11 months ago
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ARTICLE AD BOX
Italy finish second in Group C, above Ukraine by virtue of their superior head-to-head recordReigning European champions Italy secured the point they required against Ukraine to qualify for Euro 2024 as Group C runners-up behind England.
A 2-1 win in the reverse fixture meant Italy only had to avoid defeat against Ukraine, with whom they began this crucial encounter level on points.
A frantic match in Leverkusen, Germany ended goalless to confirm the Azzurri's place in next summer's finals.
Third-placed Ukraine's qualification hopes rest on the play-offs in March.
Spurred on by passionate support at their 'home' venue amid Russia's ongoing invasion of their country, Ukraine had appeals for a stoppage-time penalty dismissed after Mykhailo Mudryk went down under a challenge from Bryan Cristante.
But Luciano Spalletti's side survived that late scare to ensure they will be present in Germany to defend their crown, qualifying for their eighth consecutive European Championship.
Serhiy Rebrov's Ukraine, the only side who had previously taken points off England, began positively in pursuit of the victory they sought.
Heorhiy Sudakov's low drive forced Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma into action in an end-to-end opening period, during which Anatoliy Trubin also produced a fine save to deny Nicolo Barella.
Spalletti had called on his players to "steal Italian hearts" in their showdown with Ukraine in Germany, where Euro 2024 will be held.
The Azzurri gradually asserted themselves but Trubin again came to Ukraine's rescue when Davide Frattesi was played through on goal, while Giacomo Raspadori fell agonisingly short of meeting the lively Federico Chiesa's ball across the six-yard box.
Donnarumma recovered superbly from his own failure to collect a cross to smother Mudryk's close-range attempt as the match remained delicately poised at the increasingly tense BayArena, but Italy held on.
Elsewhere on Monday, the Czech Republic and Slovenia both also qualified from their respective groups.
West Ham's Tomas Soucek scored in a 3-0 win over Moldova as the Czechs qualified behind leaders Albania in Group E.
Meanwhile, Slovenia progressed as Group H runners-up to Denmark with a 2-1 victory against Kazakhstan.
Line-ups
Ukraine
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 12Trubin
- 2KonoplyaBooked at 79minsSubstituted forTymchykat 86'minutes
- 13Zabarnyi
- 4SvatokSubstituted forMalinovskyiat 90+1'minutes
- 16Mykolenko
- 6StepanenkoSubstituted forPikhalyonokat 80'minutes
- 15TsygankovSubstituted forZubkovat 80'minutes
- 7Sudakov
- 17ZinchenkoSubstituted forSikanat 86'minutes
- 10Mudryk
- 11Dovbyk
Substitutes
- 1Bushchan
- 3Bondar
- 5Sydorchuk
- 8Malinovskyi
- 9Yaremchuk
- 14Sikan
- 18Pikhalyonok
- 19Tymchyk
- 20Zubkov
- 21Dubinchak
- 22Matvienko
- 23Riznyk
Italy
Formation 4-3-3
- 1G Donnarumma
- 2Di Lorenzo
- 15Acerbi
- 6BuongiornoBooked at 7mins
- 3Dimarco
- 17Frattesi
- 8JorginhoSubstituted forCristanteat 71'minutes
- 18Barella
- 20ZanioloSubstituted forPolitanoat 71'minutesSubstituted forDarmianat 90+2'minutes
- 10RaspadoriSubstituted forScamaccaat 45'minutes
- 14ChiesaSubstituted forKeanat 81'minutes
Substitutes
- 4Gatti
- 5Biraghi
- 7Bonaventura
- 9Scamacca
- 11Kean
- 12Provedel
- 13Darmian
- 16Cristante
- 19Politano
- 21Vicario
- 22El Shaarawy
- 23Mancini
Referee:Jesús Gil Manzano
Live Text
Match ends, Ukraine 0, Italy 0.
Second Half ends, Ukraine 0, Italy 0.
Attempt blocked. Danylo Sikan (Ukraine) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Oleksandr Pikhalyonok.
Foul by Gianluca Scamacca (Italy).
Oleksandr Tymchyk (Ukraine) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Italy. Matteo Darmian replaces Matteo Politano.
Substitution, Ukraine. Ruslan Malinovskyi replaces Oleksandr Svatok.
Alessandro Buongiorno (Italy) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Artem Dovbyk (Ukraine).
Attempt saved. Heorhii Sudakov (Ukraine) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Mykhailo Mudryk.
Foul by Gianluca Scamacca (Italy).
Oleksandr Svatok (Ukraine) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Ukraine. Danylo Sikan replaces Oleksandr Zinchenko.
Substitution, Ukraine. Oleksandr Tymchyk replaces Yukhym Konoplya.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match because of an injury Heorhii Sudakov (Ukraine).
Attempt missed. Matteo Politano (Italy) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Nicolò Barella.
Attempt blocked. Moise Kean (Italy) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Gianluca Scamacca.
Gianluca Scamacca (Italy) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Illia Zabarnyi (Ukraine).
English (US)