England's Domination Continues: Trent Alexander-Arnold Lights Up Euro 2024 Qualifying with a Breathtaking Strike as Malta Crumbles

Trent Alexander-Arnold showcased his brilliance by scoring a remarkable goal and assisting another as England maintained their perfect start to Euro 2024 Qualifying with a dominant 4-0 victory over the underdog team, Malta. Tasked with playing in midfield and donning the iconic No 10 jersey, Alexander-Arnold delivered an outstanding performance that earned him the title of player of the match. His sensational strike in the 28th minute secured the second goal for England.

Harry Kane, England's all-time leading scorer who broke Wayne Rooney's record in March, netted the third goal for the Three Lions from the penalty spot (31). Later on, substitute Callum Wilson added another goal from the penalty spot, securing the fourth for England (83).

Alexander-Arnold's presence in the midfield, after showcasing his skills in that position for Liverpool during the latter part of the season, generated significant buzz before the match. His exceptional talent was evident right from the beginning.

How Trent excelled in England victory

England's early dominance was evident as they continued to control possession and territory. However, it was Alexander-Arnold's moment of brilliance that ultimately extended their lead.

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Ferdinando Apap inadvertently handed England an early advantage over Malta with an own goal. The opportunity arose following a clever maneuver by James Maddison, who was positioned on the left side of the field. Seizing the chance from approximately 25 yards away, the talented Liverpool player expertly curved a remarkable shot past goalkeeper Henry Bonello and into the uppermost corner of the net.

The third goal came shortly after, as Kane was fouled by Malta's Matthew Guillaumier, and he confidently converted the resulting penalty by shooting it straight down the middle. This goal marked Kane's fifth consecutive game in which he scored for England.

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In the second half, Alexander-Arnold, who was playing in midfield for England for the first time since an unsuccessful experiment against Andorra in 2021, continued to take charge of the game. Kane had an opportunity to score his second goal of the night but missed, as his attempted chip over the goalkeeper went wide. However, England did manage to secure their fourth goal in the end.

It occurred after a VAR review, resulting in a controversial decision against Malta's Steve Borg for handling Wilson's attempted cross. This granted the Newcastle striker the opportunity to convert from the penalty spot, securing his second goal for England.

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Callum Wilson added England's fourth from the penalty spot

Eze had an opportunity to participate in the action during his debut, but his shot was blocked. On the other hand, Malta, ranked 171st in the world by FIFA, failed to generate even a single shot, resulting in a quiet evening for Southgate's defense.

What's next?

Where and when is Euro 2024?

The format will be the same as Euro 2020, where the top two in each of the six final tournament groups will proceed to the round of 16, along with the four best third-placed finishers.