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Key events
GOAL! Norway 2-1 Georgia
Budu Zivzivadze has given Georgia a lifeline and Norway will have a few nervy moments to close out this match! Remember, if Norway and Georgia draw, Scotland qualify!
Half-time: Romania 0-0 Kosovo
Goalless but I should say that there has been a red card for the visitors. You wouldn’t blame the players if they were upset, after tonight’s events, but this is a fairly innocuous second yellow card for Vedat Muriqi, just before half time. The big talismanic striker flung out an arm under a high ball and caught his marker in the face. It was 100% accidental, but still boshed him pretty good. It is probably the right decision, but you can’t help feeling sorry for Kosovo here.
GOAL(S)! Spain 6-0 Cyprus
Not exactly surprising, but Spain are running away with it in Seville. Three goals in seven minutes. Real Madrid’s Carvajal and Joselu combined for the striker to score Spain’s third goal, a world-class cross and Joselu’s fourth goal in six internationals. What an impact the Germany-born forward is having at club and international level. Carvajal brilliantly (he’s some player) sets up Ferran Torres for Spain’s fourth, before Álex Baena added a scrappy fifth. Ferran Torres, off the bench, gets his second as Cyprus are hit for six. I had a dig at Ferran Torres but it was a tidy finish, and a nice assist from his old Manchester City mate, Rodri.
GOAL! Sweden 0-3 Austria
Well, that’s that. Ralf Rangnick, Austria’s head coach, is a happy man. Some pretty awful defending from Sweden culminated in Hien catching Mwene with a thigh-high (!) challenge. Arnautovic rolls his spot kick down the middle. Hien was also at fault for the first Arnautovic goal, slicing his clearance straight to the former West Ham man.
GOAL(S)! Sweden 0-2 Austria
Also in Group F: two huge goals for Austria, who have cemented their position at the top with Belgium, pulling away from nearest challengers Sweden thanks to goals from Gregoritsch and Arnautovic. A real tough one for Sweden, who started the night hoping to close the gap on Austria to just one point, but are now seven points adrift of qualification. Oh, Isak (and co)!
This is the live table of Group F.
GOAL(S)! Belgium 4-0 Estonia
Two goals in three minutes, both for Romelu Lukaku, both with his weaker right foot. Will be very interesting to see how he gets on at Roma, where he has only played 20 minutes of football so far.
Romania v Kosovo is back underway!
Here is a brief timeline of what happened. Not a peep out of Uefa, from what I can see.
Terrible miss from Italy’s Zaccagni, who swings wildly at the ball from around the penalty spot, but skews it horribly wide. He should have scored, and Italy should be 3-1 one, but it’s still very nervy at San Siro at 2-1. Ukraine very much in this.
I have nothing to report on Israel-Belarus other than the former have a very nice kit, almost South American in vibe. The Bloomfield Stadium, almost Blackpool-ian in vibe, is full.
GOAL! Switzerland 1-0 Andorra
I was just about to credit Andorra for being so resolute against a very good Switzerland side (that has Sommer, Zakaria and Schar on the bench), but the home side have broken the deadlock. Itten, all 6ft2in of him, rolls his defender and squeezes a finish under the keeper, Alvarez.
Peeeeep! We’re back underway in eight of nine games.
Sorry to say that the Romania-Kosovo game has not restarted. And doesn’t look like it is any time soon. Pressure on Uefa to act here. Here is the offending banner from the Romania fans.
Half-time scores
GOAL! Malta 0-2 North Macedonia
North Macedonia are keeping pace with Italy in Group C, also going 2-0 up through Manev. Its a really poor goal to concede, even by Malta’s standards, as the centre back just stands still, unmarked at a corner, and glances his header inside the far post.
GOAL! Italy 2-1 Ukraine
Yarmolenko strikes! Oooooooh, the Ukrainians are back into the game. It’s the veteran that’s got it, forcing a wonderful save from Donnarumma, but nabbing a lucky rebound and rolling the ball into an empty net! Game on!
GOAL! Italy 2-0 Ukraine
Frattesi is at it again! The ball bounces kindly in the Ukraine box after Zaniolo dribbles in from the right, but the Inter man took his shot early to deceive Bushchan, with the ball trickling into the far corner. It is originally ruled out for offside, but overturned via VAR. Italy have a cushion in what is a crucial game.
GOAL! Belgium 2-0 Estonia
Trossard rides a couple of challenges and throws an absolute dart into the top corner. One of the best finishers in the Premier League. Do not let that man shoot.
That Norway score is significant because the only way that Scotland would confirm their Euro 2024 qualification this evening is if Norway and Georgia draw. Which obviously doesn’t look like happening.
GOAL! Norway 2-0 Georgia
A similar story with Norway, with their two superstars, Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard getting the goals. Remarkably, it is also Norway’s left winger, Antonio Nusa, who has provided the ammunition. The 18-year-old, who plays for Club Brugge, looks some player: a brilliant cross for an imperious Haaland header at the back post, and then wonderful trickery before cutting back for Odegaard to sweep a finish inside the far post. Norway are cooking on their plentiful gas reserves.
GOAL! Spain 2-0 Cyprus
Spain are all over Cyprus and have scored two quick goals through Gavi and Mikel Merino, the latter (formerly of Newcastle) rising highest from a Nico Williams cross to double the advantage. This could be a cricket score. Two assists for Williams, too.
Romania v Kosovo has been suspended!
The Romania fans have reportedly been chanting anti-Kosovan songs. There is apparently a banner that says “Kosovo is Serbia”.
I really hope @FIFAcom and @UEFAcom are watching Romania vs Kosovo game, offensive banners toward Kosovo are shown in the stadium from Romanian fans, as a result they need to get sanctioned after the game!
— Genc Kadriu (@genckadriu) September 12, 2023
Fascinated to see Zaniolo tonight. He has only managed two substitute appearances for Aston Villa since joining the English side on loan from Galatararay. Previously the darling of Roma and Italian football, it is hoped the 24-year-old can get back to his best over the next few months. He starts here for Italy, operating on the right. A delightful bit of skill beats Mykolenko but Ukraine’s defence covers across. He’s such a talent. Two huge injuries in his young career.
GOAL! Italy 1-0 Ukraine (Frattesi 12)
GOAL! Malta 0-1 North Macedonia (Elmas 5)
Two huge goals in Group C! One more expected than the other, but this is proving to be a very interesting group.
Italy take the lead against Ukraine through a defensive error. Zaccagni pounced on a slip at the back, fed Frattesi and the midfielder – newly of Internazionale at San Siro! – drove a low, fierce strike inside the near post.
Meanwhle, North Macedonia’s playmaker Elmas has scored a more predictable goal, curling his shot into the top corner from the edge of the box.
It all means that while England lead Group C on 13 points, Italy, Ukraine and North Macedonia all have seven points!
GOAL! Belgium 1-0 Estonia (Jan Vertonghen 4)
The former Spurs man rises from a corner to nod the Red Devils in front. Estonia’s keeper, Karl Hein, made a good save for force a Lukaku shot wife but made a cash of the cross, and Vertonghen headed into an empty net. Perhaps a bit surprising that the 36 year old is still starting for Belgium, now playing for Anderlecht, but he’s always been very dependable.
Strong start for Italy, with Di Lorenzo lashing a shot just high and wide of the upright. It sat up beautifully. Was like a ball on a tee, and the Napoli man got his driver out, smashed it, but missed the fairway.
Am I excited about the Ryder Cup (in Italy)? Yes, a bit.
Peeeeeep!
We’re underway in the nine Euro 2024 qualifiers. You can follow Scotland v England with Rob Smyth right here.
A minute’s tribute to the victims of the disasters in Morocco and Libya. Awful stuff. Here are the details.
Looking at that Spain team, they are slowly becoming contenders again. They had a bad World Cup last year, only beating Costa Rica, scraping out of their group and falling to Mexico in the first knockout round. But look at that team. Still some obvious holes but Carvajal, Gavi, Rodri, Yamal are all elite. Pedri, too, although he’s not in the squad today. And who knows how good Balde and Yamal can become. There used to be a time where Ferran Torres was the brightest spark of Spanish football. Not any more. Two points clear of third-placed Norway with a game in hand, Spain should qualify but getting all three points tonight is obviously crucial. There should be no issues.
Norway v Georgia
Norway: Nyland, Ajer, Strandberg, Ostigard, Bjorkan, Odegaard, Berg, Aursnes, Larsen, Haaland, Nusa.
Subs: Daland, Markus Solbakken, Breivik, Finne, Dyngeland, Ryerson, Ola Solbakken, Selvik, Pedersen, Vetlesen, Berge, Meling.
Georgia: Mamardashvili, Azarovi, Kashia, Kvirkvelia, Gocholeishvili, Kochorashvili, Davitashvili, Kalandadze, Kiteishvili, Mikautadze, Kvaratskhelia.
Subs: Chakvetadze, Mekvabishvili, Lobzhanidze, Georgiy Tsitaishvili, Gugeshashvili, Sazonov, Mamuchashvili, Loria, Dvali, Aburjania, Zivzivadze.
Malta v North Macedonia
Malta: Bonello, Joseph Mbong, Steve Borg, Pepe, Zach Muscat, Camenzuli, Guillaumier, Kristensen, Teuma, Nwoko, Jones.
Subs: Degabriele, Paul Mbong, Galea, Overend, Yankam, Corbalan, Jean Borg, Matthew Grech, Paiber, Shaw, Attard, Montebello.
North Macedonia: Siskovski, Manev, Musliu, Zajkov, Alioski, Dimoski, Bardhi, Alimi, Atanasov, Elmas, Miovski.
Subs: Askovski, Zdravkovski, Serafimov, Iljazovski, Elezi, Nestorovski, Milan Ristovski, Doriev, Aleksovski, Trajkovski,
David Babunski, Taleski.
Romania v Kosovo
Romania: Moldovan, Ratiu, Dragusin, Burca, Bancu, Cicaldau, Screciu, Stanciu, Hagi, Coman, Puscas.
Subs: Aioani, Rus, Mihaila, Marius Marin, Camora, Alibec, Morutan, Olaru, Sorescu, Tarnovanu, Birligea, Razvan Marin.
Kosovo: Muric, Vojvoda, Amir Rrahmani, Aliti, Paqarada, Zhegrova, Valon Berisha, Loshaj, Bernard Berisha, Rashica,
Muriqi.
Subs: Zeqiri, Krasniqi, Dresevic, Ujkani, Muslija, Fazliji, Hajrizi, Korenica, Beka, Hadergjonaj, Albion Rrahmani, Bekaj.
Switzerland v Andorra
Switzerland: Mvogo, Elvedi, Akanji, Rodriguez, Steffen, Freuler, Xhaka, Vargas, Shaqiri, Itten, Amdouni.
Subs: Zakaria, Aebischer, Zesiger, Ndoye, Racioppi, Bislimi, Jashari, Fernandes, Schar, Sommer, Sow, Okafor.
Andorra: Alvarez, Lima, Guillen, Alavedra, Llovera, Moises San Nicolas, Cervos, Rebes, Eric Vales, Marc Garcia, Marc Vales.
Subs: Gomes, Rosas, Bernat, Viladot, Alexandre Martinez, Alaez, Izan Fernandez, Pires, Pujol, Sanchez, Ricard Fernandez.
Israel v Belarus
Israel: Omri Glazer, Dasa, Miguel Vitor, Lemkin, Revivo, Yehezkel, Lavi, Dor Peretz, Gloukh, Weissman, Solomon.
Subs: Baribo, Turgeman, Abu Fani, Gerafi, Safouri, Jaber, David, Daniel Peretz, Davidadza, Kinda, Kanichowsky, Abu Abaid.
Belarus: Plotnikov, Karpovich, Volkov, Polyakov, Politevich, Korzun, Kaplenko, Bocherov, Kontsevoy, Morozov, Pechenin.
Subs: Parkhomenko, Kudravets, Kapilevich, Savitskiy, Selyava, Bakhar, Lisakovich, Malkevich, Ignatovich, Bykov, Kovalev.
Team news
Italy v Ukraine
Italy: Donnarumma, Di Lorenzo, Scalvini, Bastoni, Dimarco,
Frattesi, Locatelli, Barella, Zaniolo, Raspadori, Zaccagni.
Subs: Retegui, Biraghi, Cristante, Orsolini, Vicario, Gnonto,
Pessina, Darmian, Romagnoli, Casale, Immobile, Meret.
Ukraine: Bushchan, Konoplya, Zabarnyi, Kryvtsov, Mykolenko,
Stepanenko, Zinchenko, Yarmolenko, Sudakov, Tsygankov, Dovbyk.
Subs: Nazaryna, Zubkov, Mudryk, Trubin, Mykhaylichenko, Vanat, Lunin, Popov, Buyalskyi, Yaremchuk, Karavaev, Sydorchuk.
Sweden v Austria
Sweden: Olsen, Wahlqvist, Hien, Lindelof, Sema, Kulusevski,
Cajuste, Albin Ekdal, Forsberg, Gyokeres, Isak.
Subs: Karlstrom, Holm, Nordfeldt, Johansson, Lagerbielke, Starfelt, Gustafson, Karlsson, Rohden, Claesson, Martin Olsson, Quaison.
Austria: Alexander Schlager, Posch, Lienhart, Alaba, Mwene, Laimer, Seiwald, Xaver Schlager, Sabitzer, Arnautovic, Gregoritsch.
Subs: Hedl, Baumgartner, Seidl, Schnegg, Wimmer, Ljubicic, Bachmann, Grillitsch, Danso, Kainz, Onisiwo, Wober.
Belgium v Estonia
Belgium: Casteels, Castagne, Faes, Vertonghen, Theate, Mangala, Onana, Carrasco, Trossard, Lukaku, Doku.
Subs: Bakayoko, Lukebakio, Siquet, De Ketelaere, Tielemans, Al Dakhil, Sels, Batshuayi, Kaminski, Openda, Deman, Debast.
Estonia: Hein, Joonas Tamm, Mets, Paskotsi, Baranov, Kait, Poom, Pikk, Vassiljev, Ojamaa, Anier.
Subs: Kallaste, Alex Matthias Tamm, Shein, Vallner, Tunjov, Sorga, Igonen, Peetson, Sinyavskiy, Kuusk, Miller, Zenjov.
Spain v Cyprus
Spain: Simon, Carvajal, Le Normand, Laporte, Gaya, Gavi, Rodri, Merino, Yamal, Morata, Williams.
Subs: Fabian, Abel Ruiz, Balde, Baena, Joselu, Pau Torres, Zubimendi, Azpilicueta, Ferran Torres, Pino, Arrizabalaga, Raya.
Cyprus: Mall, Karo, Gogic, Laifis, Andreou, Charalambos Kyriakou, Kousoulos, Charalampous, Anderson Correia, Kastanos, Sotiriou.
Subs: Pileas, Michalis Ioannou, Loizou, Kakoullis, Pittas, Marios Elia, Dimitriou, Christofi, Antoniades, Tzionis, Panayiotou, Panayi.
A crucial game for European champions Italy, who are in danger of not making it to another major tournament, having missed last year’s World Cup. They lie in third in Group A, albeit with a game in hand over second-placed Ukraine, who will be feeling optimistic after their fine 1-1 draw with England on Saturday. A win for the visitors tonight would be huge for their chances of finishing second behind Gareth Southgate’s side.
The Azzurri could only manage a 1-1 draw with North Macedonia at the weekend, and will tonight host proceedings with Ukraine at San Siro. I’m sure Andriy Shevchenko will be in attendance at the venue where he was so prolific for Milan.
One of the most complete strikers of his generation.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to your one-stop shop for Tuesday’s Euro 2024 qualifiers. We’ve got a full schedule – a whopping nine fixtures, and an awful lot of things that could, or could not be decided. The headline news is that Scotland (who are playing England tonight in a ‘friendly’ match at Hampden to mark the 150th anniversary of the first ever international football match) could become the first nation to qualify for the Euros – they need Norway and Georgia to draw in Group A.
Here is a full list of tonight’s fixtures, standings and notable permutations, organised by group.
Group A
Spain v Cyprus
Norway v Georgia
Scotland will qualify if Norway and Georgia draw.
Group C
Italy v Ukraine
Malta v North Macedonia
Malta will be unable to finish in the top two if they lose and Ukraine win.
Group F
Belgium v Estonia
Sweden v Austria
Estonia will be unable to finish in the top two if they lose and Austria avoid defeat, or if Estonia draw and Austria win.
Group I
Switzerland v Andorra
Romania v Kosovo
Israel v Belarus
Nothing can be settled on matchday six.
Kick-offs for these nine games is at 7.45pm BST!
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