A draw with Ukraine takes Italy straight to Euro 2024. The coach: “Now comes the best part”

A draw with Ukraine takes Italy straight to Euro 2024. A 0-0 draw against Ukraine in Leverkusen was enough for the Azzurri to get through to second group behind England. A result that allows the Azzurri to rise to 14 points in the standings like Ukraine but to advance thanks to the success in the direct clash of the first leg.

Italy, level with Ukraine and we go to Euro 2024: but what a fear for that penalty

A rather difficult result which does not fully reward Italy, given that they tried to win throughout the match, aware of the fact that with a success they could have remained in the third pot of the draw for the groups for Euro 2024, but in the end he also shot a sigh of relief for a dubious penalty requested by Ukraine. Italy qualifies and will be able to compete for the European Championship as reigning champions.

The coach of the Italian national team for the match against Ukraine, at the BayArena in Leverkusen, valid for qualification for Euro 2024, chooses the trident made up of Zaniolo with Raspadori and Chiesa, while in midfield Frattesi is preferred to Bonaventura.

In defense of Lorenzo and Buongiorno instead of Darmian and Gatti. Rebrov’s Ukraine, however, relies on Tsygankov-Sudakov-Mudryk behind Dovbyk. Stepanenko paired with Zinchenko in midfield.

Ukraine starts very strong and in the 5th minute Tsygankov finishes powerfully but centrally following a strike and Donnarumma blocks. Italy responds a minute later: on a corner kick Zaniolo reaches the tower for Chiesa who kicks badly high from inside the area. The pressure from Rebrov’s team is vehement and in the 14th minute Sudakov tries from the edge with a poisonous low shot, but Donnarumma is attentive and dives away. Another opportunity for the Azzurri arrives in the 16th minute with Barella who hits a violent right-footed shot from the edge but Trubin does well to deflect it past the post. Spalletti’s team grows in their attacking efforts and in the 18th minute Raspadori combines with Barella, but the left-footed shot is blocked by Zabarnyi.

Frattesi’s colossal chance aside, the big thrill for Italy came in the 93rd minute. Mudryk falls in the area in contact with Cristante, but the referee Gil Manzano allows it to continue, without VAR intervention. The Azzurri breathe a sigh of relief and fly to the European Championship.

Spalletti

“Now comes the best part”. These are the words of the Italian coach Luciano Spalletti on Rai after Italy’s qualification for Euro 2024 following the 0-0 draw with Ukraine in Leverkusen. “It wasn’t easy and nothing was to be taken for granted in football, in general. We played a good match today. In the first half we had many situations and opportunities to secure the result. Then once you can’t, the match got dirtier and more physical. Physical people have been brought in but football is no longer played. We should have kept them more on the attacking line, but Ukraine showed that they are an equipped team that gave us a hard time”, added the Italian coach. “I don’t have any difficulties, I know these situations very well, I was born and raised there and I have developed my profession and my role. I greeted all my collaborators, the president and the entire entourage of the federation because we were all attached to this result, and it was also right to find the moment to say we were well done”, concluded Spalletti.

Gravina

“It’s not a burden, but we had made a commitment to all Italians to recover from a series of sports injuries suffered over time. With Spalletti a lot has changed in the spirit, the enthusiasm and the desire to return to a special team has returned. Thanks to Spalletti who with joy and serenity wanted to give the team back a physiognomy on a technical and character level.” The president of the said it Figc, Gabriele Gravinaon Sky after the national team qualified for the 2024 German European Championships.
“I have always hoped for a change, but not for the coach, there was a moment of crisis and tension which generated wounds which we healed quickly thanks to Spalletti and the team,” added Gravina. “We saw a national team that dominated, that governed the game, despite the suffering of the last minutes. We are in Germany, we had to be there, we risked not going, but thanks to Spalletti and the boys.”concluded Gravina.