Malta 0-4 England: Three Lions cruise to Euro 2024 qualifying win as Trent Alexander-Arnold impresses
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Malta 0-4 England: Alexander-Arnold learning midfield role - Southgate
England continued their perfect record in Euro 2024 qualifying with a comfortable win at Malta.
Liverpool full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold - who started in central midfield - scored a fine 25-yard strike between an own goal, and two penalties from Harry Kane and Callum Wilson.
Gareth Southgate's side had little trouble dispatching the side 172nd in the Fifa rankings.
The Three Lions are next in action against North Macedonia on Monday.
Their qualifying campaign to reach Germany next summer is going to plan with nine points from three games - six ahead of Ukraine, North Macedonia and reigning champions Italy.
The three points at Ta'Qali National Stadium were sealed inside the first 31 minutes as Ferdinando Apap turned past his own goalkeeper before Alexander-Arnold's impressive strike.
Just 96 seconds after Alexander-Arnold's goal, Kane made it 3-0 from the penalty spot after being fouled by Matthew Guillaumier. It was his 50th competitive England goal, and means he has now scored in 11 straight Euro qualifiers.
Kane was replaced in the second half, allowing Wilson the chance to score from the spot when his cross was handled by Malta captain Steve Borg and a penalty was awarded by VAR.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, unusually wearing number 10 for England, put them 2-0 up in Ta'Qali with his second international goal
Alexander-Arnold impresses as England's number 10
Wearing number 66 for his club side, Alexander-Arnold is no stranger to an unusual shirt number. Regardless, the sight of the right-back wearing 10 in central midfield for England was guaranteed to catch the eye.
Southgate deploying Alexander-Arnold there is not an entirely new idea - he was used as a playmaker against Andorra in 2021, albeit to limited effect.
Here, against similarly limited opposition, Alexander-Arnold was much more effective - his quick and accurate through-balls for Bukayo Saka and James Maddison causing no end of issues for the Maltese defence.
It was via this route that England took the lead - a great Alexander-Arnold ball over the top from deep for Saka to cut back towards Kane. Covering Malta defender Apap had no option but to try and intervene and he could only steer the ball into the roof of the net.
Playing further up the field also allowed England to exploit Alexander-Arnold's long-range shooting ability, so often seen at free-kicks. Here, he found space 25 yards out in open play midway through the first half and curled an unstoppable effort past Henry Bonello.
The real test of Alexander-Arnold as a viable midfield option will come if he plays there against stronger opponents - but as an experiment, this game was a success.
Eze earns England bow
Southgate resisted the temptation to try much more experimentation. Maddison started in the front three and produced some good touches, as he continues to be monitored by several Premier League clubs following Leicester's relegation.
He was replaced midway through the second half by Crystal Palace midfielder Eberechi Eze, making his long-awaited debut two years after he was denied a place in the provisional Euro 2020 squad by a major Achilles tendon injury.
Trips to Malta have not always been a summer holiday for Southgate's England - a World Cup qualifier here in 2017 saw them fail to score until the 53rd minute before three late strikes put some undeserved gloss on that 4-0 scoreline.
This was a much more comfortable experience, with only a couple of minor worries. Among them was Saka requiring treatment to his ankle after a tough first-half challenge. He was replaced by Phil Foden at the interval.
Ultimately there are tougher qualifying challenges lying ahead. North Macedonia's 2-0 win over Ukraine on Friday night is proof of that, before England then face Ukraine away and Italy at home in September and October respectively.