Euro qualifiers: Swiss ease past Israel, Scotland stun Spain

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Ruben Vargas (R) of Switzerland kicks to score his team's first goal against Israel during their Euro 2024 qualifier at Stade de Geneve in Geneva, Switzerland, March 28, 2023. /CFP

Switzerland continued their convincing start to the Euro 2024 qualifiers with a 3-0 home win over Israel on Tuesday on the back of a 5-0 success away against Belarus at the weekend.

Ruben Vargas put them 1-0 ahead at halftime and Zeki Amdouni and Silvan Widmer added two more goals soon after the break at the Geneva Stadium for a six-point haul from their opening two games in Group I.

Vargas took advantage of hesitation in the Israeli defense to volley the ball home for the opening goal in the 39th minute.

The Swiss then added two quick goals when the match resumed as Amdouni, making his full debut, pounced on a parry by goalkeeper Omri Glazer to score in the 48th minute and Widmer headed home from an inch-perfect pass over the Israeli defense from Denis Zakaria four minutes later.

Scott McTominay of Scotland celebrates after scoring a brace against Spain during their Euro 2024 qualifier at Hampden Park in Glasgow, Scotland, March 28, 2023. /CFP

Also on Tuesday, Scotland's Scott McTominay grabbed another brace of goals as they stunned a much-changed Spain side to earn a deserved 2-0 victory in their Euro 2024 qualifier at Hampden Park and maintain their perfect start to the campaign.

The win is a first for the Scots over their Iberian opponents since 1984 and ensures they top Group A on six points from two games, while second-placed Spain have three.

Joshua Kimmich (L) of Germany attempts to block a goal from Kevin De Bruyne of Belgium during their international friendly match in Koln, Germany, March 28, 2023. /CFP

In a friendly on Tuesday, visitors Belgium battled to a 3-2 win over Germany to make it two wins from two matches in the past four days while piling pressure on the embattled Euro 2024 hosts.

Match results of Euro 2024 qualifiers on March 28, 2023

Scotland 2-0 Spain

Switzerland 3-0 Israel

Wales 1-0 Latvia

Georgia 1-1 Norway

Romania 2-1 Belarus

Türkiye 0-2 Croatia

(With input from Reuters)