England vs Ukraine LIVE: Final score and goal updates from Euro 2024 qualifier today
Gareth Southgate is targeting back-to-back wins after England beat Italy on Thursday
England host Ukraine in their next qualifying fixture for Euro 2024 as Gareth Southgate’s men try to make it tow wins from two following their historic victory over Italy last week.
A first win in Italy since 1961 gave Southgate’s team the perfect start to Group C, although the manager was happier with his side’s first half performance rather than the second as they held on for a 2-1 victory with 10 men. “We showed two sides without a doubt,” said the Three Lions boss.
Harry Kane broke the all-time goalscoring record in that outing with a first-half penalty. Calmly despatched by the England captain, it was Kane’s first international match since he missed a second penalty in the quarter-final defeat to France at the World Cup.
Ahead of tonight’s qualifier, more than 1,000 Ukrainians have been invited to Wembley as guests of the FA following Russia’s invasion of the country, with England also planning a display of solidarity before kick off.
Follow all the action as England host Ukraine in the Euro 2024 qualifiers:
England’s intelligent schemer Bukayo Saka is becoming a talisman
Wembley brought the lowest moment of Bukayo Saka’s career but Wembley has also witnessed further proof has displayed the strength of character and talent to respond to his Euro 2020 penalty miss. A three-minute double of an assist and a goal put England on the fast track to Euro 2024, just as Saka’s own journey to redemption has been swift. As Arsenal can testify, he has a capacity to be the difference maker and an ability to elevate games with a lovely left foot and his footballing intelligence. It seems equally useful in the international game.
After three goals in the World Cup, Saka’s second in the national stadium for the national team completed a salvo to see off Ukraine. He had been supplier before he was scorer and it was entirely unsurprising who broke the deadlock. Harry Kane’s record of 54 goals for England lasted for three days, before he extended it to 55. He was presented with a golden boot beforehand to mark his achievement in overhauling Wayne Rooney’s tally; his daughters were mascots and it was entirely typical that Kane marked the occasion with a goal. There can be a routine feel to his exploits but, on a day when England were without Marcus Rashford, Mason Mount, Raheem Sterling and Phil Foden, they needed someone to step up.
Men from either half of north London did. If Kane has long since been a talisman, Saka is coming to assume a similar status. Well organised and diligent, Ukraine had survived for 36 minutes with few alarms. Then Tottenham and Arsenal teamed up profitably. It was a particularly long-distance one-two. Kane’s playmaking skills were apparent as he spread play with a diagonal ball to Saka. He whipped in a cross and Kane, arriving in the box, supplied the volleyed finish with his left knee. It was scarcely an elegant finish but records are not secured by elegance alone.
England’s intelligent schemer Bukayo Saka is becoming a talisman
England 2-0 Ukraine: The Arsenal winger scored a sublime goal to cap off a dominant Euro 2024 qualifying victory at Wembley
Southgate on Saka and Bellingham
“It is the mentality that is the outstanding part. Everyone can see technical quality but these two boys have the humility and want to learn. They work unbelievably hard and they are a joy to work with.
“It is a top-level finish [from Saka]. That is the ruthless part he has added to his game in the last 18 months or so. There were times you weren’t sure he was going to finish but now he has that confidence in front of goal.”
Reaction from Gareth Southgate
England boss Gareth Southgate, speaking to Channel 4: “Really pleased, really pleased with the performance today. In Italy we played very well with the ball in the first half. In the second half we conceded possession cheaply but had to show resilience.
“We made a difficult game look straightforward. The way-in was either through James Maddison or Bukayo Saka. We stuck to the task really well.
“[Maddison and Chilwell] know each other well, they have played together at Leicester and that was helpful. Maddison found the spaces well and he had a super game and that didn’t surprise me as he has the personality to play that way.”
England’s star man
Bukayo Saka, who both scored and assisted against Ukraine, has had a hand in 10 goals in his last 16 games for England in all competitions.
Aged 21 years and 202 days, Bukayo Saka has scored eight goals for England; only Dixie Dean (16), Jimmy Greaves (16), Wayne Rooney (12) and Michael Owen (10) had scored more at Saka’s age.
Full quotes from Jude Bellingham
“It’s important we followed the good result in Italy with a win tonight. It feels rewarding.
“There’s so much I’ve got to learn. I want to win the game in two ends of the pitch. I’ve always wanted to be someone who can do a bit of everything. I have the best chances with the ones in that dressing room. Every chance I get I want to learn about the game.
“A lot of it at Dortmund I’m involved in the build-up more. I always feel I get a sense of where the ball lands and I felt I could have done that better today. It’s all experience learning that. When I’m playing I’m thinking about a million things and where I can be better.
“It feels like we have a really good atmosphere in the changing room. We want to express ourselves but there’s a side of us with a bit of nastiness. We need to cover all sides of the game and I think we’re doing that really well at the moment.
“That would be the biggest dream and the biggest honour in football I think is to captain your country. There’s a long pecking order that I highly respect and I’ll wait my turn. In the meantime it’s picking up what I can learn from them. This is the best place to do it.
“We should be looking to win every game. You set yourself a standard and an expectation and it’s important you match that. We have to carry that on for the rest of the qualification campaign.”
Reaction from Jude Bellingham
“I’m like a sponge at the moment. Any chance to learn about the game.
“At Dortmund I’m involved in the build-up a bit more. I’m usually good at judging where the ball [would come] but felt today I was a yard away or two away from where the ball was going to drop.
“[Captaining England]It’s the biggest dream, the biggest honour but there’s a long pecking order. I’ll wait my time but it’s all about trying to learn from the guys.”
FT England 2-0 Ukraine
Ukraine didn’t have a single shot on target in this match. This is going to be one of the easier matches for Jordan Pickford in an England shirt.
Full-time: England 2-0 Ukraine
90+3 mins: A controlled and clinical England get the job done at Wembley. Goals from Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka ensures that the Three Lions continue their winning run in Euro 2024 qualifying.
England are top of Group C with six points from their first two matches and will play Malta and North Macedonia in June.
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