🇪🇺 England, France cruise; Ireland, Wales fall in Euro 2024 qualifiers | OneFootball

There was a host of Euro 2024 qualifiers on this Friday evening. Here is what went down across the groups.

England drub Malta

Scorers: Apap (OG) 9′, Alexander-Arnold 27′, Kane 30′, Wilson (PEN) 85′

England dominated the ball in the early going, trying to find Harry Kane with aerial crosses, but the Malta defence was up to the task in the opening five minutes.

The Three Lions did not take long to snatch their lead however, as Bukayo Saka sent a dangerous ball in front of goal, where Ferdinando Apap deflected the ball into his own net.

The visitors doubled their lead just before the half-hour mark thanks to Trent Alexander-Arnold, who rocketed in his effort from the edge of the box.

Almost immediately, England found their third from the penalty spot, as Harry Kane fired home with aplomb after being fouled in the box.

A late penalty-kick after a handball in the box was dispatched by Callum Wilson, capping off a thuroughly dominant England performance on the night.

France cruise past Gibraltar

Scorers: Giroud 3′, Mbappé (PEN) 45+4, Mouelhi (OG) 81′

France coasted to a comfortable win over Gibraltar, seeing the French win their third of three Group B games so far.

France did not take long to get rolling, as Olivier Giroud tapped home a Kingsley Coman cross to fire the visitors into the lead only three minutes into the match.

Despite dominating the ball, it took until deep into first half stoppage time for France to double their lead, and they did so through Kylian Mbappé from the penalty spot just before the break.

With a lead in-tact, France barely looked to stretch their legs and truly open the floodgates in the second half.

The final nail was driven into the Gibraltar coffin by a Aymen Mouelhi own goal in the dying minutes.

Wales blow early lead and fall out of top-two

Scorers: James 10′, Wilson 72′ ; Zelarayán 19′, 75′ Ranos 30′, 66′

Wales gave up an early lead to see their unbeaten streak in Group D, and lose their place in the top-two for now.

Wales wasted little time to find a lead, as they looked to remain unbeaten in qualifying so far.

Nottingham Forest star Brennan Johnson picked out Daniel James, who stabbed home Wales’ opener, potentially opening the floodgates on the night.

It was not meant to be however, as Armenia pulled themselves level through Lucas Zelarayán less than ten minutes later.

The turnaround was quickly completed by Armenia, snatching the lead through Grant-Leon Ranos on the half-hour mark, stunning the Welsh crowd.

It went from bad to worse for Wales in the final 20 minutes, as Ranos bagged his second goal of the night to fire Armenia two-ahead.

The Welsh pulled one back through Harry Wilson, but the clock was ticking towards the final 10 minutes for the trailing hosts.

Their hopes for a turnaround were quickly dashed however, as Lucas Zelarayán snatched his second for Armenia, and to make matters worse Keiffer Moore was sent off for Wales just a few minutes later to shut the door on any comeback.

Ireland remain winless after Greece defeat

Scorers: Bakasetas 15′, Masouras 49′ ; Collins 27′

Ireland fell to a gritty Greece team, seeing their Euro 2024 qualifying hopes take a big hit without a win so far in Group B.

Greece came out of the blocks with the intent to play with the ball, keeping ahold of nearly 75% of the possession in the opening quarter of an hour.

They were rewarded for their ambition inside 20 minutes, as Anastasios Bakasetas fired the hosts into the lead from the penalty spot.

Ireland pulled themselves level however, as Nathan Collins tapped home after a flicked on header at the back post to level the scoreline.

The hosts reclaimed their lead after the break thanks to Giorgos Masouras, who fired Greece back in front quickly after the restart.

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