ZCZC
BSP-03
FBL-EURO-2020
Youth pushing England, Italy to brink of Euro 2020 qualification
PARIS, Oct 8, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – England and Italy are closing in on
qualification for Euro 2020 as the two countries’ talented young squads
search for the single win that would guarantee them a place at a landmark
tournament with matches to spare.
The pair are two of five teams that can qualify for next summer’s
tournament in the coming round of matches, held over October 10-12. Spain and
Group I rivals Belgium and Russia can also lock up an early place.
With two teams qualifying from each of the 10 groups, England need just a
win at the Czech Republic on Friday to ensure qualification from the five-
team Group A after a perfect run of four victories from four that has put
Gareth Southgate’s side four points clear of third-placed Kosovo, who have
played a game more.
Southgate has built on taking England to the semi-finals of the 2018 World
Cup, with his side crashing home 19 goals in a dominant qualification
campaign.
The England manager has been helped by the blossoming, at 24, of Raheem
Sterling who after scoring four goals in his first 47 England appearances has
scored six in his last six.
Southgate has also capitalised on the emergence of young players such as
West Ham’s Declan Rice, 20, and 19-year-old Jadon Sancho, who bagged his
first England goals in the 5-3 win over Kosovo last time and is a mainstay
for Borussia Dortmund.
Young Chelsea trio Mason Mount, Fikayo Tomori and Tammy Abraham are the
latest players to be rewarded by Southgate for their impressive club
displays, with Mount and the Premier League’s joint-leading scorer Abraham
among the revelations of the early-season fixtures.
Roberto Mancini meanwhile has continued his rebuilding of Italy while
collecting six wins from six in Group J. His youthful Azzurri have a chance
of booking their ticket against Greece on Saturday.
– Italy bounce back –
They need to beat the Greeks at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome and hope that
third-placed Armenia fail to beat rock-bottom Liechtenstein, who have
conceded 19 goals so far.
Regardless, Italy are almost guaranteed a place in the Euros as they are
nine points ahead of Armenia with four matches remaining. If they fail this
time, they will have a second chance later in this international break, when
they visit Liechtenstein on October 15 on matchday eight.
Former Inter Milan and Manchester City boss Mancini has taken the broom to
the side that failed to qualify for the World Cup and thrown his trust behind
young talent like Inter Milan midfielder Nicolo Barella, highly-rated Roma
attacker Nicolo Zaniolo and AC Milan goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Zaniolo, 20, is back in contention after being put on an enforced exile
with Moise Kean for bad behaviour during the Under-21 Euros on home turf.
Inter’s other young midfield dynamo Stefano Sensi is out after suffering a
thigh injury in the 2-1 Serie A defeat by Juventus on Sunday.
Also in contention to qualify on matchday seven are Spain, who have rattled
off six straight wins in a tough Group F despite the turmoil that followed
the death of former coach Luis Enrique’s daughter.
Robert Moreno has taken over and his group leaders are eight points ahead
of Romania in third. Spain need a win at Norway and the Faroe Islands to nick
a result over the Romanians to book their place.
Belgium and Russia meanwhile both want a draw between Kazakhstan and Cyprus
early on Thursday before they search for wins over San Marino and Scotland
that would seal their qualification.
The Netherlands, another team packed with young talent, will try to make
their game in hand count in Group C on Thursday when they host second-placed
Northern Ireland looking to join their opponents and leaders Germany on 12
points.
Ronald Koeman’s side, which includes Juventus defender Matthijs de Ligt and
Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong and their former Ajax teammate Donny van de Beek,
have bounced back in style from failing to qualify for the last World Cup and
Euros and would go top of the group with a victory in Rotterdam.
BSS/AFP/GMR/0945 hrs