Italy secured a spot within the Euro 2024 finals with a 0-0 draw in opposition to Ukraine of their final Group C qualifier on Monday, whereas the Ukrainians nonetheless have the chance to safe a spot by the playoffs.
European champions Italy completed second, degree on 14 factors with third-placed Ukraine, however with a superior head-to-head report after a tense affair that would have gone both method.
The Italians ended six factors behind England, who sealed qualification after defeating Italy 3-1 at Wembley in October.
Ukraine, who’ve by no means overwhelmed Italy, had sturdy claims for a penalty after Bryan Cristante’s clumsy problem on Mykhailo Mudryk in stoppage time, however nothing was given.
They can nonetheless safe a spot at a fourth consecutive European Championship through the playoffs in March. The playoff draw will happen on Thursday in Nyon.
The match acquired off to a full of life begin, however each goalkeepers – Italy’s Gianluigi Donnarumma and Ukraine’s Anatoliy Trubin – held agency in an entertaining conflict at BayArena in Leverkusen.
Italy, making their eighth consecutive look on the Euros, had nearly all of possession and created extra possibilities, however Ukraine remained composed as they regarded to counterattack.
Italy’s Federico Chiesa had an opportunity to interrupt the impasse within the seventh minute, however his effort from contained in the field narrowly flew over the bar earlier than Donnarumma denied the war-torn facet an opener seven minutes later by protecting out Georgiy Sudakov’s low shot.
Defender Giovanni Di Lorenzo then practically nodded residence for Italy from a nook simply earlier than the half-hour mark earlier than Trubin pulled off a shocking save to disclaim Davide Frattesi.
Italy continued to dominate after the break, however Ukraine’s probing elevated and Mudryk got here shut within the 66th minute, solely to be denied by Donnarumma, who pulled off one other positive save.
Source: www.dailysabah.com