ENGLAND have destroyed North Macedonia 7-0 in their fourth Euro 2024 qualifier.
Bukayo Saka scored his first career hat-trick as the Three Lions ran riot at Old Trafford.
Skipper Harry Kane bagged two as England put in a dominant performance against North Macedonia and continued their flawless run of form in Euro 2024 qualifying.
- Result: England 7-0 North Macedonia.
- England XI: Pickford, Walker, Maguire, Stones, Shaw, Rice, Henderson, Alexander-Arnold, Saka, Rashford, Kane
- North Macedonia XI: Dimitrievski, Ristovski, Zajkov, Velkovski, Ashkovski, Ademi, Bardhi, Elmas, Alioski, Nestorovski, Trajkovski.
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That’s all from us!
After a great night, it is time for us to say goodbye for now.
However, if you haven’t quite got your football fix for tonight, you can catch all the reaction to tonight’s game here; as we have everything from Saka’s ‘worldie’ hat-trick to fans raving about the chemistry in the group.
Thank you ever so much for joining us tonight, we hope you enjoyed it as much as us.
Good night!
England are invincible
England’s EURO 2024 qualifying campaign has reached it’s halfway point, and they have made it here conceding just one goal, and not losing a game.
This is a summary of their results in the group…
- Italy 1-2 England
- England 2-0 Ukraine
- Malta 0-4 England
- England 7-0 North Macedonia
Their return fixtures in this competition are on the following dates…
- Ukraine (A) – 9th September
- Italy (H) – 17th October
- Malta (H) – 17th November
- North Macedonia (A) – 20th November
Harry Kane goes 58-up
Harry Kane added another two to his England goal scoring record tonight, in a seven goal rout from the Three Lions.
That made it 58 goals for the England captain, and it means he has now 50 goals while wearing the armband.
He has been nothing short of sublime for his country, and you can’t deny his brilliance.
Many are debating online, is he the best England player of all-time?
What do you think?
Man of the match
There is only one man who can claim the SunSport man of the match award tonight, and that man is Bukayo Saka.
He claimed his first career hat-trick, and it will be extra-special for him, coming in an England shirt.
The first was a great finish, on his right foot, he picked up the ball from Kyle Walker and hammered it home at the near post.
His second goal was absolutely sensational, a wicked volley on his left foot into the top-left corner, and it bent beautifully away from the goalkeeper from some distance. Credit should also go to Trent Alexander-Arnold, who played a sublime pass from deep.
Then, to make it three, he is slotted through by Harry Kane and he just stroked the ball into the back of the net.
A perfect match from the Arsenal star-boy.
Bukayo Saka scored his first ever career hat-trick against North MacedoniaCredit: Reuters Full-time match stats:
What a game we just witnessed.
England have inflicted North Macedonia’s heaviest ever defeat at Old Trafford, and they did it while restricting them to not even having a SINGLE shot on target.
The full-time match stats between England and North Macedonia FT. England 7-0 North Macedonia
There is no added time at the end of the second half, which the North Macedonian’s will be grateful for, it is 7-0 at the end of the game.
What a game it was.
88. England 7-0 North Macedonia
The corner is whipped in again, this time it is met by Harry Maguire, but the keeper makes a good save – for once…
87. England 7-0 North Macedonia
A poor kick out from the goalkeeper falls at the feet of Conor Gallagher.
He plays the ball into Jack Grealish, whose shot takes a deflection and goes out for a corner.
84. England 7-0 North Macedonia
England are just tapping the ball around here, reminiscent of Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.
They are waiting for a gap to open up, and when it does they are exploiting them and creating brilliant chances.
81. England 7-0 North Macedonia
It’s been twelve attempts and seven goals for England in this game, compared to no attempts and no goals for North Macedonia.
Dominant.
79. England 7-0 North Macedonia
England seem to finally be content with seven here, and are quite happy to keep a bit of possession in their own half.
77. England 7-0 North Macedonia
Kalvin Phillips commits a tactical foul in the middle of the park, as North Macedonia break away on the counter.
He picks up a yellow card for his efforts.
75. England 7-0 North Macedonia
Just after scoring England’s seventh, and his 58th for his country, Harry Kane is substituted for Newcastle’s Callum Wilson.
He gives Wilson a wry smile as he comes off, knowing that he’s just robbed him of a chance to score himself.
The perks of being Mr Harry Kane…
73. England 7-0 North Macedonia
GOAL! Harry Kane converts the penalty!
It is wonderfully dispatched by the England captain, into the top left hand corner.
70. England 6-0 North Macedonia
PENALTY!
England have a corner, and John Stones gets shoved over in the penalty box to win England a penalty!
68. England 6-0 North Macedonia
Trent Alexander-Arnold is still bossing the midfield in this one, now partnered by Kalvin Phillips in the middle.
As it stands, this will be North Macedonia’s heaviest ever defeat, as they have never been beaten by a six-goal margin before.
64. England 6-0 North Macedonia
Goal! It’s six, and it’s Kalvin Phillips!
It is brilliant work by Jack Grealish, who crosses the ball into the middle.
The ball deflects off a defender, and falls at the feet of Kalvin Phillips to tap into an empty net.
62. England 5-0 North Macedonia
Man of the moment Jack Grealish is greeted by huge applause, and that applause is followed up by a chant from the England fans.
It goes as such…
“He’s still on the p**s, he’s still on the p**s, Jack Grealish! He’s still on the p**s.”
You have to admire the creativity of the Three Lions faithful.
60. England 5-0 North Macedonia
We have SEVEN changes here.
Four of them are English…
Marcus Rashford, Jordan Henderson, Declan Rice and hat-trick hero Bukayo Saka are being replaced by Kalvin Phillips, Jack Grealish, Phil Foden and Conor Gallagher.
Not often you can bring on a treble of treble winners from the bench.
56. England 5-0 North Macedonia
England are still pressing here as if the score is 0-0, as Luke Shaw tracks down the North Macedonian right back and puts in a late tackle on him.
It looks as though we will see some changes now…
53. England 5-0 North Macedonia
There was a lovely moment after Saka stroked the ball home, where all of his teammates came over and congratulated him on his third goal of the night.
But it wasn’t just those on the pitch celebrating, James Maddison, Callum Wilson and Kieran Trippier were on the bench, on their feet applauding their teammate.
That speaks volumes as to what a humble, excellent young man he is.
Class.
51. England 5-0 North Macedonia
GOAL! It’s five for England, it’s three for Bukayo Saka!
Harry Kane picks the ball up, and threads the ball into the path of Saka, who drives towards the goal and slots it past the keeper with ease.
That is his first ever career hat-trick, and it comes for his country.
What a story. What a player.
50. England 4-0 North Macedonia
That was so outrageously good from both of those young Englishmen.
Trent Alexander-Arnold has been sensational again tonight, and Bukayo Saka has been other-worldly.
What a performance so far from Gareth Southgate’s men.
48. England 4-0 North Macedonia
GOAL! Wow! A screamer from Bukayo Saka!
Trent Alexander-Arnold plays a sublime pass from deep in midfield, straight over the top to Saka.
He takes two touches, one on his foot, one on his chest, before he smashes the ball into the top-left corner on his left foot.
It is a volley, curling away from the goalkeeper, and the net ripples as it does so often with him.
What a goal. Sensational.
46. England 3-0 North Macedonia
Back underway for the second half, and there is the first change of the game taking place for North Macedonia.
It is right back Egzon Bejtulai who is coming on in replacement of Stefan Ristovski, who was the captain in the first half.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
