Month: March 2023

Kevin De Bruyne produced an attacking masterclass as new Belgium coach Domenico Tedesco made it two wins in as many games with a 3-2 friendly triumph at Germany on Tuesday.

Tedesco’s tenure started with a 3-0 victory over Sweden in Euro 2024 qualifying on Friday, and Belgium, inspired by new captain De Bruyne, impressed again at RheinEnergieStadion.

Germany had no answer inside the first nine minutes in Cologne as De Bruyne teed up goals for Yannick Carrasco and Romelu Lukaku.

Niclas Fullkrug’s 44th-minute penalty offered Hansi Flick’s hosts hope, but De Bruyne’s slick 78th-minute finish ensured another victory at the start of a promising era under Tedesco as Serge Gnabry’s late reply counted for little.

Carrasco fired Belgium into a sixth-minute lead after cutting inside from De Bruyne’s pinpoint pass before coolly blasting into the roof of the net.

Another delicate De Bruyne throughball teed up Belgium’s second, Lukaku racing through and lofting over an onrushing Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

Dodi Lukebakio inexplicably dragged a glorious chance wide before Lukaku headed onto the crossbar from De Bruyne’s corner, prompting Flick to make two 32nd-minute changes.

The injured Leon Goretzka and Florian Wirtz made way for Felix Nmecha and Emre Can, with Germany responding as Fullkrug converted his penalty after Lukaku was adjudged to have handled.

Germany ramped up the pressure after the interval as Gnabry smashed just wide before Timo Werner saw a strike ruled out for offside. Joshua Kimmich also went close with a whistling low strike.

But De Bruyne put the game out of reach, finishing into the bottom-right corner from Leandro Trossard’s offload, making Gnabry’s late strike from Kevin Schade’s low cross – shortly after hitting the post – a mere consolation.

What does it mean? Flick warning as Belgium earn rare Germany win

Flick’s side do not have to qualify for Euro 2024 due to hosting the tournament, but Germany cannot afford such early lapses in concentration at that showpiece competition.

Belgium had not beaten their hosts since 1954 but raced into the ascendancy after eight minutes and 26 seconds – their earliest 2-0 lead since February 2003 against Algeria.

Despite improving in response, Germany must show more if they are to build ahead of the Euros, with Flick needing a strong home performance after their group-stage exit at the World Cup in Qatar.

De Bruyne and Lukaku shine

Lukaku’s treble against Sweden saw him join Robert De Veen on three hat-tricks for their country, the joint-most for Belgium.

The Inter loanee once again found the net here to continue his impressive form under Tedesco, although he could not have done so without De Bruyne, who created a game-leading three chances to go with his goal.

Fullkrug on fire

Fullkrug had to wait until November 2022 for his Germany debut in a pre-World Cup friendly against Oman – but he certainly has not looked back since then.

The Werder Bremen striker has scored six goals in his first six international appearances, with no Germany player this century managing as many goals in their first half-dozen outings.

What’s next?

Belgium return to Euro 2024 qualifying action when they host Austria on June 17, while Germany are yet to confirm their next friendly opponents.

Scott McTominay scored twice to fire Scotland to a memorable 2-0 victory over Spain at a jubilant Hampden Park, maintaining the hosts’ perfect start to Euro 2024 qualifying.

The Manchester United midfielder – who also grabbed a brace in Saturday’s 3-0 win over Cyprus – got Scotland off to a flying start as his early strike deflected in off visiting defender Inigo Martinez.

While Spain enjoyed plenty of possession, Luis de la Fuente’s visitors were unable to respond after McTominay doubled Scotland’s lead, lashing home following excellent work from Kieran Tierney.

The result moves Scotland three points clear of Spain at the top of Group A, while De la Fuente has plenty of work to do following his first defeat since replacing Luis Enrique after the World Cup. 

Scotland sent the home crowd into raptures seven minutes in as Andy Robertson capitalised on Pedro Porro’s slip to find McTominay, who saw his left-footed effort deflect past Kepa Arrizabalaga.

The hosts almost scored a second as Ryan Christie prodded wide from the edge of the area, though they soon had the woodwork to thank as Joselu’s header rattled the crossbar at the other end.

Rodri nodded narrowly over as Spain dominated possession, but Lyndon Dykes missed a great chance to double Scotland’s lead when he chipped over on the stroke of half-time. 

The hosts did not need long to score a second after the interval, however, McTominay firing into the bottom-left corner after David Garcia failed to cut out Tierney’s left-wing cross 51 minutes in.

Substitute Iago Aspas lifted over from Nico Williams’ driven cross as the agitated visitors threw men forwards, with Scotland holding firm to record a statement result in the battle to reach next year’s tournament in Germany.

What does it mean? Scotland stay perfect as Spanish run ends

Although Scotland missed out on last year’s World Cup, they approached this qualification cycle in good spirits after winning promotion to the top tier of the Nations League last year.

Clarke – who penned a new contract last week – will now be supremely confident of leading Scotland to successive European Championships, with the Tartan Army winning their first two games of a World Cup/Euros qualifying campaign for the first time since September 2006.

Spain, meanwhile, have a fight on their hands after suffering their first European Championship qualifying defeat since October 2014 (v Slovakia). 

Great Scott doubles up

McTominay’s international career had not exactly been defined by his goalscoring feats – until the last three days. 

Having scored just once in his first 37 caps, McTominay has hit the net four times in his last two international games, while he is the first Scotland player to net a brace against Spain since Mo Johnston did so in a World Cup qualifier in 1984.

Home comforts key for Scotland

Excluding play-offs, Scotland are now unbeaten in eight qualification matches, though it is at Hampden Park where Clarke’s men have recorded their standout results.

Scotland have won six successive home qualifiers, going unbeaten through nine such games on their own turf (W8 D1).

What’s next?

Scotland visit Norway in their next Euro 2024 qualifier on June 17. Spain, meanwhile, are in Nations League action in the next international break, facing Italy in the semi-finals on June 15.  

Wales continued their promising start to Euro 2024 qualifying with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Latvia in Cardiff.

Kieffer Moore’s first-half header, his 10th international goal, secured Wales a precious victory to make it four points from their opening two games.

Wales had numerous chances to make their evening more comfortable against opponents ranked among the lowest in Europe.

But Wales boss Rob Page will be delighted with what many will consider an above-par start ahead of June qualifiers against Armenia and Turkey.

Wales were on a high after Nathan Broadhead’s stoppage-time equaliser had given them a 1-1 draw in their opening qualifier away to Croatia.

But Wales’ recent record made grim reading: only two wins in 14 games with their last victory being the World Cup play-off final success against Ukraine in June.

With Ben Davies and Brennan Johnson again ruled out by injury, Page named the same side that had stunned the World Cup semi-finalists in Split.

Latvia were a far different proposition to the one Wales had met on Saturday, 133rd in the FIFA world rankings and 105 places below the Dragons who also had the advantage of a sell-out Cardiff City Stadium behind them.

The capacity crowd of 32,806 paid homage to Gareth Bale, who ended his glittering career in January as the team’s most-capped player and record goalscorer, before kick-off.

Bale was honoured with a pitchside presentation and was clearly emotional as he addressed the supporters, thanking them for being able to play in front of the “best fans in the world”.

The former Real Madrid star and Wales captain barely had time to take his seat before Daniel James sprinted past Roberts Savalnieks down the left.

Moore let his cross run to Wilson and goalkeeper Pavels Steinbors blocked well with his legs to deny Wales the perfect start.

Wilson was sharp down Wales’ right, despite his lack of game time at Fulham, but Latvia defended deep and kept the hosts at arm’s length.

Latvia also had a useful focal point in 6ft 5in forward Roberts Uldrikis and were a nuisance at corners, Danny Ward first denying Marcis Oss with a sprawling save before Kristers Tobers headed over.

Vladislavs Gutkovskis’ flick also had Ward scrambling across goal, but Wales – with skipper Aaron Ramsey operating in a deeper playmaking role – gradually began to sustain pressure and fashion attempts.

Moore flashed wide from 25 yards and Neco Williams and Ethan Ampadu were also off target from distance with well-struck efforts.

The goal Wales craved arrived four minutes before half-time when Ramsey and James combined cleverly.

James located Moore at the far post and the Bournemouth forward sent a thumping header past Steinbors and inside his post.

Wilson tested Steinbors and the goalkeeper produced an even better save moments after the interval to tip Williams’ ferocious drive onto the crossbar.

Steinbors stood tall again to foil Wilson, but Ward stuck out a foot at the other end to stop Gutkovskis from equalising after the striker had done well to twist his way past Joe Rodon.

Latvia applied late pressure and anxiety for the home fans, but Wales held on for their first win in 10 games.

England Under-21s slipped to a 2-1 defeat by Croatia in their final warm-up match ahead of this summer’s European Championship.

Lee Carsley’s side were bidding to sign off for Georgia with a fourth friendly win out of four, having beaten Germany, Italy and, on Saturday, thumping France 4-0.

But Carsley changed all 10 outfield players for their last tune-up match and they had only a late Morgan Gibbs-White consolation from the penalty spot to show for a ragged display at Craven Cottage.

It is not just the senior England side who have recent history with the Croatians; the Under-21s were on course for the quarter-finals at the last Euros when a last-gasp wonder-strike from full-back Domagoj Bradaric knocked them out on goal difference despite a 2-1 win.

Curtis Jones scored in that match, and the Liverpool youngster had England’s first shot on target repelled by Croat keeper Dominik Kotarski from a cross by Manchester City forward Cole Palmer.

The lively Palmer then teed up Tommy Doyle, who could not recreate his spectacular long-range FA Cup winner for Sheffield United against Blackburn nine days ago with his shot this time flying over the crossbar.

Instead Croatia took the lead in the 34th minute after debutant Rico Lewis was booked for bringing down Lukas Kacavenda outside the box.

Martin Baturina stepped up to curl a superb 20-yard free-kick inside James Trafford’s near post.

Carsley made just one change at half-time, replacing Bolton’s on-loan Manchester City keeper Trafford and handing West Brom’s Josh Griffiths a debut.

But Griffith’s first task was to face a penalty after Leicester full-back Luke Thomas clumsily brought down Matija Frigan in the area.

Dion Drena Beljo, who plays for Augsburg in the Bundesliga, coolly sent Griffiths the wrong way from the spot to double Croatia’s lead.

Griffiths did well to limit the damage with a smart point-blank save to deny Kacavenda and another fine stop to keep out Gabriel Vidovic.

For the hosts, Palmer and captain Jacob Ramsey both stung the hands of Kotarski who then pulled off a stunning save to keep out a header from substitute Gibbs-White.

England finally got on the scoresheet four minutes from time when Kotarski tripped Gibbs-White in the box, the Nottingham Forest man tucking away the spot-kick.

But, with England senior boss Gareth Southgate watching from the stands, the hosts were unable to find an equaliser on a frustrating night in west London.

Macaulay Langstaff set a new club record as Notts County clambered back to the top of the National League table with a 2-0 win at Altrincham.

Langstaff fired his 40th goal of the season following a quick free-kick in the 24th minute to help move his side back above title rivals Wrexham who have two games in hand.

County goalkeeper Archie Mair kept the visitors in control with a brilliant fingertip penalty save from Regan Linney on the half-hour after the same player had been fouled by Kyle Cameron.

And County looked more comfortable three minutes after the break when Ruben Rodrigues made no mistake from the penalty spot following a handball.

Luke Burgess missed a late chance to reduce the deficit for Altrincham before Langstaff came close to adding to his tally when he struck the crossbar in stoppage time.

Exeter City made it four home wins in a row and ended Barnsley’s 12-match unbeaten run with a superb 3-1 victory in League One at St James Park.

Barnsley dominated the early exchanges, but Exeter went in front in the 26th minute when the outstanding Jay Stansfield picked the ball up on the byline, nutmegged Jordan Williams and cut across the penalty box before curling a brilliant finish beyond Harvey Isted.

However, Exeter’s lead lasted 11 minutes as a Luca Connell free-kick drifted across the penalty box and was turned in by Bobby Thomas from six yards.

Exeter restored their lead on 50 minutes and it was after more excellent work by Stansfield, who collected the ball wide on the left, beat his man with ease and crossed for Harry Kite to convert from six yards.

Jamal Blackman saved well to deny Slobodan Tedic, one of four changes made by Tykes boss Michael Duff midway through the second half, while Exeter’s Archie Collins twice had good chances to extend the Grecians’ lead.

However, Exeter completed the scoring in the 89th minute when Joe White was brought down in the box and Sam Nombe converted the penalty for his 17th goal of the season.

Scunthorpe moved six points off National League safety with a goalless draw at York but could have had more after spurning a host of chances.

The visitors dominated the first half as Cameron Wilson brought a decent save from City goalkeeper Ryan Whitley with a well-struck shot from the edge of the box and Richie Bennett fired wide shortly afterwards.

Whitley denied Jacob Butterfield and then tipped away a Bennett header before York came closest to a first-half opener when Ryan Fallowfield struck a post with a low drive.

York were incensed when Ben Richards-Everton appeared to handle a shot from Shaqai Forde in the area but penalty appeals were waved away.

Bennett blew two more chances for the Iron, while Lenell John-Lewis headed over at the other end as the game ended all square.

Will Nightingale’s first goal of the season set AFC Wimbledon on their way to ending their long winless run in League Two with a 2-0 triumph over Walsall.

It was a much-needed first win in 12 games for the Dons which lifted them up two places to 16th in the table and eased some of the tension around Plough Lane.

A sweeping move almost led to Wimbledon taking the lead after seven minutes, with Ethan Chislett and Alex Woodyard combining to tee up Kasey McAteer who shot just wide.

Walsall goalkeeper Owen Evans then produced a great save to tip over Woodyard’s header, while his opposite number Nathan Broome did well to keep out a similar effort by Conor Wilkinson.

The breakthrough was made by the Dons just short of the hour mark when Armani Little’s corner was met by Nightingale, whose header floated into the top corner.

Another Little set-piece led to the hosts doubling their lead in the 74th minute as substitute Ali Al-Hamadi bundled in after McAteer’s flick was cleared off the line.

Striker Dom Telford scored with a late penalty to rescue a point for relegation-threatened Crawley in a 1-1 home draw with Grimsby.

The Mariners looked to be heading towards a deserved victory after a fine first-half goal from Harry Clifton but Crawley struck late to extend their unbeaten run to five games and they are now five points clear of second-bottom Hartlepool.

Grimsby boss Paul Hurst went into the clash urging his men to push on and achieve their highest league finish since 2006, but warned that he felt Crawley would provide a tougher test than their lowly position suggested.

Grimsby’s John McAtee should have worked Crawley keeper Corey Addai in the 12th minute when he dragged a shot wide following Clifton’s cut back.

Crawley struggled for first-half fluency and Aramide Oteh had a low shot saved by keeper Max Crocombe before Otis Khan and Bryn Morris were narrowly off target for the Mariners.

Grimsby deservedly went ahead three minutes before the break when Danny Amos drove forward and slipped the ball to Clifton, who fired his ninth goal of the season into the roof of the net.

Crawley had a big let-off shortly after the interval when George Lloyd surged forward and his fierce shot came back off the inside of the post.

Telford had a shot blocked for the off-song Reds before Crawley keeper Addai went down to keep out a shot by Khan.

Addai came to his side’s rescue again when he saved Clifton’s effort from point-blank range from Lloyd’s cross.

But skipper Telford salvaged a point for the hosts two minutes from time from the penalty spot, despite keeper Crocombe getting a hand to the ball, after Niall Maher brought down substitute Tom Fellows.

Louis Dennis scored a dramatic late winner as promotion hopefuls Bromley snatched a frantic 3-2 win over bottom side Maidstone in the Vanarama National League.

Dennis grabbed his second of a remarkable game in which both sides were reduced to 10 men when he pounced on a rebound in the final minute.

Maidstone, who are eight points adrift at the bottom, had taken an early lead at the Gallagher Stadium through Josh Shonibare, but Dennis and Ayodeji Elerewe hit back for the visitors.

Sam Bone levelled for the hosts and Bromley looked set to be frustrated after Charley Kendall was sent off until Dennis struck late on. Maidstone had Raphe Brown dismissed in injury time.