Sweden down Spain as England crush Hungary

Viktor Claesson secured Sweden a 2-1 victory over Spain in World Cup qualifying on Thursday for a third win in three games and top spot in Group B.

Valencia midfielder Carlos Soler scored five minutes into his Spain debut, but Alexander Isak replied almost instantly for the hosts in Stockholm.

Claesson grabbed the winner just before the hour as Sweden kept their 100 percent record intact to move two points clear of Spain with a game in hand.

Defeat for Spain leaves Luis Enrique’s side at increasing risk of entering the play-offs with only the group winners guaranteed a place at the 2022 finals in Qatar.

“We didn’t deserve to lose,” said Spain defender Jordi Alba. “The first half was excellent and it was a shame that they equalised immediately.”

Spain return home to face Georgia on Sunday having made an unconvincing start to the group. Now in pole position in the group, Sweden play Uzbekistan in a friendly this weekend before resuming their qualifying campaign away to Greece on September 8.

England score four

Rampant England eased past Hungary in Budapest Thursday with a second-half four-goal barrage that propels Gareth Southgate’s men toward qualification for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar after a tie marred by abusive fan behaviour.

After a first half bereft of shots on target, Raheem Sterling broke the deadlock with a clipped shot 10 minutes into the second period before a pair of headers by Harry Kane and Harry Maguire soon after and a late Declan Rice strike sealed a 4-0 win.

The Three Lions now have a maximum 12 points from four games, five more than second-placed Poland who beat Albania 4-1 on Thursday and who host England in Warsaw next Wednesday.

As England supporters were not able to make the journey, over 60,000 home fans strained to create a hostile atmosphere in the Puskas Arena for the visitors.

Before play began the England players took the knee to highlight racial injustice, and were met by cacophonous booing despite calls from Hungary coach Marco Rossi before the game for fans to behave.

After his goal plastic beer glasses were also launched by fans toward Sterling who was then booed throughout, while a flare was thrown onto the pitch near where Maguire celebrated his strike, with reports of alleged monkey chants also heard.

The incidents were called “completely unacceptable” afterwards by Southgate. 

“The players should not have to be subjected to any form of racism. The individuals responsible need to be dealt with,” he said.

“Some people are stuck in their ways of thinking and their prejudices, they are going to be the dinosaurs in the end as the world is modernising,” he added.