England have qualified for Euro 2024 after beating Italy 3-1 at Wembley on Tuesday.
Harry Kane and Marcus Rashford were on target as Gareth Southgate‘s side put in a dominant display to come from behind against the Euro 2020 winners.
The Three Lions needed just a point to secure qualification against the Azzurri, given that Group C rivals Italy and Ukraine still had to face each other again in qualifying, but did so in style with all three points in front of their home support.
Former West Ham striker Gianluca Scamacca fired Italy ahead against the run of play in the 16th minute of the clash, tapping home from inside England’s six-yard box.
But Kane put England back on level terms from the penalty spot just after the half hour mark, coolly sending Gianluigi Donnarumma the wrong way after Jude Bellingham was brought down by Giovanni Di Lorenzo in the area.
Bellingham was heavily involved again after the break and set up England’s second goal, igniting a superb counterattack before finding Marcus Rashford, whose drilled effort powered past Donnarumma to put the hosts ahead.
England have qualified for Euro 2024 after a 3-1 win against Italy at Wembley on Tuesday
Southgate’s side secured their spot at next summer’s tournament with two games to spare
Italy striker Gianluca Scamacca fired his side ahead against the run of play in the 16th minute
The former West Ham star scored with a tap-in inside the six-yard box on his return to London
Using his strength to muscle off the Italian defence, Kane scored an excellent solo goal to cap off the positive performance and seal England’s spot in next summer’s tournament.
With their place in Euro 2024 now confirmed, the Three Lions will be hoping to build on their recent performances at tournaments after reaching the semi-final at the 2018 World Cup, the final at Euro 2020 and the quarter-final at the 2022 World Cup before a narrow defeat to France.
Before Tuesday’s clash, England had beaten Italy, Ukraine, Malta and North Macedonia before drawing the return fixture against Ukraine last month.
The 2-1 victory over Italy in their opening group game back in March was the first time the Three Lions had won away to the Italians since 1961, while Kane‘s first half goal saw him become England’s all-time record goalscorer.
They then beat Ukraine 2-0, Malta 4-0 and North Macedonia 7-0, before the 1-1 draw with Ukraine.
And now after Tuesday, the Three Lions have become the ninth team to secure their place at the 24-team tournament next summer.
Jude Bellingham broke clear of Italy’s defence and was brought down by Giovanni Di Lorenzo
Harry Kane needed no second invitation to score from the spot as rifled the ball past Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, sending him to wrong way to level the game for England
England have joined the likes of Scotland (pictured) and France in qualifying for Euro 2024
Germany qualified by virtue of being hosts, while Austria, Belgium, France, Portugal, Scotland, Spain and Turkey ensured their spots over the current international break.
It means that, after missing out on Euro 2008, England have now qualified for eight successive major tournaments.
Their squad has not changed much since the World Cup in Qatar, although the likes of Jarrod Bowen, Lewis Dunk, Marc Guehi, Fikayo Tomori, Ollie Watkins, Sam Johnstone, Eddie Nketiah and Fikayo Tomori have featured in recent times and will hope to make Southgate’s final group for next summer.
They still have two Euro 2024 qualifiers remaining when they face Malta at home and North Macedonia away next month.
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