Nov 17, 2023 at 10:45 PM Update: 33 minutes ago
Italy is on course for a European Championship ticket thanks to a goal-rich victory over North Macedonia. The reigning European champion won 5-2 in Stadio Olimpico on Friday and can finish it against Ukraine on Monday. England, already placed, won 2-0 against Malta.
The pressure was on for Italy, which missed the World Cup last year. North Macedonia had to be defeated and that seemed to be happening convincingly. Halfway through, national coach Luciano Spalletti’s team led 3-0 in Rome.
Matteo Darmian made it 1-0 in the seventeenth minute and just before half-time Federico Chiesa scored twice for the Italians. Just before the 2-0, Jorginho saw his penalty saved by North Macedonian goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski.
Nothing seemed to be wrong for Italy, but after the break North Macedonia came back to 3-2. Jani Atanasov scored both goals. For a moment, the stadium in Rome feared that things would go wrong, until Giacomo Raspadori made the liberating 4-2 in the 81st minute. In extra time, substitute Stephan El Shaarawy scored the 5-2 final score.
Italy now needs a draw against Ukraine on Monday to finish second in the group and thus secure a European Championship ticket. Due to the war in Ukraine, the match will be played in Leverkusen, Germany.
England recorded a perfunctory 2-0 victory over Malta at Wembley on Friday. Enrico Pepe put the ball into his own goal in the eighth minute and Harry Kane signed for the 2-0 final score fifteen minutes before the end. The assist for the Bayern Munich striker’s goal came from Bukayo Saka.
It was a beautiful evening for Cole Palmer. The 21-year-old midfielder, who exchanged Manchester City for Chelsea last summer, made his international debut as a substitute.
England was already assured of European Championship participation and could therefore play without pressure. On Monday, national coach Gareth Southgate’s team will close the group stage with an away match against North Macedonia. The draw for the group stage of the European Championship is Saturday, December 2 in Hamburg.
Beeld: Getty Images
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2023-11-17 21:45:00
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