Euro 2016: Spain seal qualification, Walcott on target for England

Sport360 staff 04:50 10/10/2015
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  • Delight: Spain.

    Holders Spain sealed their spot in next summer’s European Championship finals in convincing fashion by gaining their seventh consecutive qualifying victory without conceding a single goal.

    They were initially made to work hard by dogged Luxembourg, but the result was never in doubt after Santi Cazorla broke the deadlock shortly before half-time.

    The margin was extended in the second half, starting with a brace from Paco Alcacer to further strengthen the Valencia man’s case for a place in the starting XI, before Cazorla completed the scoring with his second.

    Theo Walcott bagged his seventh goal of the season as England maintained their 100 per cent qualifying record with a narrow and largely uninspiring 2-0 win over Estonia.

    Walcott has been in top form for Arsenal, scoring four goals since being moved up front for the Gunners. The 26-year-old had to settle for a role out wide last night but he still proved deadly, turning home a great pass from Ross Barkley to score the first goal.

    Raheem Sterling then scored his second England goal to round off the victory, which came in front of an impressive crowd of 75,427 at Wembley.

    Russia remain in pole position to join Group G winners Austria in automatically qualifying for Euro 2016 following a 2-1 win against Moldova in Chisinau.

    Sergei Ignashevich and substitute Artem Dzyuba put the visitors 2-0 up before Eugeniu Cebotaru’s late goal made for a nervy finale.

    Sweden remain two points behind in third, Marcus Berg and Paris Saint-Germain forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic netting in their routine 2-0 home win against Liechtenstein.

    On target: Walcott.

    The Swedes have an easier final fixture as they host bottom side Moldova, while Russia welcome Montenegro, who were edged out 3-2 by a late fightback from leaders Austria in Podgorica on Friday. 

    Al Jazira frontman Mirko Vucinic opened the scoring before Marc Janko levelled in the second half. Fatos Beciraj restored the hosts’ lead but Stoke forward Marko Arnautovic drew Austria level again and Marcel Sabitzer won it with a 92nd minute strike.

    Switzerland all but sealed second spot behind England in Group E with a 7-0 thrashing of San Marino.

    Michael Lang put the hosts ahead in St Gallen before Pajtim Kasami, Admir Mehmedi, Eren Derdiyok, Gokhan Inler, Johan Djourou and Breel Embolo each netted.

    Two penalties saw Slovenia and Lithuania draw 1-1 in Ljubljana, Valter Birsa giving the hosts the lead before Arvydas Novikovas equalised four minutes from time.

    Ukraine’s 2-0 win away at Macedonia, thanks to goals from Yevhen Seleznyov and Artem Kravets, saw them draw level with second-placed Slovakia on 19 points in Group C.

    Slovakia were beaten 1-0 at home by Belarus, the game’s only goal coming courtesy of Stanislav Drugan in the first half and now travel to Luxembourg on the final matchday while Ukraine host Spain.

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