England made it a perfect 10 after beating Lithuania 3-0, but their record-breaking achievement was marred by fighting between the visiting fans and their Lithuanian counterparts.
– Euro 2016: Lewandowski consigns Ireland to playoffs
– FIFA: No written contract puts Platini in trouble
– #360view: Wales qualification fitting tribute Gary Speed
– VIDEO: Goals of the Week – #NSL360 Football
The skirmishes started before kick-off when the England fans who had bought tickets in the home end, clashed with their Lithuania counterparts. The supporters brawled and missiles were thrown before riot police stepped in to break up the fighting and separate the fans.
Goals from Ross Barkley and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, as well as an own goal from Lithuania stopper Giedrius Arlauskis, meant Roy Hodgson’s men ended their pristine Euro 2016 qualification campaign with a resounding win.
It is the first time England have qualified for a major tournament in this format with a 100 per cent record – and for that Hodgson deserves great praise.
England’s group may have been the easiest in qualifying, but the achievement should not be sniffed at, and once again the likes of Barkley, Oxlade-Chamberlain and Adam Lallana showed glimpses of class against a weak yet stubbornly-well organised Lithuania side.
Reigning European champions Spain claimed a 1-0 win in Kiev to consign Ukraine to a place in the play-offs.
Spain won an eighth successive match in advancing top of Euro 2016 qualifying Group C as Mario Gaspar’s debut goal proved decisive.
Their only defeat came in their second game to Slovakia, who finished runners-up, with Euro 2012 co-hosts Ukraine third.
Ukraine began the match level on points with Slovakia, but an inferior head to head record meant they needed a better outcome than their rivals, who were playing in Luxembourg.
10 – David de Gea made 10 saves against Ukraine, a record by a goalkeeper in a international game for Spain since at least 2006. Solid.
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) October 12, 2015
Estonia saw their Euro 2016 qualifying hopes end as they suffered a 1-0 defeat to Switzerland at A. Le Coq Arena.
Magnus Pehrsson’s hosts held out slim chances of making the play-offs, needing to defeat the Group E runners-up and for San Marino to see off Slovenia, but both results went against them as a late own goal from Ragnar Klavan ended all hope in Tallinn.
Slovakia scored their first goals since June as they booked their place at next summer’s European Championships with a 4-2 victory over Luxembourg.
First-half goals from Oleg Kuzmin and Aleksandr Kokorin booked Russia’s place at Euro 2016 with a 2-0 victory over Montenegro in Moscow.
Sweden upheld their part of the bargain by beating Moldova 2-0 at Friends Arena but they will go into Sunday’s draw for the Euro 2016 play-offs following Russia’s victory over Montenegro.
Slovenia eventually claimed a 2-0 win over San Marino to book a play-off spot in the European Championship qualifiers after finishing third in Group E.
Unbeaten Austria completed their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign with a 3-0 victory over Liechtenstein, their ninth win from 10 Group G matches.
