This archive report was first published on 8 September 2019.
September 8, 2019
France and Portugal Regain Momentum in Euro 2020 Qualifiers ¶
France and Portugal got their Euro 2020 qualification campaigns back on track with impressive wins over Balkan pair Albania and Serbia.
France moved back top of Group H with a 4-1 thumping of Albania at the Stade de France, thanks to a Kingsley Coman hat-trick and further strikes from Olivier Giroud and substitute Jonathan Ikone.
Portugal, meanwhile, are second in Group B on five points from three games after they struck four times in Belgrade, with William Carvalho, Goncalo Guedes, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Bernardo Silva giving Fernando Santos' side a 4-2 victory over Serbia.
Didier Deschamps' side are now eight points behind leaders Ukraine, who top the group unbeaten having played five times after their 3-0 drubbing of Lithuania.
Earlier, England maintained their 100 percent qualifying record as Harry Kane's hat-trick inspired a 4-0 demolition of Bulgaria at Wembley.
"The balance sheet is very positive. We could have won by more," said Deschamps.
"We did what we had to do, even if we relaxed a bit at the end," he added.
