June 20 – England and France made it 4 straight wins in European Championship qualifying on Monday whereas Switzerland dropped its first factors.

Bukayo Saka netted a hat-trick in the 7-0 rout of North Macedonia as England, crushed finalists within the final Euros, tightened their grip on the prime of Group C.

Skipper Harry Kane added two extra to increase his England report along with his 57th and 58th worldwide objectives.

Saka is the primary Arsenal participant to attain a hat-trick for England and the youngest since Theo Walcott in 2008 in opposition to Croatia.

Following elimination within the World Cup quarterfinals in Qatar, England are rekindling optimism that Euro 2024 might ship a primary trophy for the reason that 1966 World Cup.

“Submit World Cup I believe we’ve hit a candy spot the place there’s a starvation to go additional than we’ve been and a need to maintain pushing ahead,” supervisor Gareth Southgate stated. “That’s place to be.”

England will not be the one ones who look set for subsequent yr’s finals after amassing an ideal 12 factors. Kylian Mbappé slotted a penalty on the second try as France edged visiting Greece 1-0 in Group B to achieve the identical margin. Mbappé’s twice-taken spotkick moved him on to 40 objectives for Les Bleus, one behind Michel Platini.

Switzerland dropped their first factors in a 2-2 residence draw with Romania in Group I regardless of seemingly coasting to victory. Substitute Valentin Mihăilă pounced within the 89th and once more in stoppage time for second-placed Romania in Lucerne.

With Croatia concerned within the Nations League, Turkey moved additional forward on the prime of Group D with a 2-0 residence win in opposition to Euro 2016 semi-finalist Wales who now appear just about doomed.

In group H Finland and Kazakhstan each received and are stage on 9 factors.

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