Italy win 5-0 against Liechtenstein to equal record
An inexperienced Italy side eased to a 5-0 win at Liechtenstein in a European Championship qualifier on Tuesday to equal the record number of consecutive wins for the Azzurri.
Andrea Belotti scored twice while Federico Bernardeschi, Alessio Romagnoli and Stephan El Shaarawy added a goal apiece to help Italy to its ninth successive win, equaling the record set between 1938-39.
Having already qualified for Euro 2020 with Saturday's 2-0 victory over Greece, Italy made 10 changes to its team.
Bernardeschi put the visitors ahead after less than two minutes, when he volleyed in Cristiano Biraghi's cross, but Italy had to wait until the 70th for the second goal.
Goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu had to pull off several saves to prevent an equalizer before Belotti headed in a corner to double the Azzurri's lead.
That opened up the floodgates as Romagnoli headed in another in the 77th on an assist from El Shaarawy, who got on the scoresheet himself five minutes later following a through-ball from Bryan Cristante.
Belotti doubled his tally in stoppage time with another header.
Switzerland beats Ireland 2-0 in Euro 2020 qualifying
Switzerland regained control of its European Championship qualifying destiny by beating outmanned Ireland 2-0 in the tight Group D on Tuesday.
Haris Seferovic gave the Swiss a deserved lead in the 16th minute with a low shot from just outside the area. With the last kick of the game, an own goal by Shane Duffy settled an often testy game on a ragged, rain-soaked Stade de Geneve pitch.
In a three-way fight for two qualifying places, Switzerland remains in third place, one point behind Ireland and Denmark. However, Switzerland and Denmark both have two games left to play next month — including against last-place minnow Gibraltar — while Ireland has only a must-win home clash with the Danes.
Ireland will be without suspended captain Seamus Coleman who was shown a second yellow card Tuesday for conceding a penalty for handball.
Switzerland's 77th-minute spotkick by Ricardo Rodriguez was saved by Darren Randolph, diving to his left to push the ball against the post.
Ireland struggled to create chances, showing why it is the lowest-scoring team of those currently occupying a qualifying place in the 10 groups.
Only in first-half stoppage time did Ireland first piece together a series of neat passes in attack. The shooting chance created for James Collins then lacked power to test Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer.
Ireland must add to its tally of just six goals in seven games at home to Denmark on Nov. 18. Three days earlier, Denmark hosts last-place Gibraltar which fell to a sixth straight loss Tuesday, 3-2 against Georgia.
Switzerland plays Gibraltar away on Nov. 18, and will also be favored to first beat Georgia at home.
Whichever team finishes third in Group D will get another chance to advance to Euro 2020 in the playoffs in March.
Armenia falls
Armenia's hopes of qualifying for a major tournament for the first time as an independent nation took a hit after a 3-0 loss at Finland.
A win could have allowed the Armenians, who played without the injured Henrikh Mkhitaryan, to leapfrog Finland for second place in Group J. It can still qualify, but only with victories in its last two games against Greece and at Italy.
Finland is guaranteed at least a playoff place because it won its group in the UEFA Nations League, as is Bosnia and Herzegovina, which lost 2-1 at already eliminated Greece but also remains with chances of qualifying directly for Euro 2020.