An afternoon to forget for the Germans who miss two penalties and don’t take advantage of a prolonged numerical superiority. The British beat the Czech Republic 2-0, the Swiss beat Norway 2-1
REP. CZECH-ENGLAND 0-2
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All according to predictions in Batumi, in the meeting between two teams that have already faced each other twice in the qualifying round for Euro2023. Despite a balanced first half – with at least a couple of clear chances on each side, between Madueke and Kusej – England (which faces this European without Olympic ambitions, not recognized by the IOC) starts off on the right foot and convincingly overcomes the Czech Republic The second half was decisive, in which the English changed gears by extinguishing the Czech ardor: Jacob Ramsey, Aston Villa’s raider (6 goals and 7 assists in the Premier League) unlocked it after 80” of the second half, slipping into the area after the triangulation with Gordon. To close the accounts, one of the excellent excluded from the 11 in a squad full of talent: with the game in control, the English double was in fact signed in the final by the substitute Smith Rowe (assist by Archer), Arsenal striker. Ireland manager Lee Carsley’s England are now alone in command of group C.
GERMANY-ISRAEL 1-1
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The accomplice of the English primacy is in fact the unexpected braking of Germany, which slams on Israel by missing two penalties and not taking advantage of a prolonged numerical superiority. An immediately lively match in Kutaisi. 3′ went by and Moukoko, the 18-year-old Borussia Dortmund striker, had his first shot saved from 11 meters by Peretz. From that moment the protagonist – first negatively, then positively – becomes Yann Bisseck, Inter’s concrete market target: the German defender (who plays in Denmark, in Aarhus) doesn’t make a good impression when he is aimed at and passed by Dor Turgeman for the Israeli advantage, but then immediately redeems himself in the other area by flying his head to make it 1-1 after Stiller’s left-handed free-kick. At the end of the first half, the Israelis were ten due to Karzev’s double yellow, but Germany was unable to take advantage of it in a strong recovery. The extraordinary Peretz (number one of Maccabi Tel Aviv), hero of the evening, was still on the way for the Germans, who said no to the penalty kicked this time by Ngankam. Germany-Czech Republic, scheduled for Sunday, already smacks of a playoff.
NORWAY-SWITZERLAND 1-2
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In the other match of the Azzurrini’s group, still in Cluj (but in the Costantin Radulescu stadium) Switzerland celebrates in a comeback by overcoming Norway. It was a Serie A acquaintance who carried the Scandinavians forward: double dribbling in the box and right at the far post by Emil Ceide, the Sassuolo striker, to open the game in the 19th minute by slipping into the shirts of a not exactly hermetic defence. However, the advantage turns out to be illusory. An immediate draw from Ndoye, the Basel striker, and a Swiss overtaking in the second half signed by Kastriot Imeri (Young Boys attacking midfielder) with a billiard shot from the line in the Norwegian area. With Amdouni – returning from 2 goals in the senior national team – thrown into the fray only in the last half hour, Italy’s next opponents (Sunday at 6pm) thus provisionally take the top of group D.
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