📰 Table Of Contents
Match report
Gareth Southgate’s England kept alive their flawless Euro 2024 qualification record on Thursday night, courtesy of a predictably one-sided victory over minnows Malta.
The Three Lions were back in action a short time ago, making the trip to the Grawnd Nazzjonali, in Ta’ Qali, Malta.
Boss Southgate opted to shake things up for the clash, leaving Manchester City’s treble winners on the bench, whilst affording starts to the likes of Marc Guehi, James Maddison, and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Most intriguing of all, though, was Alexander-Arnold’s role, joining Declan Rice and Jordan Henderson in a midfield three.
And TAA took little time in justifying his spot in the middle of the park, splitting the hosts’ defence to set Bukayo Saka free inside ten minutes, the Arsenal winger’s ensuing pull-back directed into his own net by Ferdinando Apap:
🗣️ ‘That ball is world class’@TrentAA 🔥#C4Football | #MutualRespect | #ThreeLions @AskNationwide pic.twitter.com/dEJFgMfC4P
— Channel 4 Sport (@C4Sport) June 16, 2023
Alexander-Arnold was then front and centre once more a short time later, on this occasion turning goalscorer, courtesy of a sumptuous right-footed effort from distance:
Trent Alexander-Arnold that is OUTSTANDING 🤩
Stop what you’re doing and watch this 🔥#C4Football | #EURO2024 | #ThreeLions pic.twitter.com/Oc2ZmHJmot
— Channel 4 Sport (@C4Sport) June 16, 2023
England’s captain makes it 3⃣ 👏#C4Sport | #EURO2024 | #ThreeLions pic.twitter.com/pzrayDttAY
— Channel 4 Sport (@C4Sport) June 16, 2023
And there was still time for Callum Wilson to add some gloss to the scoreline, emerging from the bench to notch a penalty of his own, en route to a 4-0 full-time result.
England, in turn, remain comfortably clear at the summit of the Group C table, with nine points on the board from an available nine.
Player ratings
England
Jordan Pickford – 5.5
Kieran Trippier – 6.5
Marc Guehi – 6
Harry Maguire – 6.5
Luke Shaw – 6.5
Declan Rice – 7
Jordan Henderson – 6
Trent Alexander-Arnold – 8
Bukayo Saka – 6
James Maddison – 5.5
Harry Kane – 7
Substitutes: Phil Foden – 6, Tyrone Mings – 5, Marcus Rashford – 5.5, Callum Wilson – 6.5, Eberechi Eze – 6
Fan reaction & stat roundup
— The Anfield Talk (@TheAnfieldTalk) June 16, 2023
this Trent x Saka link up
pic.twitter.com/EL40J6quHx— MS (@Mith23_) June 16, 2023
2013 – Trent Alexander-Arnold is the first Liverpool player to score from outside the box for England in a competitive international since Steven Gerrard against Moldova in September 2013 in a World Cup qualifier. Spectacular. pic.twitter.com/9fWB9uqYOQ
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 16, 2023
Harry Kane is the first player in England’s national team history to score 50 competitive international goals.
Another record for the all-time top scorer. 📜 pic.twitter.com/wTVXl3xtti
— Squawka (@Squawka) June 16, 2023
Harry Kane has now scored more international goals (56) than Romário (55) and Kazuyoshi Miura (55).
A reminder that King Kazu was still playing club football in 2022/23 at 55 years old. 😅#EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/9k2XUKle32
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) June 16, 2023
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s first half by numbers vs. Malta:
100% take-ons completed (4/4)
50 touches
6/7 duels won
6 passes into final ⅓
5 x possession won
2 chances created
1 shot
1 goal
0 fouls10/10. 😏 pic.twitter.com/da1g8GiFix
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) June 16, 2023
Midfield is his position
— real (@n7smc) June 16, 2023
Callum Wilson converts a penalty to score his first competitive goal for England. 🫡#EURO2024
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) June 16, 2023
Callum Wilson 🫡
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) June 16, 2023
‼️Can Arsenal please sign Eze ‼️ pic.twitter.com/0kUtJ8rBLy
— Suzu 🔰 (@suzukaze21) June 16, 2023
Mings makes Maguire look like the best central defender in world football 🙈
— Chris Heberlein (@cheberlein) June 16, 2023
Klopp’s had Henderson RCM and Trent RB when the entire time it should’ve been the other way round pic.twitter.com/Vgma2KF2Wv
— 🏝 (@Omzlfc) June 16, 2023
They did not https://t.co/CVMxzlXjSc
— Daniel Storey (@danielstorey85) June 16, 2023
England’s 100% record vs Malta continues. Some streak this.
— Duncan Alexander (@oilysailor) June 16, 2023
0 – Opta has analysed each of England’s last 180 matches, stretching back to August 2008, and tonight against Malta is the first time in that timeframe they haven’t faced a shot in a match. Malta also didn’t have a single touch in England’s box. Untested.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 16, 2023
Chelsea star to ask Mauricio Pochettino for position change next season
Arsenal identify the player they want to partner with Declan Rice
