Harry Kane was the hero for England in their poor 2-0 win against Malta

The England national team achieved a poor 2-0 victory against Malta in the Wembley Stadium on the ninth day of the Euro 2024 qualifiers. The English team, already classified for the European competition, did not show their best level and an own goal from the rival and a single goal by Harry Kane allowed the Three Lions to achieve one more victory in their group.

The locals, though, opened the scoring with an own goal by Enrico Pepe at the 8th minute. The early net allowed the Three Lions to be relaxed, and they scarcely created goal chances during the first half, and until the 75th minute all that separated Southgate's lackluster side from 171st-ranked Malta with some anxious moments in between.

Just at the 75th it arrived the goal of Harry Kane, who extended the lead of the English team with his 62nd goal for his country after a good play created by the Arsenal player Bukayo Saka before his teammate at the Gunners, Declan Rice, had an effort ruled out for offside, which avoided the English team to extend their lead in the scoring.

The English Football team to join Euro 2024 Pot 1

The victory allows the English football team to need only one more point in the last game of the 2024 qualifiers against Macedonia to be sure of classify as one of the five teams to join the hosts in the Pot 1 of the European tournament, though their superior goal average in the group means it could be almost assured.