Highlights of Euro 2024 qualifying
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France striker Kylian Mbappe hugs a young fan during a training session ahead of their Euro 2024 qualifiers.
PHOTO: AFP
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PARIS – The football season in Europe is not finished yet, with a double-header of match days in qualifying for Euro 2024 set to take place over the next week.
England are seeking to maintain maximum points in Group C when they take on minnows Malta and North Macedonia, following their wins over Italy and Ukraine.
Besides the Three Lions, here are some of the main storylines with a year to go until the tournament in Germany.
Will Kylian Mbappe be distracted?
Talk of Kylian Mbappe’s possible departure from Paris Saint-Germain
France coach Didier Deschamps will hope he can remain focused for another few days as the 2022 World Cup runners-up go to Portugal to play Gibraltar and then host Greece in Group B.
“It has created a buzz and is on the front page of the papers, but we can’t control that,” said defender Ibrahima Konate of Liverpool on Wednesday.
“He has not changed with us. He is just the same, as joyful as ever and teasing people. I have not seen a change in his behaviour.”
Mbappe was named as France’s new captain before they began Euro qualifying with wins over the Netherlands and Ireland. With the Dutch involved in the Nations League Finals, twice champions Les Bleus can all but wrap up qualification by claiming back-to-back victories.
200th cap for Cristiano Ronaldo?
Cristiano Ronaldo is in Portugal’s squad for their Group J games against Bosnia and Herzegovina and Iceland.
The 38-year-old links up with Roberto Martinez’s squad after scoring 14 goals in 16 games in the Saudi league following his move to Al Nassr in January.
“It is always a special feeling to return home,” he posted on Instagram this week.
The striker silenced those who doubted Martinez’s wisdom in calling him up by scoring a brace in each of Portugal’s qualifiers in March, albeit against Liechtenstein and Luxembourg.
The next two fixtures promise to be harder, but Ronaldo will hope to add to his international record of 122 goals for his country. He also holds the men’s international appearance record of 198 and can bring up a double-century if he plays in both fixtures.
Can Scotland tame Erling Haaland?
Erling Haaland missed Norway’s opening qualifiers in March due to injury and his side struggled in his absence, losing 3-0 in Spain and drawing 1-1 in Georgia.
That means Stale Solbakken’s side will be desperate to have the 22-year-old back for Saturday’s meeting with Scotland, who have maximum points after two games in Group A.
Norway will have to hope that Haaland, who scored 52 goals this season for Manchester City, has recovered from the wild celebrations which followed Pep Guardiola’s side winning the treble last weekend.
“I’m wary (of Haaland),” Scotland coach Steve Clarke said.
“But there are lots of other players we have to deal with as well.”
A new Scandinavian superstar?
There is another exciting striker emerging out of Scandinavia.
Rasmus Hojlund, 20, made a huge impression in Denmark’s opening qualifiers in March, netting a hat-trick in a 3-1 win against Finland and scoring twice in a shock 3-2 defeat in Kazakhstan.
He finished the season with nine goals in Serie A for Atalanta, and will now aim to keep up his fine form for Denmark as they take on Northern Ireland and Slovenia in Group H. AFP
