attempt to achieve. the tie.
France also did not foresee so many difficulties beating the Republic of Ireland, in Dublin, in a Group B game, even though they are aware that the Irish team, especially playing at home, is always a ‘tough nut to crack’ is because of the fighting spirit that characterizes it.
However, the French secured the essential, the three points, thanks to a shot by Benjamin Pavard, at the beginning of the second half, in the 50th minute, which made the ball hit the crossbar, pass the Irish goalkeeper and enter the goal.
Even more surprising was the selection of the Netherlands that went 1-0 in the 23rd minute thanks to a goal from Memphis Depay, the fragile selection of Gibraltar, who would get two more goals in the second half. by Manchester City central Nathan Ake, who scored twice on 50 and 82.
However, Gibraltar has been playing numerically inferior since the 51st minute, sending off midfielder Liam Walker, symptomatic of the less good moment the ‘clockwork orange’ is going through under Ronald Koeman and was thrashed in Paris on Friday (4-0). ) by France.
The world number two leads Group B with six points, followed by Greece, with three (minus one game), the Netherlands, also with three, the Republic of Ireland (minus one game) and Gibraltar, who have yet to score.
Returning to Group E, the highlight is the clean sheet imposed by Moldova against the Czech Republic, who had started this competition with a victory over Poland and this time were unable to overcome the defensive organization of the home side.
However, it leads the group with four points, followed by Poland with three, Moldova with two, the Faroe Islands with one and Albania with no points, although these last two teams have only played one game so far.
In Group F, Sweden defeated Azerbaijan 5-0, three days after a heavy defeat (3-0) at home to Belgium, while Austria ‘saw and wanted to overcome’ an obstacle called Estonia, who reached half-time with a 1-0 lead .
However, the greater strength of the Austrians saw the resistance of the Baltics knocked down, but only very close to the end of the game, by the attacker of the Germans from Freiburg, Michael Gregoritsch, in the 88th minute, who took the second scored his team’s goal completing the turnaround.
With this goal, Austria led Group F with six points, followed by favorites Belgium, who did not play, with three, Sweden, also with three, Estonia (minus one game) and Azerbaijan, both still without scoring.
Finally, in Group G, Serbia defeated Montenegro, thanks to a ‘double’ from Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic, in the 78th and 90+6 minutes, reflecting the difficulties the Serbs faced in adding three more points, which securing the lead by six points.
Hungary made their debut with a decisive win at home to Bulgaria 3-0, allowing them to move up to second place from now on, on the same points as Montenegro, with only one game played, while Lithuania and Bulgaria occupy the last two places in the group, without points.
Source: DN
