🌍 WC qualifiers: Italy held at home; Sweden stun Spain; England win | OneFootball

🌍 WC qualifiers: Italy held at home; Sweden stun Spain; England win | OneFootball

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OneFootball

Joel Sanderson-Murray·2 September 2021

🌍 WC qualifiers: Italy held at home; Sweden stun Spain; England win

Article image:🌍 WC qualifiers: Italy held at home; Sweden stun Spain; England win

We’ve all only just managed to get over Euro 2020, and now the qualifying for the next international tournament is back underway.

Here’s what went down in all of the World Cup qualifiers from the European section on Thursday night.


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Hungary v England

Scorers: Sterling 55′, Kane 63′, Maguire 69′, Rice 87′.

England made it four wins out of four after easing to a comfortable 3-0 win in Budapest.

Raheem Sterling scored his first away goal for the Three Lions in over a year to put the visitors in-front, tapping home from close range after being found by Mason Mount.

Sterling then turned provider with a deflected cross that set Harry Kane up for a header from six yards out.

Harry Maguire then headed home from Luke Shaw’s corner before Declan Rice added a fourth with a stinging low drive to round off the three points for Gareth Southgate’s side.


Liechtenstein v Germany

Scorers: Werner 41′, Sané 77′.

The Hansi Flick era got off to the perfect start as Germany beat Liechtenstein to move up to second in their qualifying group.

Timo Werner scored the opening goal of the game four minutes before half-time, placing the ball into the corner net after being played in by Jamal Musiala after a mazy run from the Bayern Munich winger.

Before Leroy Sané rounded proceedings off late into the second half with a lovely low finish after being set up by Leon Goretzka.


Sweden v Spain

Scorers: Isak 6′, Claesson 56′; Soler 5′.

Sweden inflicted a shock defeat on Spain to take control of their group after a frantic game in Stockholm.

Carlos Soler arrived at the back post to get on the end of Jordi Alba’s cross to poke home to give Spain the lead on his international debut.

But Sweden equalised straight from kick-off as Alexander Isak got on to a knock-down to fire past Unai Simón into the bottom corner.

The hosts turned the game around completely and took the lead through Viktor Claesson who found a way past Simón’s near post after being found by Dejan Kulusevski in the box.


Italy v Bulgaria

Scorers: Chiesa 16′; Iliev 39′.

The European champions were pegged back by Bulgaria and held at home after a frustrating night in Florence.

Italy did manage to take the lead after 16 minutes, with Federico Chiesa playing a one-two with Ciro Immobile before driving a left-footed effort into the bottom corner.

But the hosts were stunned when Atanas Iliev turned Kiril Despodov’s low cross past Gianluigi Donnarumma to equalise for the Bulgarians.


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