Germany top as Irish close in on Euro 2016
ENGLAND became the first team to qualify for Euro 2016 yesterday thanks to a 6-0 win away to perennial whipping boys San Marino.
Wayne Rooney set the ball rolling when he scored an early penalty to equal Bobby Charlton’s England record of 49 international goals.
A Cristian Brolli own goal had them further in front by the interval, and Ross Barkley added the third before Theo Walcott grabbed a brace either side of a Harry Kane goal.
Roy Hodgson’s side have won all seven matches played so far in qualifying Group E and are certain to finish in the top two in the section.
Striker Mario Goetze scored twice in a 3-1 win over Poland which put Germany top in their group as Northern Ireland moved closer to the Euro 2016 finals by beating the Faroe Islands 3-1 on Friday.
Georgia’s 1-0 home win over Scotland, who Germany play in Glasgow tomorrow, and the Republic of Ireland’s 4-0 thumping of Gibraltar means Germany are top with 16 points with Poland second on 14, while Ireland go third with 12, one ahead of the Scots.
“We had just one objective — to win the match, it was the most important,” said Germany coach Joachim Loew.
“Overall I can only be very satisfied, we produced some super football in the first 35 minutes.”
All four goals came from Bayern Munich players as Thomas Mueller gave Germany an early lead, then Goetze made it 2-0 before Poland captain Robert Lewandowski pulled one back with a diving header for 2-1 at the break. Mueller and Goetze then combined for Germany’s third on 82 minutes.
Russia coach Leonid Slutsky got off to a winning start with a 1-0 Euro 2016 qualifying victory over Sweden which keeps the team’s hopes of the finals alive with three matches left.
A first-half Artem Dzyuba goal set Russia on their way to a hard-fought win in Moscow.
Russia stay third in Group G but closed the gap on secondplaced Sweden to a point, with leaders Austria playing Moldova later yesterday.
The home team dominated and in the 38th minute Roman Shirokov back-heeled the ball into the area to Igor Smolnikov, who found the unmarked Dzyuba and he sent the ball into an unguarded corner.
After the interval Sweden manager Erik Hamren boosted his team’s attack, bringing in Ola Toivonen in place of skipper Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Sweden started to get into the game, pinning Russia back and in the 62nd minute the Rennes striker had a clear chance to level, but Russian goalie Igor Akinfeyev parried his powerful close-range shot.
Russia looked visibly tired late in the game, but the Swedes failed to take advantage of their superior fitness.
Emil Forsberg missed Sweden’s last chance in stoppage time as his powerful low attempt from the edge of the area was cleared by Akinfeyev for a corner.
Euro 2016 hosts France ended their run of defeats with a 1-0 friendly win over Portugal in Lisbon thanks to a late Mathieu Valbuena free kick.
In Group I Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal were the big winners despite not playing a game, after group rivals Denmark and Albania played a 0-0 draw in Copenhagen.
Portugal lead the group with 12 points, one ahead of Albania and Denmark.
Albania host Portugal tomorrow, with the Scandinavians travelling to modest Armenia, who lost 2-0 to Serbia, bottom of the table after being deducted three points. — AFP
Overall I can only be very satisfied, we produced some super football in the first 35 minutes