MATCHDAY: England plays scandal-hit Italy in Euro 2024 qualifying. Hungary and Denmark can qualify.
By The Associated Press on October 16, 2023.
A look at what’s happening in European soccer on Tuesday: EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFYING GROUP C A European Championship spot is within reach for England as Gareth Southgate’s team hosts scandal-hit Italy at Wembley in a repeat of the 2021 final. England is unbeaten in seven games since last year’s World Cup and will qualify with a win, or even a draw if Ukraine doesn’t beat Malta. Italy is without midfielders Sandro Tonali and Nicolò Zaniolo, who were sent home last week after being questioned by police over alleged involvement in an illegal betting ring. It’s a big match for the Azzurri, who are level with Ukraine three points behind England. Italy returns to the venue where it beat England on penalties to win the European Championship in 2021. “We have great memories of that stadium,” forward Domenico Berardo said. “We’re going to play our game and try to win.” GROUP G Hungary can book its place at the European Championship with a win away to Lithuania after an unbeaten campaign so far in its all-Eastern European group. Following a 2-1 win over Serbia on Saturday, Hungary is on the verge of qualifying for its third European Championship in a row. Before the tournament expanded from 16 teams to 24 in 2016, Hungary hadn’t qualified since 1972. Serbia hosts Montenegro in Belgrade as they battle for the second qualifying spot. Neither Serbia nor Montenegro has featured at the European Championship since they both contributed players to the team which played as Yugoslavia in 2000, even though Serbia has regularly qualified for the World Cup since then. GROUP H In one of the most open groups of all, Slovenia, Denmark, Finland and Kazakhstan all have hopes of qualifying with three games to go. The only team which can make sure of qualifying Tuesday is Denmark but that requires a particular combination of results in all three of the day’s games. The Danes would need not only to beat San Marino, but also must hope that Kazakhstan draws with Finland and that Slovenia doesn’t lose to fifth-place Northern Ireland. FRIENDLIES Two already-qualified teams meet at Lille’s stadium for a friendly as France hosts Scotland. France cruised through its qualifying group with six wins from six games but was beaten 2-1 by Germany in a friendly last month for its first loss since last year’s World Cup final. Scotland too has had an impressive campaign with five wins to qualify for just the second time since 1996. ___ AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer 13-12
