Italy wins lackluster: Ronaldo’s brace sweetens Portugal’s runaway victory

Italy wins lackluster
Ronaldo’s brace sweetens Portugal’s runaway victory

03/26/2023, 11:20 p.m

Cristiano Ronaldo scores twice in qualifying for the European Football Championship for Portugal, who are top of Group J. Defending champions Italy are hot on the heels of England, who are also victorious. The game against Kazakhstan takes an unexpected turn for the Danes.

Defending champions Italy have avoided a complete false start to qualifying for the 2024 European Football Championship in Germany. Three days after losing 2-1 at home to England in the re-run of the 2021 EURO final, coach Roberto Mancini’s team celebrated a lackluster 2-0 (2-0) win at underdogs Malta in Attard on Sunday. With three points, Italy are second in Group C behind England, who previously beat Ukraine 2-0 (2-0) in London.

Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo’s brace propelled Portugal to the top of Group J. In his 198th appearance for the 2016 European champions, the 38-year-old international world record holder scored the goals to make it 1-0 (9th minute) and 4-0 (31st) in a 6-0 (4-0) win in Luxembourg . The other goals were scored by Joao Felix (15′), Bernado Silva (18′), Otavio (77′) and Rafael Leao (88′). After beating Liechtenstein 4-0 at the start, Portugal are top of Group J.

Denmark had previously experienced an unpleasant surprise. The ex-European champion lost a 2-0 lead against Kazakhstan within 16 minutes and lost 2-3 (2-0) in Nur-Sultan. Rasmus Höjlund (21st and 36th minute) put the favorites ahead with a brace. Bakhtijar Saynutdinov (73′) from the penalty spot, Aschat Taguibergen (86′) and Abat Aimbetov (89′) turned the game around in a turbulent final phase in favor of the hosts, where the winning goalscorer had to leave the field with yellow-red in injury time.

England got off to a flawless start in EURO qualifiers. The European Championship second at London’s Wembley Stadium against Ukraine 2-0 (2-0). Harry Kane (37th minute) with his 55th international goal and Bukayo Saka (40th) ensured success in Group C with their goals in the first half. Before the game started there was an appeal for peace in Ukraine, the was attacked by Russia more than a year ago. The scoreboard read “Peace” in English and Ukrainian, and both teams gathered for a photo on the field behind a Ukrainian flag that read “Peace”.