Mads Roerslev and Japhet Sery Larsen both featured as Denmark’s Under-21s brushed aside Malta 5-1 in European Championship Qualifying. With Mads Sorensen suspended after his red card on Friday, namesake Roerslev replaced him for the game in Aalborg. It was plain sailing for the hosts who scored four first-half goals, including three in the opening 15 minutes, to lead 4-1 at the break. They then added a fifth midway through the second-half before Sery Larsen came on for the final 13 minutes to win his first Under-21 cap. The appearance was Mads Roerslev’s fourth at Under-21 level as The Danes head into 2020 top of Group H with a perfect five wins from five.

It was a more difficult night for Bryan Mbeumo as France saw their perfect qualifying record fall after a 3-1 defeat away in Switzerland. Both sides went into the game with a 100 per cent win record and it looked like France would be the ones to extend theirs when they took a 19th minute lead through Odsonne Édouard. However, the hosts turned the game on its head with three goals in nine minutes either side of half-time. Bryan came on to earn his fifth Under-21 cap with 27 minutes remaining but he couldn’t help spark a late comeback. France are now second in Group B with nine points from four games, three points off the Swiss in top spot.

Elsewhere, Ellery Balcombe is still waiting for his first cap at Under-21 level after being an unused substitute last night during England’s 2-1 friendly defeat to Holland. Patrik Gunnarsson also sat out last night’s game as an experimental Iceland side lost 3-0 to England Under-20s at Adams Park.