Euro 2024 Qualifiers: Norway Defeats Italy, Belgium Draws with North Macedonia, Croatia Dominates Gibraltar
In a series of exciting matches on June 6, 2025, several key games took place in the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifiers, showcasing significant competition across Europe.
Norway vs. Italy: A Major Upset
Norway delivered a stunning performance against Italy, winning 3-0 at home in Oslo. This triumph marked a critical start to Norway’s qualification campaign. The Italian squad, managed by Luciano Spalletti, came into the match with high expectations, having struggled in recent years following their absence from the last two World Cups.
Norway took the lead in the 15th minute with a goal from Sorloth, who found the net from a challenging angle. The second goal came from Antonio Nusa in the 34th minute, a spectacular long-range effort that reminded fans of Italy’s missed opportunities in the previous Nations League tournament against Israel. The final goal was scored by Erling Haaland, who capitalized on an open net after rounding Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. Norway’s commanding victory keeps them in contention for a top spot in the group, having won all three of their opening matches.
North Macedonia vs. Belgium: A Hard-Fought Draw
In another key matchup, North Macedonia and Belgium played to a 1-1 draw. Belgium’s Maxim De Cuyper opened the scoring in the 29th minute, netting off a rebound in the area. However, North Macedonia fought back, with Aijan Ailoski scoring a stunning equalizer in the 87th minute with an acrobatic shot from outside the box. After this match, North Macedonia stands second in the group with five points, while Belgium will be looking to improve their standing in future fixtures.
Gibraltar vs. Croatia: A start-Sided Affair
Croatia, last year’s World Cup semifinalists, showcased their strength with a resounding 7-0 victory over Gibraltar. Mario Pasalic opened the scoring in the 28th minute, followed by Ante Budimir adding another two minutes later. The Croatian onslaught continued after halftime; the third goal came from Franjo Ivanovic in the 60th minute, followed quickly by another goal from Ivanovic just three minutes later. Ivan Perisic and Andrej Kramaric each scored in quick succession later in the match, with Kramaric sealing the scoreline at 7-0 for Croatia. This win allows Croatia to start their qualification campaign on a high note as they prepare to face the Czech Republic next.
Upcoming Matches
Looking ahead, fans can anticipate more exciting action as the qualifiers continue. Croatia will face a tougher challenge against Czech Republic, which has also shown promise in their recent outings.
These matches reflect the competitive spirit and unpredictability of the qualifiers as teams vie for a place in the Euro 2024 tournament