Viktor Gyokeres netted a fine hat-trick to help Sweden move one step closer to World Cup qualification with a 3-1 win over Ukraine.
Sweden headed to Valencia for the European playoff semi-final, with our summer signing opening the scoring after just six minutes.
Viktor doubled his tally on 51 minutes before firing home a penalty to ensure he would take home the match ball.
Sweden, managed by Graham Potter, will now face Poland, who defeated Albania in their semi-final, in Solna, with the winner advancing to the World Cup finals in Canada, Mexico and the USA.
norgaard nets
There was more joy for our stars in the European playoffs as Christian Norgaard scored for Denmark as they took a step closer to qualifying for a third straight finals.
The Danes took on North Macedonia in Copenhagen and opened the scoring in the second half through Mikkel Damsgaard. The Brentford attacker then doubled his tally on the night before Rasmus Hojlund added a third.
There was still enough time for Christian to find the net, producing a bullet header from Christian Eriksen’s cross to round off a fine night’s work.
Denmark will now take on Czechia, who came from 2-0 down to beat Ireland on penalties and will host the playoff final in Prague.
Read more
5 things to look out for this international break
Calafiori one away from world cup
Elsewhere, Riccardo Calafiori ensured it was three wins from three in the European playoffs for our Gunners as Italy downed Northern Ireland 2-0 in Bergamo.
Richy started for Gennaro Gattuso’s side as Italy looked to right the wrongs of two previous failed qualifications – and it took 56 minutes to make the breakthrough courtesy of Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali.
Former Everton attacker Moise Kean scored the second for Italy, who will now face Bosnia and Herzegovina for a place at the summer tournament in Zenica.
Martinelli minutes
Away from World Cup qualification, Gabriel Martinelli picked up his 21st cap for Brazil as the five-time World Cup champions took on France in Foxborough, USA.
Gabi started for Carlo Ancelotti’s side and went close early on, bending his shot narrowly wide at the Gillette Stadium.
Our forward played 62 minutes as goals from Kylian Mbappe and Hugo Ekitike gave Les Bleus a 2-1 victory, with Gleison Bremer netting for The Seleção.
Finally, Max Dowman played 88 minutes in England under-19s 2-0 defeat against Serbia. Max was bright throughout, forcing Vuk Draškić into two good saves.
FULL LIST OF CONFIRMED INTERNATIONAL GAMES
*all times UK
Wednesday, March 25
England U19 0-2 Serbia U19
Max Dowman started, played 88 minutes
Thursday, March 26
Denmark 4-0 North Macedonia
Christian Norgaard netted late on in the victory
Italy 2-0 Northern Ireland
Riccardo Calafiori played the full 90 minutes, kept a clean sheet
Ukraine 1-3 Sweden
Viktor Gyokeres netted a hat-trick
Brazil 1-2 France
Gabriel Martinelli played 62 minutes
Friday, March 27
Andorra U21 v England U21 (Setford, Lewis-Skelly)
Euro U21 qualifier | Andorra | 6.30pm
England (Saka, Madueke, White, Rice) v Uruguay
Friendly | Wembley | 7.45pm
Switzerland v Germany (Havertz)
Friendly | Basel | 8pm
Spain (Raya, Zubimendi, Mosquera) v Serbia
Friendly | Villarreal | 8pm
Morocco in Ecuador (Hincapie)
Friendly | Madrid, Spain | 8.15pm
Saturday, March 28
England U19s (Dowman) v Poland U19s
Euro U19 Qualifier | Guimaraes, Portugal | 11am
Monday, March 30
Germany (Havertz) v Ghana
Friendly | Stuttgart | 7.45pm
Tuesday, March 31
Portugal U19s v England U19s (Dowman)
Euro U19 Qualifier | Guimaraes, Portugal | 4pm
England U21s (Lewis-Skelly, Setford) v Moldova U21s
Euro U21 qualifier | Norwich | 7pm
Bosnia and Herzegovina v Italy (Calafiori)
World Cup qualifier | Zenica | 7.45pm
Czech Republic v Denmark (Norgaard)
World Cup qualifier | Prague | 7.45pm
Sweden (Gyokeres) v Poland
World Cup qualifier | Solna | 7.45pm
England (Saka, Madueke, Rice, White) v Japan
Friendly | London | 7.45pm
Netherlands v Ecuador (Hincapie)
Friendly | Eindhoven | 7.45pm
Spain (Mosquera, Raya, Zubimendi) v Egypt
Friendly | Cornella | 8 p.m
Wednesday, April 1
Brazil (Martinelli) v Croatia
Friendly | Orlando USA | 1am
Copyright 2026 The Arsenal Football Club Limited. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to www.arsenal.com as the source.
