IFFHS NEWS AND STATISTICS
Picture : Cristiano Ronaldo, having played vs Liechtenstein (4-0), became the new world record holder on the number of national team games recognized by FIFA (197). He surpassed Bader Al-Mutawa (Kuwait, 196).
Statistics on Euro 2024 qualifiers of 23 March
*For the second time in a row, the very first goal of a Euro qualification cycle was scored by a Kazakhstan player, Maksim Samorodov (vs Slovenia 1-2).
His countryman Yuri Pertsukh did the same at the opening of Euro 2020 qualification campaign.
*Rasmus Højlund is the first player to score a hat-trick for Denmark in a Euro qualifier (vs Finland 3-1) in almost 40 years, since Michael Laudrup scored 3 goals vs Luxembourg in October 1983.
*England have beaten Italy (2-1) in an away game for the first time since 24 May 1961 (3-2 in a friendly played in Rome) and for the first time overall in a competitive match.
*England have ended Italy's record unbeaten run of 40 Euro qualifiers (34 wins, 6 draws) that lasted in September 2006 after 1-3 loss vs France.
*Harry Kane has scored his 54th goal for England, surpassing Wayne Rooney (53) to become its all-time top scorer.
*Gareth Southgate became the 3rd coach of the English national team to achieve 50 wins, after Walter Winterbottom (78) and Alf Ramsey (69).
*Mateo Retegui became the first ever player to score his first goal for Italy representing a non-European club (Tigre from Argentina).
*With a brace in this game, Cristiano Ronaldo increased his world record on national team goals to 120.
In the meantime, Liechtenstein became the 47th opposition that Cristiano Ronaldo scored against during his career in the Portuguese national team. He played against Liechtenstein twice before, without scoring in those games.