Lacklustre England seal top spot with win over Malta

LONDON :England ensured a top seeding at Euro 2024 with a laboured 2-0 home victory against Group C makeweights Malta on Friday that will not live long in the memory of an underwhelmed Wembley Stadium crowd.

Until the 75th minute all that separated Gareth Southgate's lacklustre side from 171st-ranked Malta was an early own goal by Enrico Pepe and they endured some anxious moments in between.

Captain Harry Kane finally doubled England's lead with his 62nd goal for his country after good work by Bukayo Saka before Declan Rice had an effort ruled out for offside.

But there was precious little to get enthused about as several England fringe players wasted the chance to make a statement of intent to Southgate in his 90th match in charge.

England had already qualified for next year's finals in Germany and victory over Malta ensured they top Group C, regardless of what happens in North Macedonia on Monday.

They have 19 points from their seven games, with Italy and Ukraine on 13.

"It was a game when we didn't start well and if you don't start well it's hard to pick the game up," Southgate said.

"These players have played so many games and have done so well for us so I am not going to hammer them for it. We weren't where we should be but we got the win."

Southgate, whose first game in charge in 2016 was also against Malta, will say the hard work had already been done with impressive home and away wins over European champions Italy.

He will also point to the likes of Jude Bellingham not being available because of injury of injury.

But there is no getting away from the fact his players should have found it much easier to put away a gutsy Malta side who had no points and only two goals in the group.

With several of his first-choice players on