On Monday, 20 November, the Ukrainian national team played the final match in the Euro 2024 qualifying tournament - against Italy.
Photo - Alexander PopovEuro 2024. Qualifying tournament. Group C.
UKRAINE - ITALY - 0:0
Warnings: Konoplya (79) - Buongiorno (7).
Ukraine: Trubin - Konoplya (Tymchik, 84), Svatok, Zabarny, Mikolenko - Stepanenko (Pikhalenok, 80) - Tsygankov (Zubkov, 80), Sudakov, Zinchenko (Sikan, 85), Mudryk - Dovbik.
Substitutes: Buschan, Riznyk, Bondar, Sidorchuk, Yaremchuk, Tymchik, Dubinchak, Matvienko.
Italy: Donnarumma - Di Lorenzo, Acerbi, Bongiorno, Dimarco - Frattesi, Giorginho (Cristante, 71), Barella - Zaniolo (Politano, 71, Darmian, 90+2), Raspadori (Scamacca, 46), Chiesa (Keane, 81).
Substitutes: Provedel, Vicario, Gatti, Biraghi, Bonaventura, 22.El Shaarawy, 23.Mancini.
Match transcript and statistics >>>
Post-match press conference >>>>
Group C qualifying table, calendar of games >>>
The match started with the Italian national team attacking, which, as promised, was not going to play for a draw, although our opponents were quite satisfied with such a result. Rebrov's charges, in turn, tried to respond with counterattacks, but everything was quite predictable for the Italians.
The first goal moment at Trubin's goal came already in the 7th minute of the game: after a free kick, the ball flew to Chiesa, but the midfielder from a few metres shot his header over the goal! Ukraine immediately tried to respond with their own moment and probably missed the best opportunity to open the scoring for the whole first half: Sudakov, having picked up the ball, shot hard down from 20 metres, but Donnaruma played reliably and parried his shot!
After this episode, the Italians, realising that the Ukrainians could punish them even in one moment, played even more actively. Both flanks of Spaletti's team worked solidly, especially Chiesa and Dimarco. There was also danger after the corners - what is only worth a header from Di Lorenzo, after which the ball flew near the bar. In these minutes there was a real fire near our goal!
However, Italy did not realise their super-goal moment: Fratezzi broke through on the left side and went one-on-one with Trubin, but our goalkeeper played reliably, deflecting the Italian's shot, after which the ball was already taken out by the defenders. Of course, Sergei Rebrov could not be satisfied with such a game, who tried to give his wards something to do. As a result, the first half ended in a 0-0 draw, although, let's be honest, the Italians missed some incredible chances....
After the break, the picture of the game did not change. The Ukraine national team continued to act in the second number, trying to catch the famous opponent on the counterattack. Mudryk tried to take the game on himself, but his passes on the left flank were controlled by two opponents at once.
Towards the middle of the second half, the Yellow-Blue started to play more boldly in attack, which forced the visitors to watch their goal more. Mudryk had a wonderful moment to open the scoring on 67 minutes: after a cross into the Italian penalty area, the ball reached Michael on the far post, but the Chelsea midfielder failed to beat Donnaruma from a few metres. Our national team noticeably increased in speed, which, it seems, Spaletti's wards did not expect. Another good attack involving Tsygankov and Dovbik failed to finish with an accurate shot.
Фото — Александр ПоповTowards the end of the game, Rebrov's team had nothing to lose - they made substitutions with an emphasis on attack, as Ukraine were just one shot short of qualifying for the Euro 2024 finals. Even Sikan appeared on the pitch as the second forward - so obvious was the desire of our head coach to take a risk and get a grand victory.
However, spending the final minutes in the Italian half, our national team, unfortunately, failed to press the opponent. And there was an opportunity for this: Acerbi openly knocked down Mudryk in his own penalty box in added time, but the head referee Manzano did not even watch the replay! No words... Italy directly qualify for Euro 2024, while we will play in the play-off round.
Vladimir BOBYR
