Declan Rice was back in action as as England beat Malta 4-0 in a UEFA Euro qualifier at Ta’ Qali Stadium last night.
The Three Lions took the lead inside ten minutes with Malta defender Ferdinando Apap putting through his own net before Trent Alexander-Arnold added a second with a fierce drive from the edge of the area.
Rice’s long-range strike then drew a giid save from Malta stopper Henry Bonello but that led to a foul which saw Harry Kane convert from the spot with 30 minutes played.
Rice’s 42nd appearance for the Three Lions saw the midfielder record 89 per cent passing completion, win three aerial battles, and complete all of his attempted dribbles.
Callum Wilson then added England’s fourth of the night, as the Three Lions now look to maintain their 100 per cent record in UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying against North Macedonia at Old Trafford at 7.45PM BST on Monday 20 June.
Meanwhile,Thilo Kehrer was part of a German team which fell to a 1-0 defeat by Poland in an international friendly played at National Stadium Warsaw.
Kehrer’s 27th senior international outing saw Germany slip to their first defeat of the international break having drawn 3-3 with Ukraine last time out.
Callum Marshall made his senior debut for Northern Ireland in a 1-0 defeat to Denmark at Parken Stadium and was unfortunate to see a goal of his own ruled out by VAR
Marshall and company next welcome Kazakhstan to Windsor Park, Belfast on Monday.
Alphonse Areola was an unused substitute as France beat Gibraltar 3-0 in a UEFA Euro qualifier at Estadio Algarve but academy goalkeeper Krisztián Hegyikept a clean sheet as Hungary U21s beat Slovakia U21s 1-0 in an international friendly.
Hegyi played 90 minutes between the sticks for Zoltán Gera’s men with midfielder Krisztián Lisztes scoring the only goal of the game.