Summary

  • Striker Harry Kane becomes England's all-time top goalscorer with his 54th goal, breaking Wayne Rooney's record

  • Defender Luke Shaw sent off late in second half for second bookable offence

  • Cristiano Ronaldo becomes the most-capped men's international footballer after starting Portugal's game against Liechtenstein

  • England are in Group C alongside Italy, Ukraine, North Macedonia and Malta

  1. Elsewhere in Europepublished at 18:39 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2023

    It's a packed slate of Euro 2024 qualifiers to begin the road to Germany this evening. All kick-off times for the fixtures here are 19.45 GMT...

    Group C

    Italy v England

    North Macedonia v Malta

    Group H

    Denmark v Finland

    San Marino v Northern Ireland

    Group J

    Portugal v Liechtenstein

    Slovakia v Luxembourg

  2. Team news - Phillips starts for Englandpublished at 18:37 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2023

    Italy v England (19:45 GMT)

    Arsenal midfielder Jorginho starts for Italy while Leeds forward Wilfried Gnonto and West Ham attacker Gianluca Scamacca are on the bench.

    Italy XI: Donnarumma, Di Lorenzo, Acerbi, Toloi, Spinazzola, Barella, Jorginho, Verratti, Berardi, Retegui, Pellegrini.

    Subs: Falcone, Meret, Darmian, Gnonto, Scamacca, Pessina, Emerson, Scalvini, Cristante, Politano, Tonali, Romagnoli

    Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips starts for England.

    The 27-year-old, who has played just 344 minutes of football this season, is included in an XI that also sees a start for Jack Grealish.

    Harry Kane, who will become England's all-time record scorer with a goal tonight, leads the attack for Gareth Southgate's side.

    England XI: Pickford, Walker, Stones, Maguire, Shaw, Rice, Phillips, Bellingham, Saka, Grealish, Kane.

    Subs: Trippier, Ramsdale, Henderson, Dier, Maddison, Chilwell, James, Guehi, Gallagher, Foden, Forster, Toney.

  3. Ronaldo set to break appearance recordpublished at 18:34 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2023

    Portugal v Liechtenstein (19.45 GMT)

    Cristiano RonaldoImage source, Getty Images

    Cristiano Ronaldo will become the most-capped men's international footballer tonight in Portugal's Euro 2024 qualifying opener against Liechtenstein.

    Ronaldo, 38, moved level with Kuwait forward Bader Al-Mutawa on 196 caps when he faced Morocco at the World Cup.

    And he has been named in new Portugal manager Roberto Martinez's first starting XI in Lisbon for cap 197.

    Ronaldo - now playing in Saudi Arabia for Al Nassr - has scored a men's record 118 international goals.

  4. Who will reach Euro 2024?published at 18:32 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2023

    Italy v England (19:45 GMT)

    .Image source, Getty Images

    Here we go again. Qualifying for the 2024 European Championship in Germany gets under way this week as 53 nations battle for 24 places.

    In a repeat of last tournament's final, England face holders Italy in their first Group C match.

    Scotland find themselves in a difficult group with Spain and Norway as they hope to reach just their second major tournament this century.

    Wales, semi-finalists in 2016, are in Group D with Croatia, Turkey, Latvia and Armenia.

    Northern Ireland, who made their only Euros appearance seven years ago, are in an intriguing Group H which includes Denmark and Finland.

  5. Can England do the job in Naples?published at 18:29 Greenwich Mean Time 23 March 2023

    Italy v England (19:45 GMT)

    .Image source, Getty Images

    England are back in action for the first time since their World Cup quarter-final exit tonight and it kickstarts the beginning of their Euro 2024 qualification campaign.

    It's not an easy game either as England take on Italy, who they lost to in the Euro 2021 final.

    Italy are expected to be England's most difficult opposition in Group C, which also contains Ukraine, North Macedonia and Malta.

    Kick-off is just over an hour away in Naples.