Four players scored their first goals for their country on Sunday as England easily defeated the ten-man Republic of Ireland 5-0 to secure promotion to the top division of the Nations League. Erling Haaland also scored a hat-trick to help Norway win their group.
Euro 2024 runners-up England secured top spot in Group B2 in Lee Carsley’s final game in interim charge before the arrival of Thomas Tuchel as manager.
Greece will advance to the playoffs in March after finishing second in the group despite defeating Finland 2-0 in the other match.
Noni Madueke twice had attempts stopped after threatening bursts into the box as England struggled to defeat a determined Ireland in the first half at Wembley.
Shortly after the half, Liam Scales gave up a penalty and was sent off for a second bookable offence when he brought down Jude Bellingham following a brilliant pass from Harry Kane.
Kane stepped up and beat Caoimhin Kelleher, the Ireland goalkeeper, with his spot kick.
Tino Livramento’s deflected cross to Newcastle teammate Anthony Gordon, who volleyed home his first international goal, gave England a two-goal lead in the 56th minute.
Conor Gallagher scored his first goal for his country and Carsley’s team’s third goal in five minutes when he stabbed in a Marc Guehi flick-on from a corner.
Just seconds after entering as a substitute, Jarrod Bowen joined in the celebration by scoring his first England goal with his first touch.
In the 79th minute, Bellingham’s cross was headed in by Taylor Harwood-Bellis, who had just entered the game as a substitute for his England debut.
– Haaland fires Norway into League A –
As Norway defeated Kazakhstan 5-0 to finish first in Group B3, ahead of Austria, who were held to a 1-1 draw by Slovenia, Haaland was at his most destructive.
In the 23rd minute, the Manchester City star pounced on a rebound to break the tie.
14 minutes after Haaland’s 37th goal for his country, Antonio Nusa added a Norwegian goal to cap off a strong first half.
With 19 minutes left, Haaland turned away from his marker on the edge of the area and finished low into the bottom corner with his right foot to complete his fourth treble for Norway.
After Austria gave up a late equalizer to Slovenia in Vienna, Norway won automatic promotion thanks to another goal from Nusa.
Later, Italy hosts France in Group A2, knowing that if they avoid losing by two goals or more, they will finish first, ahead of their rivals.
Both teams have already qualified for the quarter-finals.
Published by Ejoh Caleb
