North Macedonia vs England LIVE: Euro 2024 qualifier result and reaction as Three Lions held to draw
North Macedonia 1-1 England: The Three Lions end their qualifying campaign unbeaten
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Your support makes all the difference.England were held to a drew in their final Euro 2024 qualifying fixture after another sluggish performance against North Macedonia. It was a frustrating night for the Three Lions who desperately hoped for an improved performance after they edged past Malta 2-0 on Friday.
They started well enough and had a bit of zip and tempo back in their passing which was evidently missing last week. Declan Rice hit the woodwork after just 15 minutes but the hosts grew in confidence. Rico Lewis, making his debut for the senior team, was a bright spark but a stray hand when clearing an aerial ball out of his own box forced a VAR check and North Macedonia won a penalty - Enis Bardhi slotting it past Jordan Pickford on the rebound after the goalkeeper initially saved it.
England went into the break behind but came out strongly once again. Jack Grealish thought he had an equaliser only for it to be ruled out for offside. Harry Kane’s introduction into proceedings resulted in an own goal going against the hosts but the Three Lions were unable to press their advantage and claim the win.
Relive the action from this Euro 2024 qualifier below:
North Macedonia 1-1 England
87 mins: Walker takes out Elmas as the North Macedonian forward looks to come forward down the left side. The free kick is taken short and comes out to Elmas on the same wing.
He swings in a cross and finds Nikola Serafimov who pumps a headed effort over the top of the crossbar.
North Macedonia 1-1 England
84 mins: Phil Foden is doing his best to get England a winner. He’s sending a lot of balls into the box and looking for willing runners. One of them is Bukayo Saka who nods a chance wide of the post.
A triple change now comes from Gareth Southgate with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jack Grealish and Saka himself being taken off the pitch.
Cole Palmer, Marcus Rashford, and Kalvin Phillips come on for the final few minutes. Can they have an impact?
North Macedonia 1-1 England
81 mins: Close! England are awarded a free kick over on the left side of the pitch and Phil Foden swings the ball over to the far post. Harry Maguire leaps highest to win the ball and nods it straight at the goalkeeper who manages to cling onto the ball.
North Macedonia 1-1 England
78 mins: Chance! Phil Foden and Harry Kane do brilliantly to win the ball back high up the pitch. It comes out to Trent Alexander-Arnold who threads a superb pass into the box for Jack Grealish.
There are white shirts flying forward but Grealish’s pass into the six yard box it too high and sails over everyone’s heads. Chance goes begging.
North Macedonia 1-1 England
75 mins: A positive from Gareth Southgate’s point of view will be how England keep their composure in frustrating and hostile environments.
The decisions are going against them and North Macedonia are making things tricky. Can they hold their nerve to score a winning goal with 15 minutes to play?
North Macedonia 1-1 England
71 mins: Saka gets the ball in the box and lays it off to Foden. Foden chips it over to Lewis who looks to find Saka over by the far post.
Alioski looks to win the ball and runs into Saka before falling to the ground convincing the referee to award the hosts a free kick which he does.
There’s some questionable decisions being made. Any sort of contact between players and a free kick is being given.
North Macedonia 1-1 England
68 mins: ‘They’re a bit scrappy at the moment England’ says Dion Dublin on the Channel 4 commentary. That’s an understatement to say the least.
England struggled against Malta and they’re struggling again tonight. Rico Lewis is playing with energy and bombs down the left wing. He flicks the ball into the box and finds Bukayo Saka who shifts the ball onto his left foot and shoots.
The effort is blocked.
North Macedonia 1-1 England
65 mins: Elmas takes a shot but has his effort blocked by Kyle Walker.
The ball deflects behind for a corner and North Macedonia knock it short. When it is eventually delivered into the penalty area Harry Kane leaps highest and nods it away.
Englan threaten to break on the counter but they lose possession and the home side fail to capitalise on the opportunity to counter attack themselves.
North Macedonia 1-1 England
62 mins: Jack Grealish and Rico Lewis combine on the left wing with both players overlapping each other. Grealish takes the ball to the byline and is tackled.
He lets it run out of play for what he thinks should be a corner. The referee thinks otherwise and awards a goal kick.
GOAL! North Macedonia 1-1 England (Atanasov OG, 59’)
59 mins: Harry Kane take a bow.
The corner is swung into the middle of the box and the England captain makes his run from deep. He’s tracked by Jani Atanasov who has his eyes on the man not the ball.
Kane attempts to glance a header into the back corner but misses the dropping ball which then hits the defender and ends up in the back of the net anyway.
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