Joy of six for Spain, Italy
Spain and Italy moved to within touching distance of Euro 2020 on Sunday after respective wins over the Faroe Islands and Finland saw them maintain their perfect qualifying records for next year’s tournament.
Rodrigo and Paco Alcacer both scored twice in an easy 4-0 victory over the Faroes in Gijon, on a night when captain Sergio Ramos equalled Iker Casillas’ national appearances record with his 167th cap.
It was their sixth win from six in Group F and put them on a perfect 18 points, seven clear of Sweden, who drew 1-1 with Scandinavian rivals Norway.
Italy also kept their 100 percent record thanks to Jorginho’s late penalty, which fired Italy their own sixth straight win, 2-1 at nearest rivals Finland.
Chelsea midfielder Jorginho’s 79th-minute winner in Tampere sent Roberto Mancini’s side six points clear of the second-placed Finns in Group J, after in-form Norwich City striker Teemu Pukki had levelled Ciro Immobile’s first Italy goal in two years with a penalty of his own six minutes before.
Four-time world champions Italy are flying high with a maximum 18 points with four qualifying games to play, nine points ahead of third-placed Armenia.
Comments