Arsenal
England were far from their best in their latest Euro 2024 qualifier but Harry Kane netted his 62nd international goal in their 2-0 win over Malta.
Friday’s European Championship Euro 2024 qualifier at Wembley saw the senior men’s team in action for their first match since 1966 World Cup winner Sir Bobby Charlton passed away at the age of 86 last month.
A fan mosaic, video montage and minute’s applause formed a fitting farewell to Charlton before the current crop struggled with a simple assignment against the side 171st in the world rankings.
Southgate is dealing with a number of absentees right now and his side are already assured of qualification for Euro 2024, but this was hardly the entertaining display he hoped to put on for the 81,388 in attendance.
It could have been worse given Teddy Teuma went close to a famous Maltese goal 28 seconds into a Group C encounter, but the hosts went ahead as Enrico Pepe turned Phil Foden’s cross into his own net.
Harry Kane was furious to see the referee book him for diving rather than pointing to the penalty spot as a tepid clash continued, with the Euro 2020 runners-up failing to muster a first-half shot on target for the first time in six years.
Things did not improve much for England after half-time but a rare moment of attacking coherency and quick-thinking saw Kane strike home 15 minutes from time.
Substitute Declan Rice saw a third ruled out for a contentious offside call on a night that all but assured England’s place among the top seeds in December’s Euro 2024 draw.
Southgate named a surprisingly-strong side against the Mediterranean minnows on Friday, showing just five changes from last month’s win against Italy.
Conor Gallagher was among those brought in and breathing a sigh of
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