SERGIO RAMOS SCORED a second-half penalty to help Spain beat a spirited Norway 2-1 on Saturday in their opening Euro 2020 qualifier, while teenage striker Moise Kean netted in Italy’s win over Finland.
Spain were not at their clinical best in Valencia, but got their Group F campaign off to a solid start despite Norway threatening an upset.
The 2010 World Cup winners have been unpredictable of late, having been dumped out by Russia in the last 16 of the World Cup and then missing out on the Nations League finals after a home loss to England.
Coach Luis Enrique named an attacking line-up, with Marco Asensio, Alvaro Morata and Rodrigo all starting, and it was the latter who volleyed home the opener from Jordi Alba’s cross in the 16th minute.
Winger Jesus Navas created several other early chances for his teammates on his first Spain appearance since March 2014, but Rodrigo headed over and Morata was denied by away goalkeeper Rune Jarstein.
Norway started to grow into the game and were handed a chance to draw level in the 65th minute when Inigo Martinez grabbed Bjorn Johnsen, and Bournemouth striker Joshua King stepped up to slot past David de Gea.
We're not sure how Spain aren't 4 or 5 ahead vs Norway.
— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) March 23, 2019
They are 1-0 up though.
Valencia man Rodrigo with this fine goal at the Mestalla.#Euro2020 #VMSport pic.twitter.com/QWIooJPvI6
Spain wasted little time in getting their noses back in front, though, as Jarstein felled Morata to concede a 71st-minute penalty.
Centre-back Ramos stepped up and confidently dispatched a ‘Panenka’ spot-kick down the middle to score his 16th goal of the season for club and country.
- Kean makes his mark -
Juventus youngster Kean, 19, became the youngest striker to start for Italy in more than a century as Roberto Mancini’s men saw off Finland 2-0.
Italy got off to a flying start in Udine, as Nicolo Barella gave them a seventh-minute lead with his maiden international goal.
The 22-year-old Cagliari midfielder hammered home a low volley after a free-kick was only half-cleared by the Finnish defence.
Sergio Ramos just did this.
— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) March 23, 2019
The absolute cojones of the man. #SPANOR #Euro2020 #VMSport pic.twitter.com/95eNiwGCq5
The day belonged to Kean, though, as he slotted in the second with 16 minutes to play to mark his full debut in style.
Italy are top of the early Group J standings ahead of Bosnia and Herzegovina, who edged out Armenia 2-1 as captain Edin Dzeko became the first player in their history to be capped 100 times.
The other game in the group saw Greece win 2-0 against Liechtenstein in Vaduz.
Elsewhere, World Cup quarter-finalists Sweden made a winning start in Group F as midfielders Robin Quaison and Viktor Claesson both scored in the space of seven first-half minutes in a 2-1 success over Romania.
Euro 2020 qualifying results on Saturday:
Group D
Georgia 0 Switzerland 2 (Zuber 57, Zakaria 80)
Gibraltar 0 Republic of Ireland 1 (Hendrick 49)
Group F
Malta 2 (Nwoko 13, Borg 77-pen) Faroe Islands 1 (Thomsen 90+8)
Sweden 2 (Quaison 33, Claesson 40) Romania 1 (Keseru 58)
Spain 2 (Rodrigo 16, Ramos 71-pen) Norway 1 (King 65-pen)
Group J
Bosnia and Herzegovina 2 (Krunic 33, Milosevic 80) Armenia 1 (Mkhitaryan 90+3-pen)
Italy 2 (Barella 7, Kean 74) Finland 0
Liechtenstein 0 Greece 2 (Fortounis 45+1, Donis 80)
Murray Kinsella and Andy Dunne dissect Ireland’s disappointing Six Nations campaign, and discuss the pros and cons of rugby’s new law proposals in the latest episode of The42 Rugby Weekly:
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