Italy qualify for Euro 2020 with 2-0 win over Greece

Italy overcame Greece's defensive tactics for a 2-0 win Saturday and qualified for the European Championship, ensuring the Azzurri will play in the tournament's opening match in Rome next June.

Brazilian-born midfielder Jorginho converted a penalty after the hour mark after a blatant handball by Andreas Bouchalakis.

Then substitute Federico Bernardeschi scored from outside the area with a low, bouncing shot that was deflected.

Roberto Mancini's squad extended its perfect record in Group J to seven wins in seven matches — a sharp contrast from when Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup following a playoff loss to Sweden nearly two years ago.

With three qualifiers remaining, Italy has a full 21 points, nine more than second-place Finland. Greece, which has five points, had already lost hope of qualifying.

There were nearly 60,000 fans at the Stadio Olimpico in anticipation of the qualifying celebration but they were kept quiet for much of the night as Greece defended in large numbers.

The visitors produced the only shot on goal of the first half while Italy was temporarily playing with 10 men due to a knock to left back Danilo D'Ambrosio.

Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma made a one-handed reflex save on a dangerous effort from Dimitris Limnios.

Things got worse for Italy when winger Federico Chiesa, perhaps the Azzurri's best performer over the course of qualifying, limped off before the break with an apparent thigh issue. Chiesa was replaced by Bernardeschi.

Italy began to threaten more after the break and earned a penalty when Bouchalakis stuck out his arm to block a shot from Lorenzo Insigne that appeared on target.

Jorginho, who holds dual citizenship, sent goalkeeper Alexandros Paschalakis the wrong way after a nervous buildup to the spot kick as the referee took his time putting the players in order.

Fifteen minutes later, Bernardeschi took a pass from captain Leonardo Bonucci and scored his first Italy goal in more than a year.

Spain held by Norway after late Josh King penalty

A late Josh King penalty earned Norway a deserved 1-1 draw against Spain in Euro 2020 qualification at the Ullevaal Stadium on Saturday night in Oslo.

The loss breaks Spain's streak of 14 Euro qualifying wins and delays the Group F leader's efforts to clinch a spot at next year's European Championship final.

Norway did well to hold Spain scoreless in the first half, but the group leaders would find their opener soon after the restart when Saul pounced on a poor clearance and smashed a volley off the fingertips of an outstretched Rune Jarstein in Norway's goal to take the lead.

Spain gave Norway plenty of chances throughout the second half and it came back to bite them in stoppage time when keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga clattered into Omar Elabdellaoui and referee Michael Oliver pointed directly to the spot.

King stepped up and cooly slotted home past Kepa to earn his team the point and keep Norway's hopes of qualifying for next year's finals alive.

Next up for Spain in Group F is an Oct. 15 match against Sweden, who sit second after beating Malta on Saturday, a match that Sergio Ramos will miss due to card accumulation after picking up a yellow against Norway.

Ireland labour to dismal draw against Georgia

Republic of Ireland's hopes of qualifying for Euro 2020 suffered a setback on Saturday as they were held to an insipid 0-0 draw away to Georgia.

Mick McCarthy's side remain top of Group D on 12 points, but failure to win in Tbilisi has given Switzerland and Denmark – who they face in their final two games – hope of reeling them in.

The visitors offered almost no attacking threat in what was a truly woeful display, with John Egan's header against the post early on their only chance of note.

Qualification is still in Ireland's hands but they will need a significantly improved performance when they travel to Switzerland on Tuesday if they are to progress to the finals next year.

Georgia dominated possession throughout the first half but were unable to test Darren Randolph in the Ireland goal.

Valeri Qazaishvili squandered their best opportunity shortly before the interval, dragging wide from 18 yards after a swift counter-attack.

At the other end, Egan headed against Giorgi Loria's left-hand post after four minutes in what was the visitors' only clear sight of goal in a dire opening period.

Any hopes of an improved performance by Ireland after the break were soon dispelled, with the visitors swiftly settling back into their lacklustre rhythm.

Jeff Hendrick volleyed into the side netting from an acute angle 15 minutes from time as McCarthy's men toiled in attack once more.

Substitute Aaron Connolly fired into the side netting in stoppage time after a quick break, while Shane Duffy headed straight at the goalkeeper, as Ireland fell short of what would have been an undeserved win.

Ireland remain unbeaten after six games but this will feel like a huge opportunity missed for McCarthy and his men. A win would have meant Ireland could have settled for draws in their final group games, but this result likely makes victory necessary from at least one of their remaining matches against their closest rivals. On this evidence, that will not be an easy task.

The Burnley midfielder was comfortably Ireland's brightest spark. His end product was lacking but he brought an energy that was sorely missing from the majority of his teammates.