England vs Malta LIVE: Euro 2024 result and highlights after Three Lions win at Wembley
England 2-0 Malta: Gareth Southgate’s side are still unbeaten in Group C though they struggled against a stubborn Malta team
England ensured a top seeding at Euro 2024 with a laboured 2-0 home victory against Group C makeweights Malta that will not live long in the memory of an underwhelmed Wembley crowd.
Until the 75th minute all that separated Gareth Southgate’s lacklustre side from 171st-ranked Malta was an early own goal by Enrico Pepe and they endured some anxious moments in between.
Captain Harry Kane finally doubled England’s lead with his 62nd goal for his country after good work by Bukayo Saka before Declan Rice had an effort ruled out for offside.
There was precious little to get enthused about though as several England fringe players wasted the chance to make a statement of intent to Southgate.
England had already qualified for next year’s finals in Germany and victory over Malta ensured they will win Group C, regardless of what happens in North Macedonia on Monday.
Relive the action from the Euro 2024 qualifiers plus get the latest odds and tips right here:
England 0-0 Malta
4 mins: After that early scare, England are trying to impose some control on the game. They build up the number of passes between the defence and central midfielders but knock the ball out of play when trying to work it out wide on the left hand side.
Paul Mbong, one of Malta’s forwards, hobbles around having picked up a slight knock. He seems to be okay though.
England 0-0 Malta
1 min: Close! From the throw in, England give the ball away and the visitors work it up to the box quickly. Matthew Guillaumier feeds a pass across to Teddy Teuma who shifts the ball onto his left foot then drills a low effort wide of the left-hand post.
That was very close!
Kick off! England 0-0 Malta
Ahead of kick off there is moment of applause as the lights are dimmed to reveal the words Sir Bobby in the stands. The 1966 World Cup Winner passed away last month and is shown the appreciation of the watching supporters.
Malta then get the ball rolling and send it over to the right wing where it’s pinged straight out of play.
England vs Malta
Here come the players.
The England men’s side are playing at Wembley for the last time in this calender year. It’ll be some send off if they manage to win tonight and impress by scoring a few goals.
The game is mainly a confidence builder and to keep England’s winning momentum into the new year and towards the Euros next summer.
The pundits are predicting scores of 4,5 and 6 nil in England’s favour. It could be a big one if the Three Lions are on song. Kick off is up next...
England vs Malta
Pre-match thoughts of Gareth Southgate who told Channel 4: “We have to win, we always want to play well. We have 80,000 fans here buying in to what we’re doing.
“I think nights like this are definitely opportunities for people to see what they can do. This is a different test. It poses a difficult tactical issue playing against a low-block. We have players who can unlock the door like Trent Alexander-Arnold and Harry Kane.
“[Alexander-Arnold] loves the role he’s had with Liverpool for a number of years. There are no doubts he can do both. We’ve liked what he’s done in midfield for us. His passing range and vision is exceptional. He has another chance tonight.”
England vs Malta
England are paying tribute to Sir Bobby Charlton at Wembley tonight in what is their first match since the 1966 World Cup winner’s death last month.
There will be a crowd mosaic and video celebrating the Manchester United legend’s life, while the players will wear black armbands during the game.
How Gareth Southgate can make England vs Malta exciting
Perhaps the first thing to mention ahead of England’s final home game of the year is the crowd. England have already qualified for Euro 2024 but the visit of Malta is a sell-out at Wembley. There is still the formality of securing top spot in Group C to confirm, and with it an important top seeding at next month’s Euros draw, but by virtue of wrapping up their business early, Gareth Southgate’s side have given themselves a largely meaningless double-header against Malta and North Macedonia to conclude the calendar year.
Or at least, in previous years, it may well have been. The thing is, this England is quite good. They may even be fun, and there was certainly a sense of commanding confidence in the air as Southgate’s side swept Italy aside last month. Much of that came from Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane, who represent what is so exciting about England at the moment. When was the last time England were so strong in attacking areas? When was the last time those players looked so comfortable replicating their club form within the national team?
How Gareth Southgate can make England vs Malta exciting
England vs Malta
England haven’t lost a home game in the month of November since a 0-1 loss to Germany in a friendly back in 2013. They’re unbeaten in each of their last 12 such games and have won each of the last six by an aggregate scoreline of 24-1.
Alexander-Arnold on playing at Euro 2024
Trent Alexander-Arnold took the pre-match press conference with Gareth Southgate and spoke about how he wants to play a big part at Euro 2024 for England.
The Liverpool right-back is now listed as a midfielder for England and is expected to play in midfield when he takes to the pitch tonight.
"When I’m here, when I’m not here, I’m constantly thinking about trying to get into the team for the summer," he said.
"Since we spoke in the summer, me and the manager, about a midfield opportunity and to see if we could make it work, there has been a newfound excitement for me.
"It is a huge opportunity and it is one I am grateful to have, but also making sure I take it. It’s still early days, I haven’t had much experience in there so still learning on the job and about picking it up as much as I can when I am in there.
"[Is going to the Euros as a midfielder your target?] Massively so, it is something I think about often, it is something that motivates me."
England vs Malta
England conceded first but came back to win 3-1 against Italy in their last international match. The Three Lions have won six of their nine games under Gareth Southgate when conceding the first goal at Wembley (two draw, one loss).
The Three Lions have posted the highest shot conversion rate in this qualifying campaign (25.3%) netting 19 of their 75 attempts on goal, while only Portugal (32 goals in 8 games) and Switzerland (20 goals in 7 games) have scored more goals than them.
They will be looking to win their opening four home Euro qualifiers for a third consecutive qualifying campaign having also done so for the 2016 and 2020 tournaments.
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