Euro 2020 roundup: Spain qualify but David de Gea limps off
Spain needed an injury-time goal from Rodrigo to draw 1-1 with Sweden in Stockholm and book their place at Euro 2020 with two matches to spare.
They fell behind five minutes into the second half after David De Gea made a double save to deny Marcus Berg and Emil Forsberg, only for the ball to loop up in the air for Berg to nod into an empty net. Moments later De Gea had to pull off a sharp save down to his right to prevent Forsberg from doubling the lead. But Spain’s problems deepened when the Manchester United goalkeeper, who had made a stunning save to deny Robin Quaison in the first half, limped off with what appeared to be a hamstring injury. They looked on course for a first defeat of the qualifying campaign until Rodrigo fired through a crowded penalty area to clinch the draw.
Sweden were left grateful to Alexander Sørloth, who scored a late equaliser for Norway in Romania. The 1-1 draw means Romania stay a point behind the Swedes in third, while the Faroe Islands beat fellow Group F alsorans Malta 1-0.
Italy, already assured of qualification, took the lead in after just two minutes in Liechtenstein through Federico Bernardeschi. But they had to wait until the 70th minute to find the net again through Andrea Belotti’s header before Alessio Romagnoli, Stephan El Shaarawy and Belotti again wrapped up a 5-0 win.
The Norwich striker Teemu Pukki scored twice for Finland in a comfortable 3-0 victory over Armenia. He struck in the second half after Fredrik Jensen opened the scoring for the hosts, who are second behind Italy in Group J.
A late own-goal by Adnan Kovacevic dented Bosnia and Herzegovina’s chances of catching Finland as they went down 2-1 in Greece.