England vs North Macedonia LIVE: Result and reaction from Euro 2024 qualifier as Bukayo Saka nets hat-trick
England 7-0 North Macedonia: Bukayo Saka’s hat-trick was the icing on the cake for ruthless England
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Your support makes all the difference.England earned another win in their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign with a ruthless display against North Macedonia at Old Trafford. The visitors had never lost in England and for 20 minutes looked up to the task of keeping the Three Lions quiet despite the gulf in quality.
Harry Kane’s opener, turned in from a Luke Shaw pass, opened the floodgates and Gareth Southgate’s men feasted on a plethora of chances. No more so than Bukayo Saka, the brightest rising star of England’s next cohort. He opened his own account with a fine twist and finish inside the box before adding two more after half-time to earn a first career hat-trick.
He is forming a cut-throat partnership with Trent Alexander-Arnold, once again pushed into midfield, which could become the foundation stone of Southgate’s next European Championship campaign.
There were impressive performances elsewhere too. Marcus Rashford was a constant threat on the left and became the first Mancheser United player to score for England at Old Trafford since David Beckham. He made a strong case to start ahead of Jack Grealish and Raheem Sterling tonight and there was also a first international goal for substitute Kalvin Phillips who was left with a tap-in inside the box.
Relive all the action as England battered North Macedonia at Old Trafford:
England 0-0 North Macedonia
27 mins: Here’s a chance for England now. They win a free kick over on the inside right side of North Macedonia’s final third.
Trent Alexander-Arnold swings in the set piece but Stefan Ristovski, with a freshly bandaged head after his clash with Harry Kane, is on hand to nod it behind for a corner.
England 0-0 North Macedonia
24 mins: Halfway through the first half and North Macedonia are playing well. They’re defending deep, in a low block as expected, but England haven’t been able to break them down with a clear cut chance yet.
England 0-0 North Macedonia
21 mins: Rashford is by far England’s biggest threat over on this left side. England are patient and work the ball around the edge of the box as North Macedonia defend in numbers.
He looks for another low cross but the ball is deflected out for a corner.
England 0-0 North Macedonia
18 mins: Rashford receives the ball out wide on the left wing and cuts inside on his way into the box. He weaves past two defenders and drills a ball across the face of goal but Dimitrievski smothers it and ends the attack.
England 0-0 North Macedonia
15 mins: Jordan Henderson lifts a nice ball into the box from the right side and it’s a teasing one for Harry Kane. He throws himself at the ball just as Stefan Ristovski nods it clear.
The two clash heads and the England captain needs some treatment.
England 0-0 North Macedonia
12 mins: Harry Kane turns into a supplier for the first time tonight with a lovely ball through to Marcus Rashford. He kicks into gear and bursts towards the box but can’t get past Darko Velkovski who covers the run brilliantly.
England 0-0 North Macedonia
9 mins: Trent Alexander-Arnold whips in a corner for England and picks out John Stones who heads it over the crossbar.
Harry Maguire goes up for the same ball but just meets the back of Stones’ head.
England 0-0 North Macedonia
6 mins: Marcus Rashford’s first foray with the ball sees him dart into the box from the left but he can’t pick out a teammate.
North Macedonia work the ball nicely down thw other end but Harry Maguire is well position on the edge of the box and wins back the ball.
England 0-0 North Macedonia
3 mins: There were doubts over the fitness of Bukayo Saka after he was subbed off early against Malta but he’s fit to start tonight for England.
The Arsenal man is played into the box down the right side and gets off an early strike which fizzes towards the near post but doesn’t beat Stole Dimitrievski.
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