Euro qualifiers

Cristiano Ronaldo broke the men's international appearance record by starting Portugal's Euro 2024 qualifier against Liechtenstein on Friday [AEDT].

Since leaving Europe, Ronaldo has scored nine goals in 10 matches for Al Nassr. “I want to become the most capped player in history. But it doesn’t stop there, I still want to be called up very often.” But Martinez, who left his role as Belgium coach after the World Cup, has strongly defended his decision to keep Ronaldo in the fold. The Spaniard added his squad announcement was the “starting point” for Euro 2024, suggesting Ronaldo is likely to be involved if Portugal qualify for the tournament. Ronaldo made his international debut in 2003 and became the first man to score in five World Cups last year before Portugal lost to Morocco in the quarter-finals.

England got their first-ever competitive win against Italy in Italy, and it was the perfect way to put their World Cup exit behind them.

England striker Harry Kane on the meaning of the result: "It is the first time England have won in Italy for a long, long time. Playing for England is probably my greatest feeling in football and I want to do it for as long as possible. Thank you to everyone in here and everyone who has made this dream a reality." A few minutes from halftime, Italian defender Giovanni Di Lorenzo was caught with his hand touching the ball in the box, possibly interfering with Harry Kane being able to win it. I can't remember what he said but I'm sure it was a on a video as everything is videoed these days and nothing stays in house. Italy began to take control of the midfield battle and mistakes crept into England's play, most obviously a palpably avoidable red card for Luke Shaw. To be a part of that is amazing. England were much the better side in the first half and deserved to extend their lead when [Giovanni Di Lorenzo](http://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/155904/Giovanni-Di-Lorenzo) was adjudged to have handled in the box, a decision Serbian referee Srdjan Jovanovic awarded on VAR review, allowing Kane to set the new England scoring record. Kane's clever hold-up play, particularly in the first half, was a reminder his ability extends far beyond goal-scoring. One of the few remaining questions England have to answer for under Southgate is their inconsistent record against the very best sides. Nothing will completely take away the pain of missing a penalty in England's World Cup quarterfinal defeat top France three months ago. This was also Southgate's 50th win as England manager, from 82 games -- a number only surpassed by Walter Winterbottom (78) and Sir Alf Ramsey (69).

Cristiano Ronaldo made a world record-breaking 197th Portugal appearance and Harry Kane became England's top scorer as their sides kicked off EURO 2024 ...

[Belarus vs Switzerland](https://www.uefa.com/european-qualifiers/match/2036307--belarus-vs-switzerland/) (18:00), [Andorra vs Romania](https://www.uefa.com/european-qualifiers/match/2036309--andorra-vs-romania/), [Israel vs Kosovo](https://www.uefa.com/european-qualifiers/match/2036308--israel-vs-kosovo/) [Armenia vs Türkiye](https://www.uefa.com/european-qualifiers/match/2036296--armenia-vs-turkiye/) (18:00), [Croatia vs Wales](https://www.uefa.com/european-qualifiers/match/2036297--croatia-vs-wales/) [Scotland vs Cyprus](https://www.uefa.com/european-qualifiers/match/2036290--scotland-vs-cyprus/) (15:00), [Spain vs Norway](https://www.uefa.com/european-qualifiers/match/2036291--spain-vs-norway/) [Bulgaria vs Montenegro](https://www.uefa.com/european-qualifiers/match/2036302--bulgaria-vs-montenegro/) (18:00), [Serbia vs Lithuania](https://www.uefa.com/european-qualifiers/match/2036303--serbia-vs-lithuania/) [Austria vs Azerbaijan](https://www.uefa.com/european-qualifiers/match/2036301--austria-vs-azerbaijan/), [Sweden vs Belgium](https://www.uefa.com/european-qualifiers/match/2036300--sweden-vs-belgium/) [Maxim Samorodov scored the first goal of the European Qualifiers for EURO 2024, putting Kazakhstan ahead at home against Slovenia. [Czechia vs Poland](https://www.uefa.com/european-qualifiers/match/2036298--czechia-vs-poland/), [Moldova vs Faroe Islands](https://www.uefa.com/european-qualifiers/match/2036299--moldova-vs-faroe-islands/) [France vs Netherlands](https://www.uefa.com/european-qualifiers/match/2036292--france-vs-netherlands/), [Gibraltar vs Greece](https://www.uefa.com/european-qualifiers/match/2036293--gibraltar-vs-greece/) The 20-year-old Atalanta forward steered Alexander Bah's delivery into the far corner to give the Danes a deserved lead midway through the first half. The influential João Cancelo lashed in a deflected strike from the edge of the box after eight minutes to give Portugal the lead on Roberto Martínez's debut as coach but Liechtenstein, and particularly keeper Benjamin Büchel, worked hard to keep their hosts at bay until the break. Mateo Retegui, winning his first Azzurri cap, made life difficult for the visitors with a crisp finish soon after the interval and Luke Shaw's dismissal for a second bookable offence with ten minutes to go made England's task harder still, but they held on for a first win against the Azzurri on Italian soil since 1961. Harry Kane struck his 54th international goal to break the national goalscoring record as England held on for an ultimately nervy win in Naples.

Sports Mole provides score predictions and previews for all of today's European Championship Qualifying fixtures, including France vs. Netherlands.

[> Click here to read our full preview for this match](/football/austria/preview/preview-austria-vs-azerbaijan-prediction-team-news-lineups_509587.html) [Serbia vs. [> Click here to read our full preview for this match](/football/belgium/preview/preview-sweden-vs-belgium-prediction-team-news-lineups_509600.html) [Austria vs. [> Click here to read our full preview for this match](/football/moldova/preview/preview-moldova-vs-faroe-islands-prediction-team-news-lineups_509626.html) [Sweden vs. [> Click here to read our full preview for this match](/football/czech-republic/preview/preview-czech-republic-vs-poland-prediction-team-news-lineups_509614.html) [Moldova vs. [> Click here to read our full preview for this match](/football/greece/preview/preview-gibraltar-vs-greece-prediction-team-news-lineups_509585.html) [Czech Republic vs. Greece](/football/greece/preview/preview-gibraltar-vs-greece-prediction-team-news-lineups_509585.html) (Friday, 7.45pm) [> Click here to read our full preview for this match](/football/bulgaria/preview/preview-bulgaria-vs-montenegro-prediction-team-news-lineups_509582.html) [France vs. [> Click here to read our full preview for this match](/football/serbia/preview/preview-serbia-vs-lithuania-prediction-team-news-lineups_509607.html) Lithuania](/football/serbia/preview/preview-serbia-vs-lithuania-prediction-team-news-lineups_509607.html) (Friday, 7.45pm) Belgium have won their last three games against Sweden, with the home side not beating their opponents here since 1961. There have been occasions when Gibraltar have impressed on familiar territory, claiming draws or pushing established nations hard in defeat. [> Click here to read our full preview for this match](/football/france/preview/preview-france-vs-netherlands-prediction-team-news-lineups_509608.html) [> How the Netherlands could line up against France](/football/netherlands/predicted-lineups/how-the-netherlands-could-line-up-against-france_509613.html) [> How France could line up against the Netherlands](/football/france/predicted-lineups/how-france-could-line-up-against-the-netherlands_509612.html) [Gibraltar vs.

It was a record-breaking night for Cristiano Ronaldo and Harry Kane as qualifying for the European Championship in 2024 got underway.

The teams have met since then — twice, in fact, with Italy gaining a win and a draw in Nations League qualifying last year. Russia is banned by UEFA from competing in qualifying for Euro 2024. A 1-1 draw with Iran in Tehran was played in front of 78,000 spectators and comes after months of Russia seeking closer ties with the Asian Football Confederation. 197 in Portugal's 4-0 win over Liechtenstein. The striker was left out of Portugal's last matches at the World Cup but was selected up front alongside Joao Felix — and repaid the faith shown in him by Martinez, who left his role as Belgium after the tournament in Qatar. The meeting with Italy in Naples was a repeat of the Euro 2020 final won by the Azzurri at Wembley Stadium.

Harry Kane became England's all-time leading goalscorer as the Three Lions enjoyed a perfect start to Euro 2024 qualifying by winning 2-1 away to Italy on ...

“Coming here and putting in a performance like that today shows we are ready for the next challenge.” It is very important that a player shows commitment and that he can use his experience,” said Martinez. We haven’t won in Italy for so long so to score, and win this game, is just special,” said Kane. “Cristiano has that: a lot of experience and a lot of commitment to the national team.” “It’s a new cycle. “Thanks to everyone who’s helped me get to this stage.