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    Man Utd fans can’t wait for stars to return after tearing up Euro 2024 qualifying as Bruno bags hat-trick of assists

    BRUNO FERNANDES has led the charge with a host of Manchester United players in red-hot form during this international break – and fans can’t wait to have them all back.The Red Devils skipper has played the full 90 minutes in both of Portugal’s Euro 2024 qualifiers in recent days.
    Bruno Fernandes has been in red-hot form for PortugalCredit: Getty
    The Man Utd skipper bagged two goals and three assists during the international breakCredit: AP

    Fernandes, 29, netted his country’s winner as they beat Slovakia 1-0 on Friday night.
    He then put in a sublime display on Monday – scoring once and laying on a hat-trick of assists as Portugal dismantled Luxembourg 9-0.
    Diogo Dalot also played the full 90 in both games as Portugal took a huge stride towards qualifying for next summer’s tournament in Germany.
    Man Utd’s Danish duo have also enjoyed a fruitful international break.
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    Christian Eriksen scored and grabbed two assists as Denmark routed San Marino 4-0.
    The midfielder then played the full 90 minutes on Monday night as the Danes beat Finland 1-0 courtesy of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s goal.
    Rasmus Hojlund came off the bench in both games as he continues his careful return from injury – and was not able to add to his impressive tally of six goals in qualifying thus far.
    But he did delight fans with a passionate speech to fans using a megaphone.
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    One player that did continue his sensational goalscoring form for his country was Scott McTominay.
    The midfielder put Scotland 1-0 against Cyprus on Friday night, setting Steve Clarke’s men on their way to a comfortable 3-0 triumph.
    McTominay, 26, will hope to be in action again on Tuesday night as Scotland face England at Hampden Park.
    Victor Lindelof enjoyed international success, captaining Sweden to a 5-0 win over Estonia on Saturday.
    Fellow cenrte-back Harry Maguire played the full 90 minutes and Marcus Rashford was introduced as a 65th minute substitute as England drew 1-1 with Ukraine.
    Jonny Evans had an eventful game against Slovenia last Thursday, scoring at both ends in a 4-2 defeat.
    He was then in action again as his country lost 1-0 to Kazakhstan on Sunday.
    United’s new deputy goalkeeper Altay Bayindir was an unused sub as Turkey drew 1-1 with Armenia – and he’ll be hoping to feature as his country take on Japan on Tuesday afternoon in a friendly.
    Scott McTominay has been in amazing form for ScotlandCredit: Getty
    Rasmus Hojlund celebrates Denmark’s latest winCredit: Getty
    Red Devils stars’ performances in Euro 2024 qualifying, particularly those of Fernandes, have seen fans excited for the Premier League to return at the weekend.
    One tweeted: “We’re here to take over.”
    While a second wrote: “Simply the best.”
    A third gushed of Fernandes: “My midfielder.”
    And another added: “There is only one Bruno Fernandes.”
    Hojlund and McTominay are the joint top-scorers in Euro 2024 qualifying, alongside former Red Devil Romelu Lukaku, with six apiece.
    Fernandes has four, with a further five assists – the joint-highest total alongside Denzel Dumfries.
    Some of United’s non-European stars have also been in international action.
    Casemiro captained Brazil to a 5-1 thumping of Bolivia.
    Wonderkid Facundo Pellistri played 71 minutes in Uruguay’s 3-1 triumph over Chile.
    Hannibal Mejbri started as Tunisia beat Botswana 3-0.
    However, Lisandro Martinez was not in action for Argentina due to his recent injury scare.
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    Andre Onana could make his Cameroon comeback on Tuesday night, having accepted a recall to the squad despite retiring from international duty after leaving last year’s World Cup after just one game.
    Cameroon take on Burundi this evening.
    Casemiro skippered Brazil against BoliviaCredit: AP
    Facundo Pellistri was in action for UruguayCredit: AFP More

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    Liverpool star Tsimikas left out of Greece squad because of ‘unbelievable’ embarrassing blunder

    LIVERPOOL ace Kostas Tsimikas and three Greece team-mates were left out of Gus Poyet’s squad after an unbelievable blunder.Tsimikas, Trabzonspor’s Dimitris Kourbelis, AEK Athens’ Petros Mantalos and Cardiff ace Manolis Siopis were all booked during Thursday’s Euro 2024 qualifier against the Netherlands.
    Liverpool ace Kostas Tsimikas was left out of Greece after a massive gaffeCredit: Reuters
    Tsimikas was booked in Greece’s Euro 2024 qualifier against the NetherlandsCredit: Rex
    Cardiff ace Manolis Siopis was also left out because EPO thought he was suspendedCredit: Rex
    EPO thought Petros Mantalos was suspended after two yellow cardsCredit: Rex
    But Dimitris Kourbelis and co would have been suspended after a third yellow cardCredit: Rex
    That led to an embarrassing blunder from the Greek football association [EPO] as well as the national team’s chiefs who thought those players weren’t allowed to play against Gibraltar on Sunday.
    However, that was only their second booking and UEFA rules dictate that a player or team official can only receive a one-match ban after three consecutive yellow cards.
    It is during the Euro 2024 finals that two yellow cards lead to the respective suspension.
    Article 54.02 reads: “In case of repeated cautions:
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    “A: In the qualifying competition, players and team officials are suspended for the next competition match after three cautions, as well as after the fifth and any subsequent caution.
    “B: In the final tournament, players and team officials are suspended for the next competition match after two cautions, as well as after the fourth caution.”
    EPO took full responsibility of the error and confirmed they will deal with the matter within the “coming days”.
    The governing body, which is presided by Takis Baltakos, went on to claim there was no “practical consequence” after that error as Greece went on to beat Gibraltar 5-0 at OPAP Arena.
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    EPO’s statement read: “As per recent reports referring to an error in the counting of yellow cards and by extension the punishment of international footballers, EPO announces the following:
    “This is an undeniable mistake, as admitted by Kostas Konstantinidis, technical director and head of all the National Teams, and Takis Fyssas, sporting director of the Men’s National Team, although this mistake had no practical consequence.
    “The Administration will investigate the issue, taking into account the overall contribution of each player to Greek football and their special contribution to the National Team, and will decide on the course of action in the coming days.”
    Liverpool ace Tsimikas, Siopis, Kourbelis and Mantalos are expected to be in action again in the next international break. More

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    Not even Scotland’s best player would make it into England’s XI.. yet, worryingly, Steve Clarke’s men are actually good

    IF you wanted to compile a combined XI from the England and Scotland teams, you would almost certainly come up with the England team.Not even the Scot who is joint-highest scorer in the entire Euros qualifying campaign — Manchester United outcast Scott McTominay — would make Gareth Southgate’s starting XI.
    Scott McTominay will provide Scotland’s biggest threat against EnglandCredit: Kenny Ramsay
    Steve Clarke will be desperate to defeat the Three Lions at HampdenCredit: Kenny Ramsay
    And yet here are Steve Clarke’s Scots, top of their qualifying group with a 100 per cent record, and in a higher Nations League tier than the England side they face at Hampden tonight.
    After a 2-0 victory over Spain in March — in which McTominay scored both goals — Manchester City’s Rodri accused the Scots of playing anti-football in a glorious display of rotten grapery.
    But here we are in Glasgow for the renewal of hostilities in a fixture which is celebrating its 150th anniversary and, for those of us in Southgate’s generation, represents the great rivalry of our youth.
    And, worryingly, Scotland are actually good — Clarke’s side are greater than the sum of their parts and McTominay, playing in an advanced midfield role, is somehow a fearsome goalscorer.
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    The English and the Scots don’t like each other much. They think we possess an innate superiority complex — a jingoistic nation of self-important tub-thumpers.
    And we think they are a bunch of savages who eat sheep’s innards for breakfast, deep-fried chocolate for tea and believe the noise which comes out of bagpipes equates to actual music.
    We also know they will always bottle it in major tournament group stages, as well as independence referendums.
    And we can say these things because we’re all British and, therefore, bound by a common love of taking the pish.
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    On Sunday’s flight home from Poland, a bunch of journalists and England fans were in full agreement the atmosphere on the Three Lions’ last visit to Hampden in 2017 was one of the most frenzied we’d ever experienced.
    England fell 2-1 behind to two Leigh Griffiths free-kicks, before Harry Kane poked an injury-time equaliser in his first game as captain to keep Southgate’s side on course for the Russia World Cup.
    Fuelled by old Proclaimers tunes and an extraordinary mass rendition of an offensive Jimmy Savile song, the locals had been in a euphoric mood before Kane’s late intervention, which was a turning point in Southgate’s reign.
    Tonight is billed as a ‘friendly’ yet, unlike most international friendlies, it is anything but meaningless. We all have our memories of these, once-annual, clashes.
    A teenage Clarke was one of around 8,000 Scots who beat a ban on his countrymen from the 1981 fixture at Wembley, because a relative who was a Met Police officer got him a ticket.
    “John Robertson scored a penalty,” the Scotland boss recalled. “We won 1-0. I was behind the goal, going mental. And we were world champions when we beat them in 1967, weren’t we?”
    I’ve just walked past a framed image in a Hampden corridor glorifying the Tartan Army wrecking the Wembley goalposts after a 2-1 Home Championship win in 1977.
    Strangely, there is no such photo here of my favourite memory — Paul Gascoigne kippering Colin Hendry, volleying past Andy Goram and re-enacting his dentist-chair heroics at Euro 96.
    The Scots qualified for the last Euros and ballsed it up by losing home matches against the Czech Republic and Croatia, either side of a goalless Wembley draw with England.
    After that match, Scotland’s Stephen O’Donnell revealed he had kept Jack Grealish subdued by telling him, ‘I love your calves’ and asking, ‘How do you get your hair looking like that?’
    Paul Gascoigne scored one of England’s greatest-ever goals against Scotland at Euro 96Credit: Getty
    It was entirely in keeping with the grand traditions of this rivalry. The idea of an English fancy Dan being brought down a peg or two.
    Scotland will qualify for next summer’s Euros finals if Norway and Georgia draw tonight. But after Friday’s 3-0 win in Cyprus virtually secured their place, Aston Villa’s John McGinn declared, ‘Only our wee country could mess it up from here’.
    And they love the ‘wee nation’ routine, the Scots. Even though they have a larger population than two-time world champions Uruguay.
    They will be playing that card tonight against the big brother from south of the border. But as Clarke, who lives in England, rightly says: “Don’t believe the English don’t want to beat us as much as we want to beat them.”
    HAPPY HARRY
    HARRY KANE may have been ‘one of our own’ at Spurs but he hadn’t truly belonged at his boyhood club for several years — because he was simply too good.
    Kane’s media duties with England over the past week suggest he is more comfortable in his own skin than ever before, following his move to Bayern Munich.
    There were even a few casual, honest put-downs of Tottenham’s lack of expectations, compared to the mighty Bavarians.
    Kane moving abroad used to feel like an unlikely scenario but now it seems absolutely perfect.
    HANS OFF
    IT’S extraordinary that no manager of Germany had ever been sacked before Hansi Flick was axed after Saturday’s 4-1 home drubbing by Japan.
    The Germans have won four World Cups and three European Championships.
    It is almost as if patience with a manager can be a virtue.
    Germany sacked Hansi Flick on Sunday after they were thrashed by JapanCredit: Getty
    FRED A BIG HIT
    NOT knowing his own strength and fuelled by lager, Andrew Flintoff once knocked me off of a barstool in a Calcutta hotel with what was supposed to have been a playful slap on the back.
    Earlier that evening, 21 years ago, Freddie had clean bowled Sachin Tendulkar in front of 100,000 people at Eden Gardens.
    He was one of the most authentic and charismatic sports people I had ever come across.
    After the horrific accident that ended his time presenting Top Gear, it is wonderful to see the great all-rounder back around the England camp.
    English cricket will benefit from Flintoff just as Flintoff will surely benefit from being back in cricket.
    OUTSIDE JOB
    ENGLAND’S 14 rugby men pulled off a brilliant result beating Argentina on Saturday.
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    Expectations were low and they were underdogs before Tom Curry’s early red card.
    Outsider status suited them — so did Ellis Genge really have to then utter the words ‘we believe we can win the cup’? More

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    Wales fans rage at VAR as Latvia ace avoids red for ‘disgusting’ lunge as Aaron Ramsey helps clinch crunch Euro 2024 win

    WALES fans were left raging after Janis Ikaunieks escaped a “definite red” after a disgusting challenge on Jordan James – even after a VAR check.The Welsh secured a 2-0 win in Latvia in their crunch Euro 2024 qualifier thanks to Aaron Ramsey’s first half penalty and a late David Brooks strike.
    Aaron Ramsey helped fire Wales to a crucial win in LatviaCredit: AP
    Welsh players were fuming over a challenge on Jordan JamesCredit: Reuters
    The referee deemed it only worthy of a yellow card despite a VAR checkCredit: AP
    The main talking point came midway through the second period when the 19-year-old Birmingham City midfielder knocked the ball past his Latvian rival just inside his own half.
    But despite him having no chance of winning possession, Ikaunieks nastily lunged for the ball but instead kicked the Welsh ace directly on the kneecap, leaving him writhing in agony.
    The Wales team were fuming and instantly protested with the referee as he only gave the Latvian a yellow card.
    VAR then ordered the official to check out the pitchside monitor for a possible red card for the cynical hack.
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    However, Ikaunieks ended up unbelievably staying on the field after the referee decided that his original decision would stand – leaving fans and pundits alike in disbelief.
    “One of the most blatant red cards you will ever see,” tweeted one.
    Another asked: “How has the ref not given a red for that?”
    A fellow supported said: “Player gets booted in the knee well after the ball has gone, no red card after looking at the replay for an age. Disgraceful refereeing.”
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    Ex-Wales striker Ian Walsh told BBC Radio Wales: “That is an absolute joke.
    “You talk about standards, and all the intricate rules in football now that you can and you can’t do.
    “Something as obvious as that and you’re not off the pitch. That is a disgrace.”
    And fellow former Welsh frontman Nathan Blake agreed, telling BBC Radio Wales: “I can’t believe it. That is a disgraceful decision.”
    Meanwhile, Ramsey completed a century of career goals to keep Wales’ slim hopes of reaching Euro 2024 alive.
    But the big question is will Rob Page still be in charge when their bid to reach Germany resumes next month?
    Talk of the building pressure following the disastrous back to back defeats in June dominated the build up to this game.
    And a narrow win over the group minnows – thanks to the captain’s first half spot-kick and an injury time second from sub Brooks – may not be enough to save him.
    Croatia’s win in Armenia earlier in the day coupled with three points in Riga means Wales are still fighting – although they have little margin for error in the autumn.
    This was a game they simply had to win – and after just one victory in their last 13 games nothing could be taken for granted.
    Yet they could have been ahead inside the first couple of minutes as Spurs new boy Brennan Johnson was sent clear by Ethan Ampadu but blasted his effort over the angle.
    Ampadu himself nodded a chance over while Ben Davies saw a header tipped over by Roberts Ozols in the Latvia goal.
    The result might still not be enough to save Rob Page’s jobCredit: EPA
    The Dragons were looking confident and they got the goal they deserved when Kaspars Dubra needlessly barged over Harry Wilson.
    It was a clear penalty and skipper Ramsey was cool from the spot as he sent Ozols the wrong way for his 21st international goal.
    Neco Williams and Johnson both fluffed opportunities to extend the lead and Wales were almost punished for their wastefulness at the end of the first half.
    Latvia – ranked 134th in the world – created three good chances with Ikaunieks heading the best one straight at the feet of Danny Ward.
    When Ramsey had to be withdrawn early in the second half it could have affected the visitors but they continued to dominate.
    Tottenham fans will be hoping their new £47.5million signing Johnson is saving his goals for them as he could have had a hat-trick here.
    Ikaunieks can count himself lucky to escape a red card for a wild tackle on James – with the VAR decision taking an age to sort out.
    And it would have been hard for Wales to stomach if the midfielder’s late effort went in – but luckily for them it was just the wrong side of Ward’s post.
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    But deep in stoppage time Wilson played in Brooks who expertly clipped in his first international goal since beating cancer.
    A heart-warming moment and a big three points – whether it is enough to save Page remains to be seen. More

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    England star ‘considering ditching Three Lions to play for bitter rivals Scotland’ if they make it to Euro 2024

    HARVEY BARNES is considering an international allegiance switch from England to Scotland, reports suggest.The winger, who joined Newcastle from Leicester over the summer for £38million, missed Gareth Southgate’s latest Three Lions squad.
    Harvey Barnes is considering an international switch from England to ScotlandCredit: Alamy
    Barnes has appeared for the Three Lions just onceCredit: Rex
    The 25-year-old is eligible to play for the Scots through his grandparents.
    Having earned just one cap for England – a friendly against Wales in 2020 – Barnes could be tempted to make the switch.
    He failed to make Southgate’s provisional 55-man squad for the Qatar World Cup, a long-term consequence of the injury which unfortunately also ruled him out of the Euro 2020 squad.
    Now, according to The Times, he is open-minded about the move despite declining approaches from Scotland in the past.
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    Scotland boss Steve Clarke is said to be a huge fan of Barnes.
    A 3-0 win over Cyprus has put Scotland on the cusp of Euro 2024 qualification after a stunning campaign which has also included a victory over Spain.
    Should Norway draw with Georgia in Oslo on Tuesday, Clarke’s side will be able to book their tickets to host nation Germany.
    And securing early qualification could be a contributing factor to Barnes’ decision.
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    He is also said to be aware of Clarke’s fervour for him.
    Angus Gunn is now the Scotland No1 after making his own respective switch from England earlier this year.
    Barnes Toon team-mate Elliot Anderson was called up by the Scots after binning the idea of playing for the Three Lions.
    At St James’ Park he is yet to start a game, but contributed a goal and assist in a 22-minute cameo on his debut against Aston Villa. More

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    England ratings: James Maddison wastes his opportunity and is rightly replaced while Walker is best player on the pitch

    ENGLAND dropped their first points of their EURO 2024 qualifying campaign against Ukraine.A first half goal from Oleksandr Zinchenko was cut out by Kyle Walker’s first ever England goal in his 77th game.
    England faced off against Ukraine in PolandCredit: Getty
    Gareth Southgate’s side had a 100 per cent record before the gameCredit: Getty
    England were held to a 1-1 draw
    Gareth Southgate’s side had won four on the bounce before the clash at Stadion Miejski in Wroclaw, Poland, but could only muster a 1-1 draw.
    It leaves the Three Lions on 13 points from five games with a commanding grip on the group.
    But fans were left disappointed with the quality of Channel 4’s broadcast after it cut to black in middle of the first half.
    Here is how SunSport rated the Three Lions performance.
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    Jordan Pickford – 6
    Dived the wrong way for Ukraine’s goal although there was not really much he could do about it. Had little else to do.
    Kyle Walker – 8
    England’s best player at both ends of the pitch. He had waited 12 years for this moment, since his debut against Spain, but on his 78th appearance, grabbed his first goal for England.
    It was also a decent finish while some of his defending, while using his pace, was decent. 
    Kyle Walker netted his first ever England goalCredit: Rex
    Marc Guehi – 7
    Only his fifth senior cap but delivered an extremely promising performance. Definitely one for the future.
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    Read the game well, delivered some decent blocks and was confident on the ball. He is one of the players who is now breathing down the neck of Maguire.
    Harry Maguire – 6
    Looked rusty and little wonder as he has barely played for Manchester United.
    It is a situation which simply cannot continue. Playing on the right instead of the left of central defence, he will be disappointed with the Ukraine goal although it was not all his fault. Held firm when Ukraine did surge forward.
    Ben Chilwell – 5
    With Luke Shaw injured, this was a chance for Chilwell to put forward his case for the Euros in Germany.
    He was given licence to surge forward down the left but got caught out for the goal as he failed to block the cross. Will be disappointed with his performance.
    Ben Chilwell struggled in deputising for Luke ShawCredit: Reuters
    Jude Bellingham – 5
    He has already enjoyed some good nights for England but this was definitely not one of them.
    There were too many mistakes from Bellingham who, at times, was trying a bit too hard. It was no surprise when Foden came on in his place.
    Declan Rice – 6
    Enjoying a good start at Arsenal and this was a measured performance although like Henderson, could have done better in getting into the home area for Ukraine’s goal. Yet continues to be a key player for Southgate.
    Jordan Henderson – 6
    Failed to get into the area quick enough for Ukraine’s goal and then wasted a good chance soon after when being put through by Kane.
    Many fans will have been angry that Henderson was kept on but with 78 caps to his name, his experience with a game delicately poised was invaluable.
    Jordan Henderson was far from his bestCredit: Rex
    Bukayo Saka – 6
    Fresh from picking up another England player of the year award, Baka was not great in the first half but improved considerably in the second half.
    Also, unlucky to see a terrific shot tipped onto the bar by keeper Buschan.
    Harry Kane – 7
    Bang on form for Bayern Munich, did not enjoy much service from the England midfield. 
    Showed his class with a terrific pass from the edge of the centre circle towards Walker who got the first. Hobbled a bit after taking a knock.
    James Maddison – 5
    An opportunity missed for Maddison following his sensational form for Spurs.
    This was only his fourth England appearance and while he saw plenty of the ball, did not do enough with it. Could have no complaints over being replaced.
    James Maddison struggled to make an impactCredit: Getty
    Subs:
    Marcus Rashford (for Bellingham 65 mins) – 6
    Had a free-kick well saved.
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    Phil Foden (for Maddison 66 mins) – 6
    Caused Ukraine a few problems and will surely start against Scotland. 
    Conor Gallagher (for Saka 86) – 5
    Barely touched the ball. More

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    Ukraine 1 England 1: Kyle Walker comes to the rescue after Zinchenko’s opener but Three Lions lose 100% Euro 2024 record

    KYLE WALKER’S maiden international goal, in his 77th England appearance, kept Gareth Southgate’s side on course for next summer’s Euros. A stunning assist from skipper Harry Kane allowed the outstanding Manchester City full-back to equalise just before half-time after Oleksandr Zinchenko had fired Ukraine into a shock lead. 
    Kyle Walker rescued a draw for England against UkraineCredit: AP
    Oleksandr Zinchenko fired Ukraine into the leadCredit: Getty
    Zinchenko celebrates netting the openerCredit: Reuters
    Walker netted an equaliser before half timeCredit: PA
    The goal was Walker’s first ever for EnglandCredit: Getty
    But this was England’s most disappointing performance since the World Cup group-stage draw with the United States, as they gave up their 100 per cent record in this qualifying campaign. 
    Despite a host of in-form attacking players, Southgate’s team lacked their usual fluency and failed to create enough clear-cut chances despite dominating possession at the Tarczynski Arena in the Polish city of Ukraine. 
    A passionate crowd of displaced Ukrainian fans, exiled from their war-torn homeland, roared on Sergiy Rebrov’s side, who defended stoutly and were threatening on the counter-attack. 
    England will now have to wait until next month’s Wembley clash with Italy, at the earliest, before they clinch qualification for the finals in Germany. 
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    The Three Lions now face an in-form Scotland in a Hampden Park ‘friendly’ on Tuesday and Steve Clarke’s Tartan Army will have little to fear on the basis of this sloppy display.
    Southgate could call on a clutch of players inspired by summer moves – Kane, Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice and Maddison. 
    But his most controversial selection was that of Jordan Henderson, whose switch to Saudi Pro League club Al-Ettifaq has caused a storm with LGBT fans, while also casting doubt on his international future in footballing terms. 
    Ukraine’s players were draped in their national flag for the anthems and there was a feverish atmosphere before kick-off among the thousands of Ukrainian fans living here in Poland.
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    Jordan Henderson started for England in midfieldCredit: Reuters
    Jude Bellingham started the game with confidenceCredit: Getty
    England were utterly dominant early on – with Bellingham full of confidence and invention – but they were unable to carve out a decent scoring opportunity.
    Bukayo Saka appeared to be inhibited by an early knock and Ukraine, having defended assuredly, began to grow as an attacking force. 
    There were a few shaky moments for the English defence before Ukraine seized the lead on 26 minutes.
    Their right-back Yukhym Konoplia surged down the right past Ben Chilwell and cut back for Zinchenko to drill home – England’s midfield having failed to pick up the Arsenal man’s run and Jordan Pickford diving the wrong way. 
    England were provoked into a renewed sense of urgency but Henderson skied a shot and Southgate’s side were beginning to show frustration – Maddison booked for a foul on Illia Zabarnyi. 
    Bellingham carved open the Ukraine defence with a diagonal pass but Maddison failed to capitalise with a poor first touch. 
    The place was rocking and England appeared to be wilting. They needed something out of the ordinary to equalise – and that’s what they produced.  
    Kane had dropped so deep he was standing next to his central defenders, to the side of the centre circle, when he conjured a visionary diagonal pass all of 40 yards towards Walker.
    Harry Kane set up Walker’s goalCredit: Reuters
    Walker finally netted for England on his 77th capCredit: Reuters

    The City defender chested down, rifled past Georgiy Bushchan and survived a VAR check for offside to break his duck after 12 years as an international footballer. 
    After the break Maguire headed on to the roof of the net from a Walker cross and a Henderson centre had Bushchan sprawling.
    But a sloppy Bellingham pass afforded Ukraine a half-chance but Georgiy Sudakov screwed his shot well wide. 
    England had been struggling for fluency, on a difficult playing surface, but they clicked into gear when Maddison fed Kane, who held it up and slipped a pass to Saka, the Arsenal man leathering a shot which Bushchan tipped on to the bar.
    Saka exchanged passes with Maddison, wriggled past a defender but had a shot blocked. 
    Midway through the second half, Southgate introduced Marcus Rashford and Phil Foden in place of Bellingham and Maddison, neither of whom had truly sparked. 
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    Rashford had an angled drive pushed out by Bushchan, who then saved a close-range effort from a lunging Maguire. 
    Walker capped a fine personal display with a couple of excellent late challenges to dispossess Mykhailo Mudryk as Ukraine broke menacingly.
    Gareth Southgate must not prepare his team to face ScotlandCredit: Getty More

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    Lionesses legend Jill Scott wows Channel 4 viewers with incredible keepy-up skills and puts Ballon d’Or winner to shame

    JILL SCOTT managed to wow fans and put Andriy Shevchenko to shame with her keepy-up skills on live TV.The pair were showing off their abilities during Channel 4’s coverage of England’s clash against Ukraine in the Euro 2024 qualifying.
    Jill Scott showed she still had it while showing off her skillsCredit: CHANNEL 4
    Scott pulled off a nifty skill move by balancing the ball on her neckCredit: CHANNEL 4
    Scott continued to juggle the ball and passed it to Andriy ShevchenkoCredit: CHANNEL 4
    Shevchenko could not repeat Scott’s previous skill moveCredit: CHANNEL 4
    The Lionesses legend looked like she had not lost much of her skill despite retiring from football in 2022.
    Scott, 36, managed to keep the ball up as well as pull off an impressive skill by balancing it on the back of her neck.
    Shevchenko – who won the Ballon d’Or in 2004 – however tried to copy the skill move but was not able to.
    Instead of getting the ball to come back over his head so he could continue his keep-ups, he flicked it away with his heel.
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    Former Chelsea and West Ham star Joe Cole also got involved but kept his moves a bit more simple.
    However, he was quick to praise Scott’s skills as he said: “Get in, all the jellied eels.
    “She does everything Jill Scott, unbelievable.”
    Scott however joked that she has to balance the ball on her neck because her knees “are gone”.
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    Shevchenko was one of the best strikers during his heyday as he was a prolific forward for AC Milan and Dynamo Kyiv despite a poor spell at Chelsea.
    Scott was also a star of the women’s game as she starred for the likes of Everton and Manchester City.
    She also played 161 times for England between 2006 and 2022, scoring 27 goals.
    It was a high point for Channel 4 as the broadcaster was slammed after a blunder during the coverage of the match.
    Fans were left watching a black screen as the coverage of the match in Poland went off. More