The England national team have qualified from there European Championship qualification group as both group winners as well as remaining unbeaten throughout the whole qualification journey. However, the national team have been accused by critics and supporters of having performed poorly in their final two qualifying matches only defeating minnows Malta 2-0 and struggling to a 1-1 draw with fellow minnows North Macedonia after having gone a goal behind. The first qualifier of this international break which England played against Malta was widely seen as both a poor performance by England and a turgid game of football more generally. England took the lead in the first half at Wembley Stadium through an own goal by Maltese defender Enrico Pepe after only eight minutes who deflected in Phil Foden cross from close range. Despite a poor performance from the hosts, they secured the win late in the second half with a goal from all-time national team leading scorer Harry Kane who netted from a well worked team goal with the assist provided by Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka.
England’s qualifier in North Macedonia on Monday night was a drab affair which ended in a 1-1 draw. England fell a goal behind after a penalty was awarded to North Macedonia and which was converted by their captain Enis Bardhi. England equalised in the second half through an own goal by North Macedonian midfielder Jani Atanasov. England join nations such as Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Scotland and Spain in having qualified for the European Championships in Germany for 2024.
