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.



Haaland Misses Penalty and Man City Drops More Points after 1-1 Draw with Everton

Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester City v Everton - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - December 26, 2024 Manchester City's Erling Haaland has his penalty saved by Everton's Jordan Pickford Action Images via Reuters/Craig Brough
Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester City v Everton - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - December 26, 2024 Manchester City's Erling Haaland has his penalty saved by Everton's Jordan Pickford Action Images via Reuters/Craig Brough
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Haaland Misses Penalty and Man City Drops More Points after 1-1 Draw with Everton

Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester City v Everton - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - December 26, 2024 Manchester City's Erling Haaland has his penalty saved by Everton's Jordan Pickford Action Images via Reuters/Craig Brough
Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester City v Everton - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - December 26, 2024 Manchester City's Erling Haaland has his penalty saved by Everton's Jordan Pickford Action Images via Reuters/Craig Brough

Erling Haaland missed a penalty as Manchester City was held 1-1 by Everton in the Premier League on Thursday.

Haaland had the chance to set the four-time defending champion on course for only its second win in 13 games when stepping up for a 53rd minute spot kick at the Etihad Stadium. But he was denied by Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford as City's woeful recent run was extended, The Associated Press reported.

Pep Guardiola's team has lost nine of its last 13 games in all competitions. The draw means City picked up only its fifth point in the league since the end of October.

Bernardo Silva's deflected shot gave City the lead in the 14th, but Iliman Ndiaye leveled the score in the 36th.

The result leaves City sixth in the standings and 11 points behind leader Liverpool, having played two games more.

Haaland missed penalty means the Norway international has only scored one in his last seven games. He headed in from the rebound, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

City's grip on its title was further loosened by more dropped points. Liverpool had the chance to extend its lead over the champion when playing Leicester in the later kick off.