Italy booked their spot in UEFA EURO 2020 after two second-half goals sunk a youthful Greece side. The hosts failed to manage a shot on target in the first half, but the deadlock was broken when Jorginho converted a penalty after Andreas Bouchalakis had handled Lorenzo Insigne’s shot. First-half substitute Federico Bernardeschi added a deflected second and, two years after missing out on the FIFA World Cup, Italy have qualified with three games to spare.
Josh King’s last-gasp penalty earned Norway a deserved point and denied Spain a place at the finals for now. Saúl Ñíguez’s 47th-minute drive had the visitors on course for a 15th consecutive victory in EURO qualifiers but Norway laid siege to the Roja’s goal in the latter stages. They were rewarded when Kepa Arrizabalaga brought down Omar Elabdellaoui deep into added time and King kept his cool from the spot.
Sebastian Larsson converted two second-half penalties as the Blågult eased to victory in Ta’ Qali. The veteran sent Henry Bonello the wrong way each time as he went right then left, either side of Andrei Agius’ own goal. The pick of the strikes was 30-year-old debutant Markus Danielson’s early opener, though, the centre-back volleying in.
After Match Day 7 the situation is as follows:
Group A
Standings: England (12 pts), Czech Republic (12), Kosovo (8), Montenegro (3), Bulgaria (3)
Matchday 8: Monday – Bulgaria v England, Kosovo v Montenegro
• England: will qualify with win if Kosovo do not win
• Czech Republic: cannot qualify or be eliminated
• Kosovo: cannot qualify or be eliminated
• Montenegro: can no longer qualify via European Qualifiers
• Bulgaria: can no longer qualify via European Qualifiers
Group B
Standings: Ukraine (16), Portugal (11), Serbia (7), Luxembourg (4), Lithuania (1)
Matchday 8: Monday – Ukraine v Portugal, Lithuania v Serbia
• Ukraine: will qualify with draw, or if Serbia do not win
• Portugal: will qualify with win if Serbia do not win
• Serbia: will be out of contention if they do not win and Portugal do
• Luxembourg: can no longer qualify via European Qualifiers
• Lithuania: can no longer qualify via European Qualifiers
Group C
Standings: Germany (12), Netherlands (12), Northern Ireland (12), Belarus (4), Estonia (1)
Matchday 8: Sunday – Belarus v Netherlands, Estonia v Germany
• Germany: cannot qualify or be eliminated
• Netherlands: cannot qualify or be eliminated
• Northern Ireland: cannot qualify or be eliminated
• Belarus: can no longer qualify via European Qualifiers, will be in play-offs
• Estonia: can no longer qualify via European Qualifiers
Group D
Standings: Republic of Ireland (12), Denmark (12), Switzerland (8), Georgia (5), Gibraltar (0)
Matchday 8: Tuesday – Switzerland v Republic of Ireland, Gibraltar v Georgia
• Republic of Ireland: will qualify with win
• Denmark: cannot qualify or be eliminated
• Switzerland: cannot qualify or be eliminated
• Georgia: can no longer qualify via European Qualifiers
• Gibraltar: can no longer qualify via European Qualifiers
Group E
Standings: Croatia (13), Slovakia (10), Hungary (9), Wales (7), Azerbaijan (1)
Matchday 8: Sunday – Hungary v Azerbaijan, Wales v Croatia
• Croatia: will qualify with win
• Slovakia: cannot qualify or be eliminated
• Hungary: cannot qualify or be eliminated
• Wales: cannot qualify or be eliminated
• Azerbaijan: can no longer qualify via European Qualifiers
Group F
Standings: Spain (19), Sweden (14), Romania (13), Norway (10), Malta (3), Faroe Islands (0)
Matchday 8: Tuesday – Sweden v Spain, Romania v Norway, Faroe Islands v Malta
• Spain: will qualify with draw
• Sweden: cannot qualify or be eliminated
• Romania: cannot qualify or be eliminated
• Norway: cannot qualify or be eliminated
• Malta: can no longer qualify via European Qualifiers
• Faroe Islands: can no longer qualify via European Qualifiers
Group G
Standings: Poland (16), Austria (13), North Macedonia (11), Slovenia (11), Israel (8), Latvia (0)
Matchday 8: Sunday – Slovenia v Austria, Poland v North Macedonia; Tuesday: Israel v Latvia
• Poland: will qualify with win
• Austria: cannot qualify or be eliminated
• North Macedonia: cannot qualify or be eliminated
• Slovenia: cannot qualify or be eliminated
• Israel: will be out of contention if they lose
• Latvia: can no longer qualify via European Qualifiers
Group H
Standings: Turkey (18), France (18), Iceland (12), Albania (9), Andorra (3), Moldova (3)
Matchday 8: Monday – France v Turkey, Iceland v Andorra, Moldova v Albania
• Turkey: will qualify if they win and Iceland do not, or if they draw and Iceland lose
• France: will qualify with win, or if they draw and Iceland do not win, or if they lose, Iceland also lose and Albania fail to win
• Iceland: will be out of contention if they lose and Turkey avoid defeat
• Albania: will be out of contention if they do not win, or if France avoid defeat
• Andorra: can no longer qualify via European Qualifiers
• Moldova: can no longer qualify via European Qualifiers
Group I
Standings: Belgium (21), Russia (18), Cyprus (10), Kazakhstan (7), Scotland (6), San Marino (0)
Matchday 8: Sunday – Kazakhstan v Belgium, Scotland v San Marino, Cyprus v Russia
• Belgium: qualified
• Russia: will qualify with draw
• Cyprus: will be out of contention if they fail to win
• Kazakhstan: can no longer qualify via European Qualifiers
• Scotland: can no longer qualify via European Qualifiers, will be in play-offs
• San Marino: can no longer qualify
Group J
Standings: Italy (21), Finland (12), Armenia (10), Bosnia and Herzegovina (10), Greece (5), Liechtenstein (2)
Matchday 8: Tuesday – Finland v Armenia, Liechtenstein v Italy, Greece v Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Italy: qualified
• Finland: cannot qualify or be eliminated
• Armenia: cannot qualify or be eliminated
• Bosnia and Herzegovina: cannot qualify or be eliminated
• Greece: will be out of contention if they lose, or if Finland win
• Liechtenstein: can no longer qualify via European Qualifiers
Via UEFA.com
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