England concluded their Euro 2024 Group C qualifying campaign unbeaten following a low-key 1-1 draw in North Macedonia on Monday night.
The Three Lions, who secured their spot in the finals in Germany with two games to spare, could not sign off the year with the win they craved after producing a lukewarm showing for long spells in Skopje.
Harry Maguire was fortunate not to concede a penalty for a clumsy challenge just moments earlier, but debutant Rico Lewis’ inadvertent arm in the face of Bojan Miovski did see the hosts awarded a spot kick following a VAR intervention.
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Jordan Pickford saved Enis Bardhi’s penalty but the Macedonia No. 10 was on hand to convert the rebound. England stepped up a gear following the restart and after Jack Grealish had a goal chalked off by VAR for offside, the visitors levelled when Jani Atanasov diverted a right-wing corner into his own net under pressure from substitute Harry Kane.
The result saw England finish six points clear of second-placed Italy at the summit of the pool after the reigning champions secured the point they needed to qualify against Ukraine.