Euro adventure begins

The qualifiers for Euro 2020 that will be co-hosted by 12 countries began with Scotland, still in hibernation, slumbering to a 3-0 humiliation in Kazakhstan, though a Kazakhs were brought down to earth 4-0 by their Russian visitors a few days later while Austria were stunned 1-0 at home to Poland and within days suffered a 4-2 defeat in Israel with Eran Zahavi scoring a hat-trick for the hosts. Germany enjoyed a 3-2 win in the Netherlands while World Cup finalists, Croatia, lost 2-1 in Hungary and Portugal were held to a goalless draw at home to Ukraine. Greece came from 2 down to draw 2-2 at 10-man Bosnia and Herzegovina while there were away wins for Albania 3-0 in Andorra and for Finland 2-0 in Armenia.

In African qualifiers Equatorial Guinea hammered their Sudanese hosts 4-1 with the help of 2 penalties from Emilio Nsue while Uganda lost 3-0 in Tanzania and Libya lost 2-1 at home to South Africa for whom Percy Tau netted both goals. Morocco were held to a goalless draw in Malawi and Gambia earned a 1-1 draw in Algeria while in friendly matches Bangladesh were 1-0 winners in Cambodia and El Salvador defeated Peru 2-0 in America.