PAP/EPA / PAP/EPA/CHRISTOPHER NEUNDORF / In Leverkusen, Ukraine took on Italy
Michał Piegza
November 20, 2023, 22:39
Everything is clear in group C. The English team, which had previously qualified for Euro 2024, was joined by Italians. In Leverkusen, there were no goals scored in the match against Ukraine.
Before the match in Leverkusen, the matter was clear. For Italy, a draw was enough to achieve their goal of advancing to the Euro 2024 finals. The Ukrainians had to win to avoid the play-offs. If the guests lost, they could face Poland in the play-offs in the fight for the finals.
From the beginning, Luciano Spalletti’s team attacked. The “paper” hosts were focused on counterattacks. The guests should have opened the scoring in the 7th minute, but Federico Chiesa missed from seven meters. After seven minutes, Ukraine left, Heorhij Sudakov’s shot was saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma.
In the 29th minute, Anatoly Trubin saved Ukraine! Chiesa passed to Davide Frattesi, but he was unable to beat the goalkeeper.
After changing sides, the Italians initially tried to attack, but they were unable to seriously threaten Trubin. In the 58th minute, Chiesa scored from near the penalty area line. The ball was heading towards the goal and eventually passed the post.
Finally, after a momentary downtime, the Ukrainians became active on the pitch. In the 65th minute, after a throw-in, Mudryk got the ball, but it was blocked by the goalkeeper. A moment later there was another fight in the penalty area, this time there was no shot.
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Serhiy Rebrov’s players tried to take risks towards the end. They were unable to pose a serious threat to Italy. The guests could have scored the winning goal when Matteo Politano missed the target from a distance in the 82nd minute.
In the tense ending, the Ukrainians put everything on one card. In added time, Mudryk fell in the penalty area, the referee found no foul and ordered play to continue. VAR did not intervene.
The Italians achieved a draw and could enjoy advancing to the Euro finals. Ukraine will play in the play-offs. This result is also very important for the Poles, because their chances for an “easier path” and the possibility of playing the semi-final at home have increased.
Ukraine – Italy 0:0
-Compositions:
Ukraine: Anatoly Trubin – Yukhym Konoplya (86′ Oleksandr Tymchyk), Oleksandr Svatok (90+1′ Ruslan Malinowski), Ilya Zabarnyj, Vitalii Mykolenko – Taras Stepanenko – Viktor Tsyhankov (80′ Oleksandr Zubkov), Heorhiy Sudakov, Oleksandr Zinchenko (89′ Danylo Sikan), Mykhailo Mudryk – Artem Dowbyk.
Italy: Gianluigi Donnarumma – Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Francesco Acerbi, Alessandro Buongiorno, Federico Dimarco – Davide Frattesi, Jorginho (71′ Matteo Politano, 90+2′ Matteo Darmian), Nicolo Barella – Nicolo Zaniolo (71′ Bryan Cristante), Giacomo Raspadori (46 ‘ Gianluca Scamacca), Federico Chiesa (80’ Moise Kean).
Yellow cards: Konoplya (Ukraine) and Buongiorno (Italy).
Judge: Jesus Gil Manzano (Spain).
* * *
Two goals were scored in the match between North Macedonia and England. The hosts were unexpectedly ahead until the break, scoring a goal in installments after a penalty kick. Moments after the break, Jack Grealish scored for the local team, but VAR canceled the goal.
The English were saved from defeat by Harry Kane, who beat the local goalkeeper in the 59th minute.
North Macedonia – England 1:1 (1:0)
1-0 – Bardhi 41′
1:1 – Kane 59′
Schedule table
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