England defeated North Macedonia 2-0 on Tuesday night to qualify for the 2024 UEFA European Championship. The win means England will be one of the 24 teams competing in the tournament, which will be held in Germany.
The match was played at Wembley Stadium in London, England. England took the lead in the 25th minute when Harry Kane scored from the penalty spot. The second goal came in the 57th minute when Raheem Sterling scored after a fine run down the left flank.
The win was a major relief for England, who had been under pressure to qualify for the tournament. England had missed out on the 2016 and 2020 European Championships, and they were determined to make amends this time around.
The victory was also a personal triumph for England manager Gareth Southgate. Southgate has been under fire for his team’s recent performances, but he will now be able to focus on preparing for the European Championship.
England’s Performance
England started the match brightly and created several chances in the early stages. Kane had a good chance to open the scoring in the 15th minute, but his shot was saved by North Macedonia goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski.
England finally broke the deadlock in the 25th minute when Kane scored from the penalty spot. Kane was fouled by North Macedonia defender Darko Velkovski, and the referee awarded a penalty. Kane stepped up and converted the spot kick to give England the lead.
England continued to dominate the possession and created several more chances in the second half. Sterling scored the second goal in the 57th minute after a fine run down the left flank. Sterling cut inside and fired a low shot past Dimitrievski to double England’s lead.
North Macedonia tried to create some chances in the closing stages, but England defended well and held on for the win.
What Next for England?
England will now turn their attention to the 2024 European Championship, which will be held in Germany. England will be one of the favorites to win the tournament, and they will be looking to go one step further than they did in 2020, when they reached the semi-finals.
England will be drawn into Group A for the European Championship, along with Germany, the Netherlands, and Ukraine. The group stage will be played from June 14 to 23, 2024.
Gareth Southgate will be hoping that his team can continue their good form and challenge for the European Championship title. Southgate has a talented squad at his disposal, and he will be looking to lead England to their first European Championship title since 1966.
