EURO2024Q: Three Lions did enough to go by, Azzurri let out their frustrations late

England secured a 14th consecutive European Championship qualifying victory at Wembley as they laboured to a 2-0 victory over Malta - maintaining their unbeaten status in this qualifiers cycle in the process.

A capacity crowd at the national stadium expected to see a dominant performance from the Three Lions, even if qualification for Germany 2024 has already been secured. Far from it, however, and Gareth Southgate’s men were nearly behind inside the opening 30 seconds when Teddy Teuma’s effort drifted mere inches wide of the target.

England struggled for attacking fluency throughout the half, but that didn’t stop them taking the lead inside the opening 10 minutes in fortuitous circumstances. Phil Foden’s attempted cutback towards Harry Kane was deflected off the unfortunate Enrico Pepe and beyond his goalkeeper at the near post - remarkably the third own goal Malta have conceded in this qualifiers cycle.

The second half followed a similar pattern to the first, with England struggling to create anything of note. Kyle Walker and Bukayo Saka were introduced at the interval, and the pair of substitutes were eventually involved as the hosts doubled their advantage. Walker started an intricate move off with a fizzed pass into Foden, who returned the favour to Saka before teeing up Kane for a tap-in. The captain has now scored in eight consecutive games for club and country for the first time in his career, and was a fitting goalscorer on the night Wembley honoured the late Sir Bobby Charlton.

The threat on Jordan Pickford’s goal at the other end disappeared in the second period, leaving England to see out a comfortable, yet underwhelming victory. While the hosts are sitting pretty at the top of the group, Malta are rock bottom having lost all eight of their qualifiers, scoring just twice and conceding 20 in a chastening campaign.

EURO2024Q: Second half focus gets the Navigators to nine in a row

Elsewhere, defending European champions Italy set up a grandstand final matchday in Euro 2024 qualifying, as they defeated old enemies North Macedonia 5-2 to move into second in Group C ahead of a crucial matchup with Ukraine on Monday.

Just four remained in the Italy side from the starting line-up that was famously knocked out of qualifying for the 2022 World Cup by North Macedonia last year, but nerves were still jangling all over the pitch as the Azzurri got off to a tentative start. Already eliminated this time around, the visitors sat back in an attempt to spoil the party once again, but that tactic ultimately resulted in Italy opening the scoring. Following a short corner, Giacomo Raspadori whipped in a wicked cross to the far post, where Matteo Darmian was waiting to head in his first international goal since 2015.

Given the magnitude of the tie, that goal sent a wave of relief across the Stadio Olimpico, and there were soon further celebrations when referee Felix Zwayer judged Nikola Serafimov’s handball enough for a penalty. Just as he had against Switzerland here in 2022 in the lead up to World Cup heartbreak, Jorginho missed from the spot, but Stole Dimitrievski’s heroics counted for little as he was beaten twice more before the break. First, Nicolò Barella’s inventive backheel presented Federico Chiesa with the opportunity to arrow in from 18 yards, before the Juventus winger netted his second with a heavily-deflected strike which looped into the far corner.

EURO2024Q: No issues for Spain in the far east of the Mediterranean Sea

With the scoreline looking settled, North Macedonia put caution aside and started the second half with ferocious pace, pulling one back after just seven minutes. Jani Atanasov had just come off the bench when he leapt to meet Ezgjan Alioski’s cross and head over Gianluigi Donnarumma for his first goal for the Lynxes, and the Cracovia midfielder was not done there. With 15 minutes to go, he shaved down Italy’s lead to one with a rasping shot from distance which beat Donnarumma by virtue of a deflection off Francesco Acerbi.

There was visible fear on Azzurri faces, but they stood strong against the relentless North Macedonia press and grabbed two late goals, first through Raspadori’s pinpoint finish, followed by Stephan El Shaarawy sweeping in Federico Dimarco’s cross in stoppage time. Moving up to 13 points in Group C, Italy may well come to treasure their head-to-head superiority against Ukraine which means that a draw on matchday eight is now enough to avoid a second consecutive absence from major international tournaments and send Luciano Spalletti’s men to Germany to defend their title.

EURO 2024 QUALIFIERS

Friday

Kazakhstan - San Marino 3-1 (1-0)

/Chesnokov 19, 51, Aymbetov 90+2 pen - Franciosi 60/

Moldova - Albania 1-1 (0-1)

/Baboglo 87 - Cikalleshi 25 pen/

Finland - N.Ireland 4-0 (1-0)

/Pohjanpalo 42 pen, Hakans 48, Pukki 74, Lod 88/

Poland - Czech R. 1-1 (1-0)

/Piotrowski 38 - Soucke 49/

Denmark - Slovenia 2-1 (1-1)

/Maehle 26, Delaney 54 - Janza 30/

Italy - Macedonia 5-2 (3-0)

/Darmian 17, Chiesa 41, 45+3, Raspadori 81, El Shaarawy 90+3 - Atanasov 52, 74/

England - Malta 2-0 (1-0)

/Pepe 8 og, Kane 75/