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Euro qualifiers

England, France win again

June 21, 2023 00:00:00


England's Harry Kane rejoicing after scoring the opening goal during the Euro 2024 group C qualifying soccer match against North Macedonia at Old Trafford in Manchester on Monday — AP

PARIS, June 20 (Agencies): Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappé carried on scoring as England and France made it four straight wins in European Championship qualifying while Switzerland dropped its first points on Monday.

Kane netted twice in England's 7-0 home rout of North Macedonia while Mbappé slotted in a penalty at the second attempt as Les Bleus edged visiting Greece 1-0.

The Swiss were coasting and then conceded two late goals against Romania in a 2-2 home draw.

Mbappé's twice-taken penalty in the second half moved him onto 40 goals for Les Bleus and only one behind fellow great Michel Platini - at the age of 24 - while Kane opened and closed the scoring with his record-extending 57th and 58th goals for England.

England's forward line of Kane, Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford all scored at Old Trafford, where Rashford plays for Manchester United.

Saka, who plays for Premier League runner-up Arsenal, grabbed a hat trick.

Substitute Valentin Mihaila pounced in the 89th and in stoppage time for second-placed Romania in Lucerne.

Mbappé's 54th goal overall for France and Paris Saint-Germain this season beat the national record for club and country set by the late Just Fontaine in the 1957-58 season - the year Fontaine also set an individual scoring record with 13 at the '58 World Cup.

World Cup runner-up France has yet to concede a goal, while third-placed Ireland beat Gibraltar 3-0 in the other game to finally open its account.

Kane and defender Stefan Ristovski needed treatment after a clash of heads early on.

By the 29th minute, Kane was back on his feet and turning in Luke Shaw's cross from close range.

After Rashford's goal and Saka's triple, substitute midfielder Kalvin Phillips scored before Kane's penalty.

Second-placed Ukraine labored to a 1-0 home win against Malta thanks to Viktor Tsygankov's 72nd-minute penalty.

Ukraine is six points back from England.

Wales' hopes of reaching Euro 2024 took another huge blow as Turkey left it late before sealing a 2-0 win against the 10-man visitors in Samsun.

The Wales defence came under heavy criticism after its performance against Armenia on Friday, and it looked like they had been caught out once more when Chris Mepham turned the ball into his own net after nine minutes - only for VAR to rule the goal out for offside.


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