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 vs England line-ups
North Macedonia XI: Dimitrievski, Manev, Serafimov, Musliu, Dimoski, Atanasov, Alimi, Alioski, Miovski, Bardhi, Elmas
England XI: Pickford, Walker, Maguire, Guehi, Lewis, Alexander-Arnold, Rice, Saka, Foden, Grealish, Watkins
Kieran Trippier withdraws from England squad ahead of trip to North Macedonia
Kieran Trippier will play no part in England’s final Euro 2024 qualifier as the defender has withdrawn from the national team squad due to a personal matter.
The team underwent their final training session at Tottenham Hotspur’s training ground earlier today before they fly out to Skopje for the match against North Macedonia tomorrow night.
Posting on X, formerly Twitter, the England social media account announced Trippier’s departure saying: “22 players are out for today’s session at Spurs Official’s training ground ahead of our final Euro 2024 qualifier.
“[Kieran Trippier] has departed the ThreeLions camp, owing to a personal matter and will not travel to North Macedonia.”
Kieran Trippier withdraws from England squad ahead of trip to North Macedonia
The defender will miss the Three Lions’ final Euro 2024 qualifier to deal with a personal matter
North Macedonia vs England
England have arrived in Skopje. Team news coming shortly...
North Macedonia vs England
England have met North Macedonia on five previous occasions, having previously been drawn alongside each other in successive European Championships qualifying groups for Euro 2004 and Euro 2008.
The first encounter came at St. Mary’s Stadium in Southampton. England went behind twice in the game but ended up securing a 2-2 draw thanks to strikes from David Beckham and Steven Gerrard.
The second game ended 0-0 at Old Trafford during Steve McClaren’s reign and the most recent clash also took place at Manchester United’s home ground with the Three Lions impressing in a 7-0 victory in this year’s Euro 2024 qualifying.
Gareth Southgate wants vastly-improved display from England in North Macedonia
Gareth Southgate says “performance is the priority” in North Macedonia as already-qualified England look to make up for winning with a whimper against minnows Malta.
The Euro 2020 runners-up sealed their place at next summer’s edition with two matches to spare and were below par in Friday’s qualifier.
England disappointed a packed Wembley crowd by limping to a 2-0 victory over Malta, leading the manager to suggest his players had subconsciously taken their foot off the gas.
Southgate did not castigate those that have done so well for him over the years, but he is demanding a vastly-improved display in North Macedonia as they bring the curtain down on 2023.
Gareth Southgate wants vastly-improved display from England in North Macedonia
England limped past Malta on Friday and will sign off their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign having already secured their place in Germany
Southgate agrees with Rice on England’s performance versus Malta
Gareth Southgate echoed the thoughts of Declan Rice saying that he’s hoping for an improved performance from England tonight and wants to end the year well.
“We weren’t at the level of performance that we wanted on Friday so we are all focused on tomorrow’s game.” He said at the pre-match press conference yesterday.
“We play a team who, although they can’t qualify, have tremendous pride and they’ll be wounded by what happened in Manchester [when England won 7-0], so we have to be ready for a really good, really good atmosphere and a full stadium.
“We’ve had a calendar year where we’ve been very good, so we want to finish well.”
North Macedonia vs England
The Three Lions are unbeaten since just being edged out in the World Cup last year by finalists France.
They have already secured their place in next summer’s Euro 2024 in Germany and could complete this qualifying campaign without a loss if they avoid defeat to North Macedonia tonight.
Rice wants England to end the year with a bang
Declan Rice took the pre-match press conference alongside England boss Gareth Southgate and spoke about the team’s plans for tonight’s match and I how he wants England to end the year on a high.
“Look, we know how good they are,” said Rice, “Even though we won quite big in Manchester, we knew before the game some of the quality they have on the pitch and some of the star players they have.
“We were wary of that and we will be wary of that again tomorrow night, especially after the other night against Malta – just a bit of pride in ourselves that we need to raise the level, we need to put out a statement and it’ll be a good way to end the year.
“We are currently unbeaten since the World Cup, so it’s down to us to go out tomorrow night and put on a performance. I feel like we have to be mentally prepared, have the right mentality, be ready for a hostile environment and make sure that we go out of this year with a bang.
“So we’ll be ready for whatever they throw at us.”
Declan Rice shares thoughts on VAR after England screamer ruled out: ‘I was gutted’
Declan Rice has shared his thoughts on VAR after his impressive goal against Malta was ruled out by the technology.
The Arsenal midfielder curled an effort into the net from the edge of the box, but it was chalked off after Harry Kane was adjudged to have been stood in an offside position, blocking the goalkeeper’s view.
Ahead of England’s fixture against North Macedonia on Monday night, Rice was asked if he is a “fan” of VAR and how he felt when his goal was ruled out.
North Macedonia vs England prediction
Follow their less than stellar outing against Malta last Friday, England will be looking to impress as they take on North Macedonia away from home tonight. Expect a much-improved performance, albeit against sterner opposition.
North Macedonia 1-4 England.
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