North Macedonia vs England LIVE: Euro 2024 qualifier result and reaction as Three Lions held to draw
North Macedonia 1-1 England: The Three Lions end their qualifying campaign unbeaten
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Your support makes all the difference.England were held to a drew in their final Euro 2024 qualifying fixture after another sluggish performance against North Macedonia. It was a frustrating night for the Three Lions who desperately hoped for an improved performance after they edged past Malta 2-0 on Friday.
They started well enough and had a bit of zip and tempo back in their passing which was evidently missing last week. Declan Rice hit the woodwork after just 15 minutes but the hosts grew in confidence. Rico Lewis, making his debut for the senior team, was a bright spark but a stray hand when clearing an aerial ball out of his own box forced a VAR check and North Macedonia won a penalty - Enis Bardhi slotting it past Jordan Pickford on the rebound after the goalkeeper initially saved it.
England went into the break behind but came out strongly once again. Jack Grealish thought he had an equaliser only for it to be ruled out for offside. Harry Kane’s introduction into proceedings resulted in an own goal going against the hosts but the Three Lions were unable to press their advantage and claim the win.
Relive the action from this Euro 2024 qualifier below:
North Macedonia 1-0 England
58 mins: Harry Kane is introduced into proceedings as Alexander-Arnold wins a corner kick for England. Can they make something happen from this set piece?
North Macedonia 1-0 England
55 mins: Trent Alexander-Arnold is very frustrated. He thinks he’s won a throw with a nice tackle but the referee awards it to the hosts. The Liverpool man throws the ball into the floor and yells at the official who pulls out a yellow card.
The growing frustration is more about the state of play in the game rather than the decision. England just aren’t playing that well.
North Macedonia 1-0 England
52 mins: The Harry Maguire incident from the first half, in which North Macedonia should have won penalty, means that the home fans are booing the England defender whenever he’s got the ball.
Phil Foden attempts to thread a path into the box at the other end of the pitch but there are seven defenders around him with only Ollie Watkins as a viable option to give the ball too.
NO GOAL! North Macedonia 1-0 England
49 mins: Hold up.
There’s a VAR check happening to see if this goal is going to stand. It’s a long one but the video referee determines that Grealish was offside when Saka flicked the ball over to him.
England’s equaliser is chalked off.
GOAL! North Macedonia 1-1 England (Grealish, 47’)⚽️
47 mins: Equaliser!
England have their goal and it’s a bit of brilliance from Bukayo Saka. The Arsenal man is fed the ball on the right wing.
He brings it under control and weaves into the box, skipping past two defenders before chipping the ball over to the back post where Jack Grealish taps it home!
Second half! North Macedonia 1-0 England
The hosts get the match back underway. Gareth Southgate hasn’t made any changes to the team and is trusting his players to get England back in this contest.
HT North Macedonia 1-0 England
There’ll be a lot of talk about the penalty being awarded against England but it has balanced out.
Harry Maguire was lucky not to have given one away earlier in the half despite a VAR check and Rico Lewis was unlucky to have given one away with his stray hand when jumping.
England have been slack again. At times they’re playing with two at the back without managing to transition the ball into attack clinically.
There needs to be more of a cutting edge to their play. Lots to work on for the second half.
HT North Macedonia 1-0 England
Rico Lewis is the first England player to make his debut on the eve of his birthday since Andrew Johnson in February 2005 against the Netherlands.
HT North Macedonia 1-0 England
Half-time! North Macedonia 1-0 England
45+4 mins: So, England trail in their final Euro 2024 qualifier. They’ve tried to be different tonight and move the ball quicker.
Rico Lewis is getting himself stuck into the game but was unlucky to give away the penalty. Enis Bardhi slotted the ball into the back of the net and that goal is the difference between the teams.
There’s work for Gareth Southgate to do at half-time.
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