10 talking points from the Euro 2020 Qualifiers

Bhargav
Cristiano Ronaldo lead defending champions Portugal to Euro 2020
Cristiano Ronaldo lead defending champions Portugal to Euro 2020

#3: Germany make it 13 in a row

Germany
Germany

Three-time winners Germany beat Belarus 3-0 on matchday-9. With Netherlands playing out a goalless draw at Northern Ireland, Die National Mannschaft booked a record-13th (consecutive) appearance at the Euros.

In a five-team group, Germany suffered their only defeat against Netherlands in an otherwise flawless qualifying campaign as they extended their streak of consecutive appearances in the European Championships to 13, since their debut (as West Germany) in 1972.

The next most number of appearances at the Euros belongs to Russia (erstwhile Soviet Union) who would be making their 12th appearance next summer.

#4: Super Kane becomes the first player to score in every match of a Euro qualifying campaign

Harry Kane
Harry Kane

Harry Kane became the first player in Euro qualifying history to score a goal in each game of a qualifying campaign when he scored his 12th goal of the 2020 Euro qualifiers in a 4-0 away win for England at Kosovo.

Kane's hat-trick in the 7-0 home win over Montenegro on matchday 9 sealed England's 10th appearance at the Euros.

#5: Fabulous 6 have appeared in each Euros since 1996

Czech Republic are one of 6 teams to have appeared in each European Championships since 1996
Czech Republic are one of 6 teams to have appeared in each European Championships since 1996

Since the European Championships became a 16-team affair in 1996, only six teams have played in every edition of the quadrennial tournament and they will also feature at Euro 2020.

Portugal extended the Fab 6's consecutive Euro appearance streak to seven after the reigning European champions won 2-0 at Luxembourg to seal their qualification for Euro 2020.

The other five nations to have done so during this span are Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and the Czech Republic.

#6: Three players registered two hat-tricks apiece during the Euro 2020 Qualifiers

Eran Zahavi
Eran Zahavi

Eran Zahavi of Israel became the first player to register multiple hat-tricks during the Euro 2020 qualifiers when the forward netted successive hat-tricks in a 4-2 home win over Austria and a 3-0 win away in Latvia.

Cristiano Ronaldo became the second player to do so after the Portugal captain followed up his 4-goal hat-trick in a 5-1 away win in Lithuania with a hat-trick in a 6-0 home win against the same opposition.

Harry Kane of England followed suit with hat-tricks against Bulgaria and Montenegro in 4-0 and 7-0 home wins respectively.

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