Reigning champions, Italy, eased to a 4-0 victory over Malta in the Euro 2024 qualifier on Saturday, while Denmark strengthened their position and dented the hopes of outsiders Kazakhstan.

Giacomo Bonaventura curled in his first Italy goal and Domenico Berardi produced a fine strike of his own to double the lead in Bari.

Berardi struck again in the second half before Davide Frattesi rounded off a comfortable evening for Luciano Spalletti's side who held the second place in Group C ahead of next week's showdown with England.

"That match is where we will really see how much potential we have," Spalletti told Italian broadcaster RAI.

Italy, with a game in hand, closed with three points of England going into their clash at Wembley.

"It will definitely be emotional, I have amazing memories from that stadium," said Berardi, who played in Italy's Euro 2020 shoot-out final win over England.

"We'll go there trying to do what we did today, play our own game and look to win."

Denmark avenged their shock loss to Kazakhstan in March as Robert Skov netted twice in a 3-1 win in Copenhagen.

Jonas Wind set the Danes, semifinalists at Euro 2020, on their way before Skov scored a quick-fire double either side of half-time.

Kazakhstan pulled one back via Yan Vorogovskiy, but they fell four points off the pace in Group H.

"First of all, we must be happy about a victory in a European qualifier at home. It hasn't been plain sailing in this group," Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand told Danish broadcaster TV2.

"It was an extremely important home game, and we were forced to win. The pressure was there, and we got the victory we had to."

Results of Euro 2024 qualifiers on October 14

Group C: Ukraine 2-0 North Macedonia, Italy 4-0 Malta

Group G: Bulgaria 0-2 Lithuania, Hungary 2-1 Serbia,

Group H: Northern Ireland 3-0 San Marino, Slovenia 3-0 Finland, Denmark 3-1 Kazakhstan

(With input from AFP)