North Macedonia vs England LIVE: Euro 2024 qualifier result and ...
North Macedonia 1-1 England: The Three Lions end their qualifying campaign unbeaten
Southgate - 'Performance is the priority' against 'wounded' North Macedonia
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England were held to a drew in their final Euro 2024 qualifying fixture after another sluggish performance against North Macedonia. It was a frustrating night for the Three Lions who desperately hoped for an improved performance after they edged past Malta 2-0 on Friday.
They started well enough and had a bit of zip and tempo back in their passing which was evidently missing last week. Declan Rice hit the woodwork after just 15 minutes but the hosts grew in confidence. Rico Lewis, making his debut for the senior team, was a bright spark but a stray hand when clearing an aerial ball out of his own box forced a VAR check and North Macedonia won a penalty - Enis Bardhi slotting it past Jordan Pickford on the rebound after the goalkeeper initially saved it.
England went into the break behind but came out strongly once again. Jack Grealish thought he had an equaliser only for it to be ruled out for offside. Harry Kane’s introduction into proceedings resulted in an own goal going against the hosts but the Three Lions were unable to press their advantage and claim the win.
Relive the action from this Euro 2024 qualifier below:
This was only the third time in their last 26 European Championship qualifiers that England have failed to win (won 23, drawn two, lost one).
They’ve gone two consecutive away Euro qualifiers without a win for the first time since March 2007 under Steve McClaren.
Mike Jones20 November 2023 22:05
England failed to beat a side ranked as low as 66th in the Fifa Rankings for the first time since October 2016 in a goalless draw with Slovenia (67th at the time), in what was Gareth Southgate’s second game in charge.
Mike Jones20 November 2023 22:01
Elsewhere in Euro 2024 qualifying Italy, the Czech Republic and Slovenia have all secured their spots for next summer’s tournament.
Italy, the reigning European champions, held on for a 0-0 draw against Ukraine to scrape through thanks to a better head-to-head record.
Czech Republic earned a 3-0 win over Moldova, while Slovenia’s 2-1 victory over Kazakhstan takes them to Germany.
Mike Jones20 November 2023 21:57
90+6 mins: England finish their European Championship qualifying campaign unbeaten. They finish their calender year unbeaten, they’ll be in pot one for the seeding at next summer’s Euros.
By most markers this is a good result but England will be disappointed with the performance again. They cancelled out a controversial penalty thanks to an own goal.
It’s been lacklustre international break and Gareth Southgate has some planning to do for next year.
Mike Jones20 November 2023 21:44
90+3 mins: Mark Guehi sends the ball long and picks out Harry Kane. He nods the ball down for Phil Foden but England retreat from the final third.
They’ve not been on it at all in these two matches.
Mike Jones20 November 2023 21:41
90 mins: Six minutes of added time to play in Skopje as Marcus Rashford lines up a free kick. He goes for goal, catches it well enough and fires it wide of the far post.
Is there time for a winning goal?
Mike Jones20 November 2023 21:37
87 mins: Walker takes out Elmas as the North Macedonian forward looks to come forward down the left side. The free kick is taken short and comes out to Elmas on the same wing.
He swings in a cross and finds Nikola Serafimov who pumps a headed effort over the top of the crossbar.
Mike Jones20 November 2023 21:34
84 mins: Phil Foden is doing his best to get England a winner. He’s sending a lot of balls into the box and looking for willing runners. One of them is Bukayo Saka who nods a chance wide of the post.
A triple change now comes from Gareth Southgate with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jack Grealish and Saka himself being taken off the pitch.
Cole Palmer, Marcus Rashford, and Kalvin Phillips come on for the final few minutes. Can they have an impact?
Mike Jones20 November 2023 21:31
81 mins: Close! England are awarded a free kick over on the left side of the pitch and Phil Foden swings the ball over to the far post. Harry Maguire leaps highest to win the ball and nods it straight at the goalkeeper who manages to cling onto the ball.
Mike Jones20 November 2023 21:28
78 mins: Chance! Phil Foden and Harry Kane do brilliantly to win the ball back high up the pitch. It comes out to Trent Alexander-Arnold who threads a superb pass into the box for Jack Grealish.
There are white shirts flying forward but Grealish’s pass into the six yard box it too high and sails over everyone’s heads. Chance goes begging.
Mike Jones20 November 2023 21:26
