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Italy thrash Lithuania

England held by Poland in World Cup qualifying
TOPSHOT - Italy's players celebrate their team's fifth goal during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group C qualification football match between Italy and Lithuania at the Citta del Tricolore Stadium in Reggio Emilia on September 8, 2021.   (Photo by Vincenzo PINTO / AFP)
TOPSHOT - Italy's players celebrate their team's fifth goal during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group C qualification football match between Italy and Lithuania at the Citta del Tricolore Stadium in Reggio Emilia on September 8, 2021. (Photo by Vincenzo PINTO / AFP)
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PARIS: Moise Kean grabbed his first international goals since March 2019 as Italy thrashed Lithuania 5-0 in World Cup qualifying on Wednesday, as Damian Szymanski's late header forced England to settle for a draw in Poland.


Italy had drawn their previous two qualifiers to slip into a battle with Switzerland for automatic qualification from Group C.


But the European champions, who set a new world record of 36 internationals unbeaten with the goalless draw against the Swiss at the weekend, produced a dominant display against Lithuania in Reggio Emilia.


Young striker Kean, who rejoined Juventus from Everton in the close-season after a successful loan spell at Paris Saint-Germain, scored twice in the first half.


Edgaras Utkus put through his own net and Giacomo Raspadori also scored as Italy moved four ahead at the break.


Giovanni Di Lorenzo made it five in the second period as Roberto Mancini's side stretched their lead over Switzerland at the top of the table to six points.


"It was important to have won this game with young players, who played very well, especially in the first half," Mancini told RAI.


"They (Kean and Raspadori) have a great future, everything will depend on them."


The Azzurri are hoping to banish the memories of their shock failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.


The Swiss do have two games in hand, but they were held to a 0-0 draw by Northern Ireland in Belfast, with Haris Seferovic having a penalty saved by Bailey Peacock-Farrell.


Soccer Football - World Cup - UEFA Qualifiers - Group I - Poland v England - PGE Narodowy, Warsaw, Poland - September 8, 2021 Poland's Jakub Moder and Robert Lewandowski celebrate their first goal REUTERS/Kacper Pempel
Soccer Football - World Cup - UEFA Qualifiers - Group I - Poland v England - PGE Narodowy, Warsaw, Poland - September 8, 2021 Poland's Jakub Moder and Robert Lewandowski celebrate their first goal REUTERS/Kacper Pempel


POLES HOLD ENGLAND


England, who were beaten by Italy on penalties in the Euro 2020 final at Wembley, lost their 100 percent record in qualifying with a 1-1 draw against Poland in Warsaw.


The hosts were second in Group I, five points behind England, before kick-off and frustrated their opponents for long periods.


England captain Harry Kane appeared to have settled a tempestuous affair with 18 minutes remaining, slamming a swerving long-range shot into the bottom corner to score his 41st international goal.


But Szymanski headed home at the back post from Robert Lewandowski's cross in injury time.


"A tough one to take right at the end," Kane told ITV. "Sometimes the pressure comes away from home but we are top with four games to go."


Gareth Southgate's men are still four points clear of second-placed Albania, who thumped San Marino 5-0 in Tirana.


Spain's qualification hopes were under threat heading into their game at Kosovo, but a 2-0 win, coupled with Sweden's surprise loss to Greece, gave Luis Enrique's side a much-needed boost.


West Ham United midfielder Pablo Fornal's 32nd-minute strike and Ferran Torres' late goal gave the 2010 world champions all three points in Pristina.


Sweden, albeit having played two matches fewer than Spain, slipped four points adrift of their Group B rivals after a 2-1 defeat by the Greeks.


GERMANY IMPRESS


Germany entered the current international break with a new coach, Hansi Flick, and looking to hit back following their European Championship last-16 exit at the hands of England, just months after a shock World Cup qualifying home loss to North Macedonia.


But an impressive 4-0 victory in Iceland made it three wins from three for the former Bayern Munich boss.


There had been serious questions marks raised about the form of forwards Timo Werner, Serge Gnabry and Leroy Sane, but all three netted in Reykjavik.


Werner and Gnabry have both scored three times in these three games, with Sane on the scoresheet twice.


Chelsea centre-back Antonio Ruediger was the other scorer as Germany stretched four points clear of Armenia in Group J.


The Armenians were held to a disappointing 1-1 home draw by Liechtenstein.


In Group E, Belgium continued their cruise towards qualification as Dennis Praet's first-half effort saw Roberto Martinez's side edge out Belarus 1-0 in Kazan.


Wales are now nine points behind the Red Devils after a goalless stalemate with Estonia in Cardiff. -- AFP


European 2022 World Cup qualifying results


On Wednesday:


Group B


In Pristina


Kosovo 0 Spain 2 (Fornals 32, F. Torres 90)


In Athens


Greece 2 (Bakasetas 62, Pavlidis 78) Sweden 1 (Quaison 80)


Group C


In Belfast


Northern Ireland 0 Switzerland 0


In Reggio Emilia, Italy


Italy 5 (Kean 11, 29, Utkus 14-og, Raspadori 24, Di Lorenzo 54) Lithuania 0


Group E


In Kazan, Russia


Belarus 0 Belgium 1 (Praet 33)


In Cardiff


Wales 0 Estonia 0


Group I


In Budapest


Hungary 2 (Szalai 9-pen, Botka 18) Andorra 1 (Llovera 82)


In Elbasan, Albania


Albania 5 (Manaj 32, Laci 58, Broja 61, Hysaj 68, Uzuni 80)) San Marino 0


In Warsaw


Poland 1 (Swiderski 90+2) England 1 (Kane 72)


Group J


In Yerevan


Armenia 1 (Mkhitaryan 45+5-pen) Liechtenstein 1 (Frick 80)


In Skopje


North Macedonia 0 Romania 0


In Reykjavik


Iceland 0 Germany 4 (Gnabry 4, Ruediger 24, Sane 56, Werner 89)


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