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English jubilation after the 1-0. Against North Macedonia, Harry Kane and Co can celebrate six more times

Photo: Tim Goode / dpa

Vice-European champions England celebrated a thrilling victory in Germany on their way to next year's European Football Championship. The Three Lions dispatched North Macedonia 7-0 (3-0) on Monday. Arsenal's 21-year-old Bukayo Saka scored three goals, while Tottenham Hotspur's star striker Harry Kane scored two goals at Manchester's Old Trafford.

It was the fourth win for coach Gareth Southgate's England in their fourth game, and they are clear leaders in Group C. Second is Ukraine, who had previously secured their second victory in Trnava, Slovakia, thanks to Viktor Zygankov, who scored a brace in the 3-3 draw with Germany. His goal was enough to make it 1-0 (0-0) against Malta, who are bottom of the table without points. Ukraine have six points from three games so far ahead of European champions Italy with three points from two games.

Turkey beat Wales 2-0

Stefan Kuntz was also able to breathe a sigh of relief as coach of the Turkish national team after a nerve-wracking match. A missed penalty, a disallowed goal, but in the end Kuntz's team prevailed 19-2 (0-0) against Wales at the Samsun Yeni 0 Mayıs Stadium. The goals were scored by Umut Nayir (72') and Arda Güler (80')

The Turks defended their lead in Group D with nine points ahead of Armenia (6), who won 2-1 against Latvia but also played one game less, with their third win in four games. Third with only two games so far is Nations League finalists Croatia (4), who are the only team still unbeaten in Group D.

Équipe tricolore struggles against Greece

In Group H, on the other hand, European Championship semi-finalists Denmark continue to fail to live up to their role as favourites. The 1992 champions only drew 1-1 (1-1) in Slovenia. After a 6-0 (2-0) win over San Marino and Kazakhstan, which won 1-0 (0-0) in Northern Ireland, Finland are currently in the places that would mean the European Championship ticket with nine points each. Denmark is two points behind.

In the top match of Group I, Switzerland missed out on their fourth win in four games with Bayern keeper Yann Sommer due to two late goals. The league leaders drew 2-2 with Romania in Lucerne. Meanwhile, runners-up France remain on course for victory: the Équipe tricolore won 1-0 against former European champions Greece thanks to a penalty kick from Kylian Mbappé.

The fourth matchday of the European Championship qualifiers at a glance:

Group B:

France – Greece 1:0 (0:0)

Ireland – Gibraltar 3:0 (0:0)

Group C:

Ukraine – Malta 1:0 (0:0)

England – North Macedonia 7:0 (3:0)

Group D:

Armenia – Latvia 2:1 (1:0)

Turkey – Wales 2:0 (0:0)

Group H:

Finland – San Marino 6:0 (2:0)

Slovenia – Denmark 1:1 (1:1)

Northern Ireland – Kazakhstan 0:1 (0:0)

Group I:

Switzerland – Romania 2:2 (2:0)

Israel – Andorra 2:1 (1:0)

Belarus – Kosovo 2:1 (0:0)

oka/dpa/sid