Italy secured their place in Euro 2024 after a hard-fought 0-0 draw with Ukraine. Despite the draw, Italy clinched second place with a superior head-to-head record. England, six points ahead, had previously qualified by beating Italy. Ukraine, resilient throughout, can still secure a spot in the playoffs.
Italy coach Luciano Spalletti acknowledged Ukraine’s strength, stating, “They gave us a hard time.” He praised Italy’s performance but noted the match became more physical as opportunities to secure the result slipped away.
The intense clash at BayArena saw both goalkeepers, Italy’s Gianluigi Donnarumma and Ukraine’s Anatoliy Trubin, shine. Italy dominated possession, with chances from Federico Chiesa and Giovanni Di Lorenzo, while Donnarumma’s saves denied Ukraine. Reflecting on the victory, Donnarumma expressed happiness and credited the team’s resilience under the new coaching staff.
Under Spalletti’s leadership, Italy, absent from the last World Cup, has shown improvement with three wins, two draws, and one loss. The 24-team Euro 2024 will take place in Germany. The playoff draw for teams like Ukraine will be in March.
In addition to Italy, other qualified teams include Germany (hosts), Belgium, France, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, Turkey, Austria, England, Hungary, Slovakia, Albania, Denmark, Netherlands, Switzerland, Romania, Serbia, Czech Republic, and Slovenia.
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