England defeated the Republic of Ireland 5-0 on Sunday to secure promotion to the Nations League top division, with four players scoring their first international goals, while Adrien Rabiot scored twice for France in a victory against Italy. Erling Haaland scored a hat trick to help Norway finish first in League B. Euro 2024 runner-ups England finished first in Group B2 in interim manager Lee Carsley’s final game before Thomas Tuchel took over as manager. Some of these players are good, so it’s not a gamble to play them.”
Greece finished second in the group, despite defeating Finland 2-0 in the other game, and will advance to the playoffs in March. England struggled to break down a stubborn Ireland in the first half at Wembley Stadium, with Noni Madueke twice having attempts stopped following dangerous bursts into the area. The game shifted immediately after the break when Liam Scales took down Jude Bellingham following a great pass from Harry Kane, giving up a penalty and being sent off for a second bookable offense.
Kane stepped up and slotted his penalty past Ireland goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher. England extended their lead in the 56th minute when Tino Livramento’s deflected cross found Newcastle teammate Anthony Gordon, who volleyed home his first international goal.
Carsley’s team scored their third goal in five minutes when Conor Gallagher stabbed in a Marc Guehi flick-on from a corner, scoring for the first time for his country. Taylor Harwood-Bellis, making his England debut as a substitute, finished the scoring in the 79th minute with a header from Bellingham’s cross.
Rabiot defeats Azzurri
France defeated Italy 3-1 at the San Siro to take top spot in Group A2. Les Bleus knew a two-goal victory would put them ahead of Italy in an otherwise meaningless match, as both teams had already advanced to the quarter-finals in March.
Rabiot headed in a second-minute goal from Lucas Digne’s corner. Digne, a left-back, contributed significantly to France’s second goal in the 33rd minute with a stunning free-kick from long range that struck the wall before hitting the back of Italy goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario and looping in for an own goal.
Andrea Cambiaso immediately equalized for the hosts, but Rabiot superbly headed home another Digne set-piece in the middle of the second half to complete his 50th France appearance with two goals.