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 vs North Macedonia
England have never lost a game against North Macedonia (won two, drawn two), with this the first meeting between the nations since a goalless draw at Old Trafford in October 2006.
North Macedonia have never lost an away game against England, drawing 2-2 at St Mary’s in October 2002 and 0-0 at Old Trafford in October 2006, both in European Championship qualifiers.
England team changes
Gareth Southgate makes just two changes to the England side that defeated Malta on Friday. John Stones replaces Marc Guehi and James Maddison drops out for Marcus Rashford.
Bukayo Saka is fit to start.
England line-up
England XI: Pickford; Walker, Stones, Maguire, Shaw; Alexander-Arnold, Rice, Henderson; Saka, Kane, Rashford
Gareth Southgate sees a tougher test for his team at Old Trafford
England boss Gareth Southgate says Monday’s European Championship qualifier against North Macedonia will be a “step up” from the win over Malta.
Southgate’s men conclude their season with the fixture at Old Trafford, three days after beating Malta 4-0 away to make it three victories from three matches in Group C.
Southgate told a press conference on Sunday regarding North Macedonia: “They should have won the other night against Ukraine, really.”
Gareth Southgate sees a tougher test for his team at Old Trafford
The England boss says North Macedonia will not be pushovers in Monday’s European Championship qualifying match.
Southgate on Alexander-Arnold
The match against Malta was surprising for how well Trent Alexander-Arnold performed in creative midfield role but Southgate says that he was in no doubt the Liverpool defender was up to the task.
“There’s never been any doubt in my mind that he can do it,” revealed Southgate after the match on Friday, “Tonight was slightly different to with his club, but I think it really suits his game as he’s able to get wide and he’s in all the areas that he gets in when he attacks as a right-back.
“Defensively it’s a slightly different role for him but he’s still learning that and it’s going to take a bit of time. He’s excited about it, we know the quality that he can bring and it gives us something different.
“We’d like it to be an option, he has a different profile to our other midfielders and I’m really pleased for him. We spoke about it around four weeks ago and he was excited about it and eager to learn about it.
“He scored a great goal, a great pass for the first and he was involved in the third.”
Gareth Southgate reacts to victory over Malta
The England boss admitted that it was no surprise his team performed well against Malta especially after seeing the intensity of the squad’s work since reporting for international duty.
“The attitude of the players all week has been exceptional and they really took that into the opening half-hour especially,” he said.
“The desire to work to win the ball back as quickly as possible and the pressing was something that’s become very signature for us but we did it very well today.
“The quality of the goals was really pleasing and we’ve managed to get players onto the pitch that we wanted to see and players off the pitch that we wanted to get off so we’re very pleased.
“But we’re very conscious that it’s six points we want and it will be another step up in intensity on Monday night, so we’ve got to be ready for that.”
Marcus Rashford’s complicated England relationship could be at turning point
David Beckham did it but Bobby Charlton never did. Wayne Rooney did but Bryan Robson didn’t. Marcus Rashford, along with Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw, is likely to join a select group of Manchester United players, those who have represented England at Old Trafford. Face North Macedonia on Monday and for Rashford, like Gary Neville before him, it could be a still more special occasion, for a Mancunian and a United fan.
It feels a fitting place for Rashford’s season of renaissance to end. His revival gathered pace at the World Cup when, after going 16 months without representing England, he scored 49 seconds after coming on against Iran and scored three goals in only 137 minutes. Twenty of his career-best total of 30 club goals came at Old Trafford. England’s first game on his home turf for 16 years feels well-timed for the recent recipient of United’s Sir Matt Busby award as their player of the year.
And yet Rashford’s relationship with his country feels more complicated. He has an unwanted reputation for pulling out of squads for friendlies and went on holiday to New York in March when injured; Gareth Southgate had no problem with that and does not question his commitment. “He does love playing for England, he’s very proud to play for England and I’m sure an England game at Old Trafford will be a special moment for him,” he said.
Marcus Rashford’s complicated England relationship could be at turning point
Gareth Southgate admits the Man Utd forward isn’t the easiest person to read but a breakthrough may be coming
England vs North Macedonia prediction
England to take another step towards the finals in Germany next summer with a straight-forward victory by at least a couple of goals.
England 3-0 North Macedonia.
England vs North Macedonia predicted line-ups
England XI: Pickford, Walker, Stones, Maguire, Shaw, Alexander-Arnold, Rice, Henderson, Foden, Kane, Rashford
North Macedonina XI: Dimitrievski, Ristovski, Zajkov, Velkovski, Ashkovski, Ademi, Bardhi, Alioski, Elmas, Nestorovski, Trajkovski
What is the England team news?
Bukayo Saka was subbed off against Malta with a knock so might not feature, while Eberechi Eze will hope for a second cap after making his debut off the bench.
Gareth Southgate’s big decisions will be over how many Man City stars to bring into the lineup, with John Stones most likely but Kyle Walker, Jack Grealish and Kalvin Phillips all hoping to feature too. Phil Foden is the fifth member and he might replace Saka from the start, having done so in the last match.
Trent Alexander-Arnold continuing in midfield against an opponent which represents a slight step-up is also another possibility.
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