Captain Rice plus wins for Timber & Norgaard

Declan Rice captained England, Bukayo Saka made history and there were wins for Jurrien Timber and Christian Norgaard on a busy night of international football.

Our midfielder led out the Three Lions in a 3-0 victory over Wales, featuring goals from Morgan Rogers, Ollie Watkins and Saka, who became our all-time leading England scorer, overtaking Cliff Bastin, who netted 12 times for the Three Lions while playing at Arsenal.

Saka's glittering display also earned him Player of the Match as Rice was named captain for the second time in his career, with the first coming on his 50th cap against Belgium in March 2024. Myles Lewis-Skelly also featured, coming on for the final 10 minutes after replacing John Stones.

Elsewhere, Jurrien Timber played the full 90 minutes in the Netherlands' comfortable 4-0 victory over Malta. Two penalties from Cody Gakpo sent the Dutch on their way, before second half efforts from Tijjani Reijnders and Memphis Depay wrapped up the win.

After missing out through injury in September, Christian Norgaard returned to the Denmark squad and was a second half substitute in a big victory over Belarus.

Our midfielder came on in the 64th minute, replacing Morten Hjulmand as goals form Victor Froholdt, Patrick Dorgu and doubles from Rasmus Hojland and Anders Dreyer sealed the victory.

what it means

Jurrien's Netherlands are nearing World Cup qualification for the second successive tournament, sitting three points clear at the top of Group G with three games remaining. They face Finland next before two final qualifiers against Lithuania and a trip to second-placed Poland. Only top spot is guaranteed qualification, with second place heading to the playoffs.

As for Denmark, their victory, coupled with Scotland's win over Greece in Glasgow, means things could go down to the wire for automatic qualification. Norgaard's Danes host Greece next before two final matches, at home to Belarus and away in Scotland, in November.

what's next

All times BST

Thursday, October 9

Belarus 0-6 Denmark

World Cup qualifier | Norgaard played 25 minutes

Malta 0-4 Netherlands

World Cup qualifier | Timber played the full 90, kept a clean sheet

England 3-0 Wales

Friendly | Saka scored, Rice captained and Lewis-Skelly came on as a substitute.

Friday, October 10

South Korea v Brazil (Gabriel, Martinelli)

Friendly | Seoul | 12pm

Moldova U21 v England U21 (Nwaneri)

Euro U21 qualifier | Chisinau | 5pm

Sweden (Gyokeres) v Switzerland

World Cup qualifier | Stockholm | 7.45pm

France (Saliba) v Azerbaijan

World Cup qualifier | Paris | 7.45pm

Belgium (Trossard) v North Macedonia

World Cup qualifier | Brussels | 7.45pm

Saturday, October 11

Spain (Merino, Zubimendi, Raya) v Georgia

World Cup qualifier | Elche | 7.45pm

Estonia v Italy (Calafiori)

World Cup qualifier | Tallinn | 7.45pm

Sunday, October 12

Netherlands (Timber) v Finland

World Cup qualifier | Amsterdam | 5pm

Denmark (Norgaard) v Greece

World Cup qualifier | Copenhagen | 7.45pm

Monday, October 13

Sweden (Gyokeres) v Kosovo

World Cup qualifier | Stockholm | 7.45pm

Iceland v France (Saliba)

World Cup qualifier | Reykjavik | 7.45pm

Wales v Belgium (Trossard)

World Cup qualifier | Cardiff | 7.45pm

England U21 (Nwaneri) v Andorra U21

Euro U21 qualifier | Derby | 7.45pm

Tuesday, October 14

Japan v Brazil (Gabriel, Martinelli)

Friendly | Tokyo | 11.30am

Spain U21 (Mosquera) v Finland U21

Euro U21 Qualifier | Castellón de la Plana | 5.30pm

Spain (Merino, Zubimendi, Raya) v Bulgaria

World Cup qualifier | Valladolid | 7.45pm

Italy (Calafiori) v Israel

World Cup qualifier | Udine | 7.45pm

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