England vs Malta LIVE: Euro 2024 result and highlights after Three Lions win at Wembley
England 2-0 Malta: Gareth Southgate’s side are still unbeaten in Group C though they struggled against a stubborn Malta team
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Your support makes all the difference.England ensured a top seeding at Euro 2024 with a laboured 2-0 home victory against Group C makeweights Malta that will not live long in the memory of an underwhelmed Wembley crowd.
Until the 75th minute all that separated Gareth Southgate’s lacklustre side from 171st-ranked Malta was an early own goal by Enrico Pepe and they endured some anxious moments in between.
Captain Harry Kane finally doubled England’s lead with his 62nd goal for his country after good work by Bukayo Saka before Declan Rice had an effort ruled out for offside.
There was precious little to get enthused about though as several England fringe players wasted the chance to make a statement of intent to Southgate.
England had already qualified for next year’s finals in Germany and victory over Malta ensured they will win Group C, regardless of what happens in North Macedonia on Monday.
Relive the action from the Euro 2024 qualifiers plus get the latest odds and tips right here:
England 2-0 Malta
84 mins: In the other Group C match of the night, North Macedonia have come from three goals down to make the game 3-2 against Italy. Is the comeback on? Unlikely but it’s been a fighting effort and England travel to North Macedonia after this match is done.
England 2-0 Malta
81 mins: This match has been 80 minutes of dull, tired play then 90 seconds of quality before VAR put that to a swift stop. Rice’s goal was a good one but he’ll need to wait to score at Wembley again.
Into the last 10 minutes now, can England find a couple more goals and send everyone away happy?
NO GOAL! England 2-0 Malta
78 mins: The goal is ruled out!
Harry Kane was stood in an offside position as Declan Rice took his shot. VAR judges him to have been in the goalkeeper’s way so England are back down to two.
GOAL! England 3-0 Malta (Rice, 76’)⚽️
76 mins: There’s the third!
England recover the ball quickly and work it up the pitch. He drives to the box, rolls it onto his right foot then blitz a fine effort into the back of the net.
GOAL! England 2-0 Malta (Kane, 75’)⚽️
75 mins: England have a second!
Kyle Walker brings the ball inside from the right and gives it to Phil Foden. Foden’s first touch feeds the ball into the box to Bukayo Saka who touches it across to Harry Kane.
Kane sweeps the ball into the back of the net and finally, finally England come alive.
England 1-0 Malta
69 mins: Harry Maguire bombs it down the left wing, receives the ball in a one-two the takes it into the box and wins England a throw in.
There’s not much happening out there. So much so, the supporters have started making paper aeroplanes in the stands.
England 1-0 Malta
66 mins: Shot! Walker flips the ball over the top and Saka gets in behind once again. He manages to offload the ball to Alexander-Arnold just inside the box.
The makeshift midfielder gets on top of the bounce and pings a shot at goal but can’t beat the goalkeeper.
England 1-0 Malta
63 mins: Jordan Henderson and Marcus Rashford are taken off with Declan Rice and Cole Palmer introduced. Palmer becomes the 60th debutant under Gareth Southgate.
This is his senior debut and the Chelsea man will be wanting to impress tonight.
England 1-0 Malta
60 mins: Marcus Rashford, out on the right wing now, makes a nice run in behind as Harry Maguire floats a long ball over the top. Rashford is forced wide then loses the ball.
It comes to the edge of the box where Alexander-Arnold and Rashford collide with each other and leave the Manchester United man on the deck.
Gareth Southgate is preparing some changes.
England 1-0 Malta
57 mins: Close! The ball is floated over to Kyle Walker who feeds it down the line to Bukayo Saka. Saka knocks it back into the middle where Trent Alexander-Arnold threads a well weighted pass into the box.
Saka sprints around the left-back, gets to the ball but has his shot deflected out for a corner.
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