Barkley, Keane, Kane and Sterling all get on the scoresheet as Southgate’s team scores five goals in successive matches.
Ross Barkley (right) delivered a brace, scoring one in each half
Podgorica:
Skipper Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling also got on the scoresheet as England tore Montenegro apart after Michael Keane brought the visitor level. Marko Vesovic fired the home side in front against the run of play in the 17th minute. But England was unfazed and went ahead by half-time, thanks to Keane’s first England goal and Barkley’s finish.
Montenegro was still a threat early in the second half and Fatos Beciraj could have equalised. But when Barkley drilled in his second just before the hour, the result was a formality. Kane tapped home the fourth goal after a swift counter-attack and Sterling completed the rout in the 81st minute.
Gareth Southgate gave starts to 18-year-old forward Callum Hudson-Odoi and midfielder Declan Rice. There was a swagger about England in the opening stages but Montenegro stunned the tourist by taking the lead. Vesovic cut inside Keane and, after getting a fortunate run of the ball, he sent a diagonal right-footed effort beyond goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and inside the far post.
Thirteen minutes after falling behind, England was awarded a rather fortuitous free-kick on the right and Barkley’s curling delivery was met by Keane. Stefan Mugosa then tested Pickford with a well-struck snap-shot from distance, but it was England which went ahead. Hudson-Odoi, who was switching wings, showed quick feet to cut in from the left. His shot was directed into the net from close range by a lurking Barkley. England was sloppy at the start of the second half and Beciraj scuffed wide after a mistake by Danny Rose. Barkley then fired home in the 59th minute after Montenegro failed to clear. Kane and Sterling added the gloss as England scored five goals in consecutive matches for the first time since 1984. With Bulgaria drawing 1-1 in Kosovo, England already has a four-point lead in the group.
France routs Iceland
Olivier Giroud once again proved his reliability for France, netting his 35th international goal, as the world champion demolished Iceland 4-0 at home in its second qualifier. Giroud added to Samuel Umtiti’s early opener in the second half before Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann rounded off a routine win to put France on six points in Group H.
England recovered from an early scare in Montenegro as Ross Barkley scored twice in a clinical 5-1 victory in the Euro 2020 Group A qualifying match.
Skipper Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling also got on the scoresheet as England tore Montenegro apart after Michael Keane brought the visitor level. Marko Vesovic fired the home side in front against the run of play in the 17th minute. But England was unfazed and went ahead by half-time, thanks to Keane’s first England goal and Barkley’s finish.
Montenegro was still a threat early in the second half and Fatos Beciraj could have equalised. But when Barkley drilled in his second just before the hour, the result was a formality. Kane tapped home the fourth goal after a swift counter-attack and Sterling completed the rout in the 81st minute.
Gareth Southgate gave starts to 18-year-old forward Callum Hudson-Odoi and midfielder Declan Rice. There was a swagger about England in the opening stages but Montenegro stunned the tourist by taking the lead. Vesovic cut inside Keane and, after getting a fortunate run of the ball, he sent a diagonal right-footed effort beyond goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and inside the far post.
Thirteen minutes after falling behind, England was awarded a rather fortuitous free-kick on the right and Barkley’s curling delivery was met by Keane. Stefan Mugosa then tested Pickford with a well-struck snap-shot from distance, but it was England which went ahead. Hudson-Odoi, who was switching wings, showed quick feet to cut in from the left. His shot was directed into the net from close range by a lurking Barkley. England was sloppy at the start of the second half and Beciraj scuffed wide after a mistake by Danny Rose. Barkley then fired home in the 59th minute after Montenegro failed to clear. Kane and Sterling added the gloss as England scored five goals in consecutive matches for the first time since 1984. With Bulgaria drawing 1-1 in Kosovo, England already has a four-point lead in the group.
France routs Iceland
Olivier Giroud once again proved his reliability for France, netting his 35th international goal, as the world champion demolished Iceland 4-0 at home in its second qualifier. Giroud added to Samuel Umtiti’s early opener in the second half before Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann rounded off a routine win to put France on six points in Group H.
Ronaldo suffers injury in Portugal-Serbia draw
Portugal was held to a 1-1 home draw by Serbia after its captain Cristiano Ronaldo limped off with an apparent hamstring injury in the first half of its Euro 2020 Group B qualifier. Dusan Tadic fired Serbia ahead with a 7th minute penalty before Ronaldo was replaced by Pizzi on the half hour mark. Centre back Danilo equalised for the European champion with a spectacular long-range effort in the 42nd minute.