Giroud and Kane Extend National Scoring Records as France and England Win Euro Qualifiers

France’s Olivier Giroud smiles after scoring the opening goal during the Euro 2024 group B qualifying soccer match between Gibraltar and France, at the Algarve Stadium outside Faro, Portugal, Friday, June 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Joao Matos)
France’s Olivier Giroud smiles after scoring the opening goal during the Euro 2024 group B qualifying soccer match between Gibraltar and France, at the Algarve Stadium outside Faro, Portugal, Friday, June 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Joao Matos)
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Giroud and Kane Extend National Scoring Records as France and England Win Euro Qualifiers

France’s Olivier Giroud smiles after scoring the opening goal during the Euro 2024 group B qualifying soccer match between Gibraltar and France, at the Algarve Stadium outside Faro, Portugal, Friday, June 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Joao Matos)
France’s Olivier Giroud smiles after scoring the opening goal during the Euro 2024 group B qualifying soccer match between Gibraltar and France, at the Algarve Stadium outside Faro, Portugal, Friday, June 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Joao Matos)

Strikers Olivier Giroud and Harry Kane extended their national team scoring records as France and England maintained perfect starts to European Championship qualifying with third straight wins on Friday.

Switzerland also has a maximum nine points after a 2-1 success at Andorra.

Giroud took only three minutes to head home Kingsley Coman's right-wing cross to make it 54 goals for Les Bleus in a 3-0 win at Gibraltar in Group B.

Kane's penalty in a 4-0 romp at Malta made it 56 goals for his table-topping nation in Group C.

World Cup runner-up France, which opened its campaign with wins against Ireland and the Netherlands, has yet to concede a goal.

Amid intense speculation regarding his Paris Saint-Germain future, Kylian Mbappé captained Les Bleus at the 30,000-capacity Estádio Algarve in Faro, Portugal.

Mbappé calmly slotted in a penalty in first-half injury time for his 39th France goal. He's only two behind fellow great Michel Platini, who's fourth on France's all-time scoring list.

But coach Didier Deschamps was not satisfied, and demanded more from his team.

“We could have, we should have scored more. We hit the post, the goalkeeper made some saves,” he said. “We can always do better when we play with more speed.”

Midfielder Giorgos Masouras scored the winner as second-placed Greece won at home to Ireland 2-1 in the other Group B match.

Greece travels to play France at Stade de France on Monday.

England took the lead at Ta’ Qali National Stadium through an early Malta own goal, before Liverpool right back Trent Alexander-Arnold — with a brilliant strike — and Kane netted in quick succession for coach Gareth Southgate’s team.

Callum Wilson's late penalty completed the scoring.

In another game, Ukraine rallied from 2-0 down to win 3-2 at North Macedonia with forward Viktor Tsygankov grabbing a late winner for the visitors.

GROUP D

With Croatia playing in the Nations League final, Wales blew the chance to go top after losing at home to Armenia. 4-2

Instead, Turkey moved into first place with six points after a dramatic 3-2 win at Latvia.

Irfan Kahveci scored Turkey's winner five minutes into stoppage time, and one minute after Latvia equalized.

Wales was level on four points with Croatia but behind on goal difference.

GROUP H

With four teams level on six points, Denmark moved top on goal difference after beating Northern Ireland 1-0 at home thanks to Jonas Wind's goal early in the second half.

Kazakhstan was second after a 3-0 victory at San Marino.

Forwards Joel Pohjanpalo and Oliver Antman scored as Finland beat previous leader Slovenia 2-0 at home to move into third spot.

GROUP I

The Swiss lead by two points from Romania, which drew at Kosovo 0-0.

Oscar Gloukh netted an injury-time winner as third-placed Israel won at last-placed Belarus 2-1.



Stephen Curry Sprains Left Ankle in Warriors’ Loss

 Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry walks onto court before an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers in San Francisco, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024. (AP)
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry walks onto court before an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers in San Francisco, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024. (AP)
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Stephen Curry Sprains Left Ankle in Warriors’ Loss

 Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry walks onto court before an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers in San Francisco, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024. (AP)
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry walks onto court before an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers in San Francisco, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024. (AP)

Stephen Curry injured his left ankle late in the third quarter of Sunday's 112-104 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, tried to return then exited again and left the court for the locker room.

Curry returned briefly at the 8:08 mark of the fourth quarter before exiting again 13 seconds later after turning the ankle — it appeared to roll outward — again during an offensive possession. It happened near the end of Golden State's bench and he limped into the tunnel that goes to the locker room.

The team said he was done for the night with a sprained left ankle and coach Steve Kerr said after the game that Curry would undergo an MRI exam Sunday night.

"He's doing OK. He said it was, I think he used the word mild or moderate," Kerr said. "He's obviously sprained the ankle many times before so he doesn't think it's too bad, but obviously it's a concern."

Curry was along the key being defended by Kris Dunn when he cut away from Dunn toward the baseline and reinjured the ankle. It was at the 2:43 mark of the third quarter when Curry initially hobbled to the bench at sat the remainder of the period.

The two-time MVP and NBA all-time 3-point leader finished with 18 points, six assists and four rebounds, shooting 6 for 11 with four 3-pointers.

The 36-year-old Curry is beginning his 16th NBA season and has dealt with regular ankle issues on both his right and left feet.

"You don't replace Steph Curry but we do have a deep team, that's what the numbers are for," guard Moses Moody said.

Curry's teammates hope he isn't sidelined for long.

"Shake my head, hate to have it, especially with him," guard Gary Payton II said. "We'll be all right."