England return to Old Trafford for the first time since 2007 to take on North Macedonia in a Euro 2024 qualifier tonight. Gareth Southgate’s side are in total control of the group as things stand and recorded a big win over Malta on Friday to tighten their grip even further.
Southgate makes three changes to Friday’s team with John Stones coming back into the side to partner Harry Maguire in central defence. Marcus Rashford plays up front in front of his home supporters and Kyle Walker operates at right-back.
Trent Alexander-Arnold continues in midfield alongside Declan Rice and Jordan Henderson, while Bukayo Saka is free of any slight injury concern. One final game until the longest season on record ends, you can follow all the action on Standard Sport’s dedicated match blog. Dan Kilpatrick and Nizaar Kinsella will be providing expert analysis from the ground!
Live updates
GOAL! England 1-0 North Macedonia | Harry Kane ‘28
28 mins: England have their breakthrough!
Rashford frees Shaw down the left and the defender pulls back a cross before Kane sweeps the ball into the net.
Nizaar Kinsella at Old Trafford
North Macedonia have been playing with 10 men for three minutes as the Ristovski comes back on. It has helped England create some moments through Rashford but still not enough to find the breakthrough.
Rashford the danger man
21 mins: The Manchester United forward is enjoying this in front of home supporters.
So dangerous with his trickery in the box, causing the visitors all manner of problems.
England not having this all their own way
19 mins: The hosts are largely in control but North Macedonia have looked dangerous on the counter.
England’s final ball only so slightly off.
Nizaar Kinsella at Old Trafford
The two captains, Harry Kane and Stefan Ristovski, have been involved in a nasty collision of heads. A really honest but sore one for both players, they look like they will both be fine. Ristovski needs to be cleared up as he has lost a bit of blood.
Dan Kilpatrick at Old Trafford
You’d expect England to go on to win this game with relative ease but North Macedonia have already done more in 15 minutes than Malta managed in 90 on Friday. Their latest cross from the right causes a flash of panic after it’s missed by Harry Kane but England clear their lines.
Nizaar Kinsella at Old Trafford
North Macedonia are competing well. They’ve not given anything away and have managed to take the sting out of the match with a bit of gamesmanship. It hasn’t made it the most entertaining start to a match from an England perspective, though.
Half chance from England
10 mins: Henderson does really well to press two players and force a corner, which is swung in from the left by Shaw.
Stones, however, cannot direct it on target.
Nizaar Kinsella at Old Trafford
Harry Maguire’s first touch was a loose header back to the goalkeeper that Jordan Pickford just about stopped from going out for a corner. He might have thought he was playing for Manchester United, not England.
His second touch was after some excellent one versus one defending, mind. Maguire is back in ‘England mode’.
Really positive start from England
05 mins: Direct, assertive and aggressive in winning the ball back, England have been a joy to watch in the opening stages.
Their visitors just can’t get out.
